So here are some ideas for resolutions for a greener new year: Be Naturally Beautiful. Take this beauty quiz and check your products for dangerous chemicals such as phthalates or sodium laurel sulfate. Opt for organic products made of natural ingredients and thank Mother Nature for that radiant glow.
Just makes good scents. A lot of fragrances contain hazardous chemicals. But there are alternatives that will leave you smelling sweet as a rose. Get the scoop here
Eat Organic. Organic produce is tastier and also healthier, but it can be more expensive. If you can't afford to buy all organic, here’s a list of the top 10 fruits and vegetable to buy organic if you can, since they tend to retain more pesticides: Strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, Mexican cantaloupe, celery, apples, apricots and green beans.
Buy Local. Look for local produce at your grocery store and make it a point to visit your community farmers market whenever possible.
BYOB. Even if you're just bringing back all the paper and plastic bags stuffed in that bottom drawer of your kitchen, always ‘bring your own bag’. If you don't want to spend money on reusable grocery bags—although there are lots of really cute options out there—look around the house for old totes, beach bags, twine-handled fancy shopping bags or even large baskets. Keep lots in your trunk (and don't forget to put them back in the trunk after unloading your groceries!), plus one compact bag folded up in your purse so you're never without it.
Clean Green. You don't even want to know all the gross chemicals that are in commercially made products. Not only are you breathing those chemicals, but then you end up pouring them down the drain. Not good for you, or the Earth! Luckily a lot of companies are starting to use fewer chemicals and some even have all naturally derived ingredients. Whole Foods has some great green’ cleaning products to choose from!
Change a Light Bulb. If just one light bulb in every home in America were switched out for a compact fluorescent—aka CFLs—it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year. CFLs are everywhere now, there are tons of different kinds to choose from and it's such an easy fix.
Sip, Don't Guzzle. Even if you don't plan to buy a hybrid, there are ways to make the car you have get the best possible gas mileage. A properly tuned engine will get between 6 and 20 percent higher mpg, for example. Here's a list of 12 things you can do to stretch a tank of gas.
Replace your air filter regularly. Make sure your oil is changed according to the car manufacturer’s recommended schedule. If your fan belt is too tight, your engine is working too hard and wasting gas. The belt should give a little to finger pressure when the engine is not running. You can easily adjust tension with a wrench! Badly worn spark plugs can cost you as much as 2 mpg. This is probably a job for a trained technician. Whenever possible, try to use mass transit, bike paths, and car pools. Heavier cars are more costly to run. A reduction of 200 pounds in automotive weight typically improves fuel economy by nearly 5 percent. Use the air conditioner in your car as little as possible. It uses a lot of gas. Roll down the windows and get some fresh air! Use cruise control. If you drive on the open road, staying at a constant speed will save fuel. If you are taking a trip, start early in the day while traffic is light. Don't let your car idle for a long time to warm it up. Idling wastes more gas than restarting your car. Don’t rev the engine and then quickly shut your car off. This wastes gas and pumps raw gasoline into the cylinder walls. This can wash away a film of oil that protects the cylinders and will increase engine wear. Check your tires. Your owner's manual has important information on your tires, including the correct air pressure that should be in them. Under inflated tires can cost you as much as 1 mpg. Radial tires have 50 percent less road resistance, so they give you 3 to 19 percent better mpg. Ride your Bike. Sometimes a car is necessary, but just running errands around town? Ride your bike to the post office, the grocery store, the dentist, etc., and experience the true joy of being car-free for a while. Bonus: Hello, exercise!
Be an Online Activist. Did you know you can help stop global warming, save the rainforest and keep pollutants out of our oceans with a single click? You can! Click here for more information. You can also sign petitions to let the people in power know you care and want to make a difference. Try it today.
Last but not least. Reduce. Reuse. Repair. Recycle.
