Most New Year’s resolutions focus on yourself, from losing weight to getting a promotion, but for 2020, many people’s resolutions will be to do their bit to save the Earth. With so many stories in the news about problems caused by climate change, people are realizing that they need to do their bit, and the new decade is an excellent time to start. If you want to go green, here are some New Year’s resolutions you can make.
- Reduce your trash
Most stuff that goes in the trashcan ends up in landfills, which basically means it’s buried in the Earth so it can decompose. The problem is, a lot of things simply won’t decompose for many lifetimes, and something like a plastic bottle can take 450 years to decompose. If you want to reduce your waste, avoid things that are single-use and anything with excessive packaging. When you do have trash, sort it thoroughly, with food scraps in the compost, and recyclable and non-recyclable items separately. If your local waste management department doesn’t encourage recycling, find disposal facilities near you.
- Use less energy
If you live in a rented apartment or house, it’s hard to make many improvements that will make your place more energy-efficient, but you can do your bit by switching things off and turning down the thermostat. If you own your home, you may want to look at making changes to your home, for example, if you contact Solar Panel Funding, you may be able to get help with the cost of solar panels, making it easier to go green.
- Shop local or grow your own
In countries like the USA, people are used to being able to get all the exotic foods they want from the grocery store, including out of season fruit and vegetables. However, buying food that needs to be flown in from overseas means you make a bigger carbon footprint, and by eating locally, you get fresher foods and can enjoy cheap foods when they’re in season. You may even feel yourself getting healthier once you rely less on processed foods.
Growing your own foods is also fun if you have a small patch of garden you can use. What you can grow will depend on your local climate, but some of the easier options include leafy greens, tomatoes, and herbs.
- Don’t buy things new
One of the reasons our landfills are so full is that we buy so much stuff. From novelty outfits for the holidays to plastic toys that are played with once, it all has to go somewhere when you’re done with it. You can break the cycle by borrowing and repurposing things you already own or buying secondhand. Next time you’re about to buy something, stop and really think about it. Do you really need this item? How many uses will you really get out of it? Not only will this attitude help you live a greener life, but you’ll also have more green in your pocket.
- Make the most of nature
If you’re becoming eco-friendlier, why not go out enjoy the beauty of nature? Far too many people live just a short drive from a national park or beauty spot, yet never go. Dig out your hiking boots, go for an explore, and discover why the Earth is worth saving.