By Max Druckman
Happy New Year! With the new year and new decade comes the age-old adage “New year, new me!” While there are many ways to improve as an individual in the new year, there are also ways that you can improve your impact on our planet, Mother Earth. It too wants to have a greener and brighter future. So when making resolutions for the new year, consider these green ideas.
1. Start composting
Compost machines turn your natural wastes into usable mulch. Some waste that can be turned into mulch include natural food scraps, paper, and tea bags. This lessens the amount of garbage the enters landfill, providing a sustainable option. Also, the new mulch can be used for planting delicious fruits and veggies in the coming spring season.
2. Turn off the faucets
When washing dishes or brushing your teeth turn off the water if you aren’t using it. Did you know that a faucet that drips once each second can waste over 8 gallons of water a day? This amounts to more than 3,000 gallons per year! Simply turning off the faucet can greatly decrease the amount of water you waste and is a very easy way to make a greener Earth in the new year.
3. Shut off devices
When you tuck yourself into bed at night, put your devices to sleep also. Phones and tablets, computers and televisions, powering down devices can conserve tons of electricity. Mobile devices and computers can be put into sleep mode to guarantee no energy is used when you are not using them.
4. Avoid plastic
When shopping, use reusable bags instead of plastic bags. Fabric and cloth bags can be used over and over again, and even keep your groceries cool. Also, reusable bags can be used for gift giving and carrying out take-out food. Plastic bags are not biodegradable and after using them once, you get rid of them. By switching to reusable bags you can cut trash made by plastic bags.
5. Slow your roll!
On the highway, slowing your vehicle from 75 miles per hour to 65 miles per hour can cut highway gas consumption by around 15%. Using less gas releases less fossil fuels into the environment. It is believed by many that fossil fuels are the primary cause of climate change. This means that using less of these fuels this year helps create a better future for our planet. All you have to do is take your foot off the pedal.
6. Pack the washing machines
When running dishwashers or washing machines, put the maximum amount of clothes or dishes in them. Washing machines are huge users of energy. By combining multiple loads into one, you can cut down on this massive energy drain. Also, by putting dishes straight into the dishwasher and not hand-washing them first, you can save even more energy.
There are many simple and easy ways to make 2020 your greenest year yet. From the road to the store to the laundry room, these resolutions can easily be implemented into your daily lives. Making green resolutions can help ensure Mother Earth will have many more bright and green years ahead.