Trim your waste-line

Hard to believe we’ve reached the end of January. Do your new year’s resolutions already seem a little foggy? We’ve compiled a list of hints and reminders to help refresh your commitment to being more green.

Walk walk walk Help curb pollution by parking your car and walking or cycling to run errands or get to work. You’ll feel great, it’s free and it doesn’t take much longer when you consider that seven in ten car trips are less than five miles long. Winter blues dampening your enthusiasm? Explore car sharing as an option in lousy weather.

Eat healthy - buy organic and local Processed foods consume excessive energy for packaging and additional transport and manufacturing. Plus, they’re laden with preservatives, colourants and additives that are both unnecessary and unhealthy. Organic farming avoids the use of pesticides, produces more nutritious food and is often locally harvested, so stop by your local farmer’s markets to pick up this week’s produce. It’s great for your community and keeps food production local. Why not even plant your own garden? Look for information on community gardens in your area for your very own patch of paradise.

Stop using plastic bags Did you know that for an average use of five minutes, it takes about 500 years for a plastic bag to decompose? Don’t ride your bike to the grocery store only to come back with goodies packed in plastic. Buy eco-friendly bags or take a knapsack along for the ride.

Cut down on crap Be one of those cool people who bring their own cutlery, cloth napkins and mugs to work.

Drink tap water Hey, soda isn’t good for you and bottled water has a high carbon footprint. It’s decadent and should only be considered for emergencies. And while we’re on the subject: drink draft beer!

Try to buy only the essentials It’s very tempting to buy things we don’t need. Before you let loose on a shopping spree, consider whether you really need something or if it’s just an impulse purchase. If you buy, look for minimal packaging (such as bulk groceries), go for whole foods and skip the items in boxes and cans with ingredients that belong on chemists’ shelves and not on your dinner plate.

Enjoy the great outdoors Visit a local, provincial or national park. Taking holidays closer to home and eliminating the need for air travel is a simple way to cut down your contribution to global warming. Train travel is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get around, and links are improving all the time. If you must go further afield, travel independently or with an ethical tour operator.

Recycle and reuse Getting more than one use out of something not only saves money but is hugely satisfying. Half of the electrical goods dropped into landfills work or require only very basic repairs, so think before chucking out. Give to and buy from charity shops. Try flea markets, antique jewelry and vintage clothing shops. Just as recycling is important, so is resolving to buy products made from recycled materials. Look for the recycling symbol on a fast-growing, wide range of products.

Conserve energy Cut your monthly energy bills by 30% by replacing old equipment in your home with state-of-the-art Energy Star products. Get going on those energy-efficient home improvements you’ve been putting off. Turn off lights when you leave a room and keep the thermostat at a steady, moderate temp. Insulate your home, fit energy efficient light bulbs, switch to renewable energy, install a clothesline and unplug lights and appliances when you’re not using them.

Switch to green clean and make your home toxic-free Household cleaning products contain a huge array of chemicals that can be hazardous to our families and the environment. Everyday items such as vinegar and baking soda are excellent all-purpose cleaners and can keep your home sparkling. If chemistry isn’t your strong suit, there are plenty of eco-friendly cleaning products on the market. In addition, reduce pesticides and fertilizers in your garden and you’ll limit what gets flushed into our aquatic environments. Switch your laundry detergent from conventional petroleum-based products to plant-based green detergents. Commercial dryer sheets are filled with harsh chemicals and fragrances that can irritate skin and cause asthma. Try dryer balls, which work the same way but are reusable. Soften your fabrics with baking soda in the wash cycle and cut down on static cling with a few drops of vinegar in the rinse cycle. Do your loads back-to-back to use residual heat in the dryer. Only run the washer and dryer when you have a full load. Wash with cold water to save 80-90% of the energy costs of washing.

Put your money where your mouth is A recent report by an ethical investment group found that when it comes to bank accounts and savings, most otherwise green consumers don’t live up to their principles. While busy recycling and buying organic products, they are happy to invest their money with banks that may be financing projects that harm the environment. Look for companies that do not invest in any business involved in the extraction or production of fossil fuels and ask your bank about ethical savings accounts and green mortgages.

Conserve water Check out our post on conserving water around the house for easy tips and tricks.

Start a compost pile to feed your garden Convert yard clippings, coffee grounds and vegetable peels into natural fertilizer for your garden. Home composters can be found at most home and garden centers, or contact your local municipality for more information. Many offer discounted rates for home composters or take yard clippings for municipal compost piles that provide soil for local parks.

Be a green fashionista Check out local sources for organic threads, and frequent secondhand clothing stores. You’ll be amazed by what you can find.

Plant a tree Do it in your backyard, in your community or through a service that will do it for you, such as Tree Canada.