GreenSolutionsAtHome.com

The 10 resolutions below are for people hoping to make their home more eco friendly in 2012!

So the question you should be asking yourself is how green are you willing to go in 2012?

1. Finish every project you start!

The most common thing about New Year’s resolutions is that they are forgotten. Yes that’s right! Unfortunately it’s not uncommon for people to drop out of their projects. Usually it gets very difficult at some stage depending what you’re doing. The mistake is people give up on all the hard work they’ve already achieved!-Don’t be one of those people this year. If you decide to take something on commit to finishing it.



2. Stop buying water bottles!

Just so you know I have made it my mission this year to make my family stop using water bottles. You can find a much safer, healthier and eco friendly alternative to using water bottles.

Personally I hate water bottles mostly because i find them to be quite unhealthy. Quick tip: smell the inside of your plastic bottle and tell me if you like what you smell. Personally I found it unhealthy for me to drink out of a bottle that smells of toxic plastic. Oh and by the way watch out for BPA and that’s only the tip of the iceberg!



Plastic bottles take up around 2 million tons a year in our land fills

Please make the right choice and stop buying water bottles!

3. Be the master of recycling!

If you are new to recycling START NOW! You could start by donating unwanted clothes and if you’re brave enough recycle those ice cream containers, cans and paper materials. You need to start 2012 by adopting an eco friendly lifestyle that way you can ease into it throughout the year.

4. Improve your homes efficiency(duh):

By now after reading this blog I’m sure home efficiency is the one subject you’ve definitely looked at. I hope you have made an investment to get some CFL light bulbs. You should start by checking your house for any heat loss by doing it the DIY way (kudos to you!), or you could just get a professional…

What you can do at the moment is to lower your thermostat during the night. I recommend the ideal temperature should be lowered at least by 1.5 degrees Celsius a month, until you reach at least 15.5 degrees Celsius. Trust me your going to love your sleep especially after looking at your heating bill!-I know I did!

5. Quite all the toxic cleaners:

This is a point I really believe in. Start by discarding every single part of your cleaning kit you suspect may be toxic. The first thing I did was purchase some trusted natural cleaners . Luckily I was introduced to some zero chemical cleaners . To be honest I was very skeptical, until I noticed that the best thing to do was to try it out myself, after all if I didn’t like it I would simply return it. You’re in for a pleasant surprise.

6. Make use of a reusable bag:

Everyone loves the person that shops with their own eco friendly shopping bag, the shop wins, the environment wins and you win. You can even win by being offered a discount just for using your own shopping bag. Some shops are even charging customers for using the stores shopping bags! Luckily some environmentally aware retailers are selling eco friendly shopping bags.

7. Convince your friends to join your efforts:

This is most probably one of the hardest steps to take. A good number of friends to recommend would be at least 4. Four is a good number because if those four good friends of yours recommend our cause to another 4 or more people, it can lead to a chain reaction and hopefully a community of GREEN ACTIVITS who care! This will be a great thing because it all adds up to the joint efforts of people trying to make our planet healthier.

8. Make use of Public Transport:

Its acceptable if you’re not a fan of public transport, but at least use it a few times a month. The best alternative is to get together with your friends and to form a “lift club”. This is widely used, but is mainly suited for those that live in the same neighborhood.

9. Make use of your bicycle:

People always tell me how great it is cycling to work because they get a refreshing workout and view of their surroundings. Unless you live in a place with interesting terrain, this could be the most relaxing eco friendly step you could ever take. Imagine how having a relaxing cycle to your job could help brighten your day.

10. GROW YOUR OWN!:

That’s right; I left my favorite for last! If you’ve read “Top Green Tips for a healthier diet” you’ll know that this is by far my favorite green activity. All you have to do is head to the back of your garden and grow your own vegetables . for more on this tip just go to my post “Top Green Tips for a healthier diet”.

Recommended resources: Zero Chemicals for Chemical Free Living

I hope you found this helpful