by Kade Agan
We’re one week into the new year now, and to suggest that few of us may have already fudged on some of our well-intentioned resolutions probably isn’t too outlandish. But this is also a great time to sit down and consider what you’ve done in the past week and how you’d like to continue for the 51 that are to follow. Living greener can be distilled down to a series of simple choices that improve your life as well as the planet. Green resolutions are simple enough and can easily go from conscious choices to eco-friendly habits over time. Like any resolution, though, the goals you set have to be realistic and should ideally be measurable if you have any hope of really achieving them. Here are some steps to help you achieve your green resolutions.
Evalution
Start by making a list of all the areas where you think making a change for the environment could be plausible. Whether this involves evaluating what groceries you buy (or where you buy them), how often you take public transit, how frequently you use large appliances, etc. Making a note of things that you know you can change and then strategizing how to go about those changes is a great first step. If you want to calculate your carbon footprint there are a number of websites to help you, like The Nature Conservancy.
Execution
Ideas for how to become more eco-friendly take on various shades of ambition, and as with any resolution the key to success is choosing a goal that’s truly achievable. Some people might have it in them to start an organic vegetable garden in their back yard, or to join a Community Supported Agriculture cooperative. Others might want to consider shopping more locally, or simply reducing the amount of packaging they bring home from the store. The same goes for deciding whether or not you want to go the whole nine yards and ditch the car in favor of alternative transit, whereas maybe a more feasible solution would be public transit during the week and reserving use of the car for weekends and longer journeys. Each decision you make regarding greener habits is a personal one that requires contemplating just how far you feel you’re willing and able to take your resolution.
Assessment
This is probably the trickiest and most valuable part of achieving any goal. Sometimes we don’t like to admit to ourselves when we’ve come up short, but constant assessment allows us to make adjusts along the way. Going greener is measurable, and it can be done by re-visiting your carbon footprint, looking at how much money you spend on gas or comparing old utility bills to new ones. While not every aspect of being green is always more economical, eschewing waste (in terms of wasted energy or tangible detritus) is a gradual money-saver. It’s worth taking stock of the situation on a quarterly basis to see how you’re doing, and with any luck by this time next year we’ll all be a little greener.
