It’s that time of year again…. New Years. At the stroke of midnight millions of people all around the world will say goodbye to another year and immediately start thinking about how they want to live in the new one. When the first moments of 2014 present themselves to you, try thinking about making changes to live in a more sustainable manner. Here are a couple of ways to not only make your New Years party more green, but how you can take these resolutions into your new year!
How to Have a GREEN New Years Party!
Going Out on the Town? Share a Limo With Others.
If your night includes heading out, don’t take your vehicle. Share a limo (or taxi, or a car driven by a designated driver) with the group of people that you’re celebrating with. You’ll reduce the amount of carbon footprint left by your outing. You’ll also keep yourselves safer by being sure that nobody gets behind the wheel drunk. Public transportation is another great alternative because, trust us, you’ll see some amazing sights on public transportation on New Year’s Eve! While we, of course, think bicycles are always the most eco-friendly form of transportation (except for walking or swimming!), we caution you about biking on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, there will be many drunk drivers out and bikes are simply at risk on crowded roads full of inebriated people.
Avoid “Throw-Away” Decorations
If you’re hosting your own event, avoid the temptation to go to the Dollar Store or party store and stock up on paper hats and banners that you’ll just throw away the next day. Instead, opt for upcycled or reused decorations from previous years. And remember, sometimes fewer decorations can actually look better. (and a visit to your local thrift store for decorations will help you be the GREEN envy of the party!)
Opt for Candlelight
Turn off the twinkling lights and disco balls and instead light the room with eco-friendly soy candles. It’s more romantic and more environmentally friendly. Just remember, not all candles are created equally when it comes to being good for the planet.
Recycle Those Champagne Bottles
Let the champagne flow! But then let the bottles find their way to a recycling bin. (or maybe save them and turn your upcycled trash into your new years treasure like these Pinterest projects show…)
Pick Earth-Friendly Snacks and Appetizers
Whether you’re eating out or serving others, you can make more responsible decisions about what you eat. It’s okay to enjoy a steak on New Year’s Eve (though meat, in general, creates a huge carbon footprint), but try to select meat that you know the source of. Avoid pre-packaged individual appetizers if you’re serving at home and, of course, remember that there’s no more earth-friendly and healthy New Year’s Eve snack than seasonal, local produce.
Don’t Buy “One-Use” Outfits
If you’re headed out on New Year’s Eve, don’t spend a ton of money (and resources) purchasing an outfit that you’re going to only wear once. Consider hitting a thrift or consignment store, borrowing from a friend or doing a “New to You” party or renting high end clothing and accessories for the night. You can make the night special without having spent a fortune and having wasteful items left over afterwards.
Consider a Quiet Night In Instead
And don’t forget, you can enjoy New Year’s Eve with a quiet evening in, too. It’s safer, less impactful on the environment, and can give you some time to reflect on the previous year and plan your goals for the next year. Sometimes, the best parties are the ones you have quietly in your living room!
(Courtesy of Postconsumers.com)
LIVE Sustainable in 2014!
1. Never buy bottled water again
Trade your bottled water habit for an at-home filtering pitcher and you can help make a dent in the 1.5 million barrels of oil used to make plastic water bottles each year; pair it with a reusable bottle (like one made of glass, aluminum, or recycled plastic), and you’ll always be prepared to tackle your thirst. Bonus: With bottled water no longer on your shopping list, you could save as much as $1,400 this year!
2. Brew your own Fair Trade coffee
Carrying your own coffee in an insulated travel mug helps you reduce waste from cardboard cups and carrying sleeves — which are thrown away at a staggering rate of 58 billion each year. For greener at-home brewing, choose a Fair Trade blend that supports farmers; add organic milk instead of artificial creamers; and try a French press (instead of a traditional brewer) to save electricity.
3. Remember your reusable bags
With more than 1 million plastic bags ending up in the trash every minute, taking reusable bags to the store is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint — but the hardest part about using them is simply remembering to take them with you.
4. Cut back on paper towels
If you’re grabbing a paper towel for everything from wiping up spills and cleaning your counter to scrubbing the bathroom and keeping your hands clean at dinner, it’s time to make a change. Instead, invest in a few cotton cloths and some fabric napkins; then drop them in the wash when you run a load of laundry. Using the cloth alternatives is just as easy as using the paper versions, and you only need to buy them once — plus you can help eliminate the 3,000 tons of paper towels that end up landfills every day.
5. Use a bike for short trips
It takes a certain amount of dedication to permanently give up a car in favor of a bike, but even an eco-slacker can make it work for short trips that don’t require hauling a lot of stuff: picking up milk at the local grocery store, after-dinner ice cream at your favorite dessert spot, your morning yoga class, brunch with friends at the coffee shop. Ride your bike for trips shorter than 2 miles and you could cut your carbon footprint significantly, save money on gasoline and car maintenance, and increase your fitness level — all at the same time.
6. Order from your local CSA
Going to the farmer’s market always sounds like such a great idea — until Saturday morning rolls around and you realize you have to get up early, have enough cash, and fight other customers for the best strawberries. Instead, have your local CSA program do the hard part for you by putting together a box of their best produce each week — and, if you’re really feeling lazy, have it delivered right to your door so you get fresh, local fruits and vegetables without giving up your lazy coffee-and-crossword mornings.
7. Become a weekend vegetarian
Cutting meat out of your diet just two days a week can decrease your carbon footprint by about 1/3 of a ton — and coming up with meat-free meals for Saturday and Sunday isn’t as hard as it sounds. Try pancakes and fruit for breakfast; fresh salads or roasted vegetable sandwiches for lunch; and veggie pizza, bean soups, and creamy risottos for dinner. And since doubling a recipe rarely adds any time to your prep work, you can make extras to eat throughout the week (and trim your carbon footprint even more).
8. Eliminate phantom power
It takes approximately one second to unplug the charger for your cell phone, mp3 player, e-reader, or iPad — but if you really can’t be bothered, then let nifty, energy-efficient gadgets do the work for you. Use power strips to turn off all your appliances at once; put your television, DVD player, game system, and stereo on a timer so they automatically shut off overnight; and invest in chargers that stop drawing current when the device’s battery is full. You could cut your energy bill by as much as 10 percent annually — without lifting a finger.
9. Switch to green power
Switching your home to run on green power sounds like a big job — installing solar panels, geothermal energy, or a tankless hot water heater is not a job for the construction-impaired. But you can also make this happen without getting out of your chair: Call your local energy company and see if they offer renewable options (most do). You might see a small jump in your bill, but it’s an easy way to make a big change.
10. Replace your lightbulbs
Replacing your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lights may be the ultimate change for the eco-slacker. Despite all the jokes, it takes only one person to change a lightbulb — and since CFLs last longer than traditional bulbs, you’ll be saving time for years down the road while cutting your energy use by as much as 80 percent. Can’t even face the hardware store? Order your bulbs online and have them come straight to your door.
Last Updated January 14, 2014
