What's Your Green Resolution?

As we celebrate the 38th anniversary of International Earth Day, there's a lot to be grateful for. The holiday, which began as a little-recognized grassroots effort in the 1970's has gained international recognition. President Bush, a man who publicly doubted the validity of global warming, managed to sign a green fuel resolution and plant a tree this morning (whether or not his efforts are sincere is besides the point). Earth Day reminds us to reflect on the state of the environment, and think green about solutions. Wondering how you can do your part? Make a green resolution and stick to it all year round. If you're stumped on ideas, borrow one of the tips below.

Green Resolutions to Live By

• Leave your car in the driveway. Hop on your bike, put on your walking shoes, learn your local transit route. Avoiding your car whenever possible will lessen your carbon footprint.
• Drink Tap Water. Think that fancy bottle of water is better for you then tap water? Think again. The jury is out on bottled water, and recent studies suggest that it is no safer, no purer, and contains no less bacteria then good ole tap water. Bottled water does however pose an environmental concern. It's estimated that 30 billion bottles of tap water are consumed every year, and 4 out of 5 of those bottles end up in landfills. Not to mention the resources involved in bottling and shipping the water.
• Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights. A CFL can burn 13 times longer then a traditional light bulb and uses about 80% less energy. Just make sure to recycle your CFLs once they burn out. CFLs contain small amounts of mercury, which can pose an environmental threat, if it is not disposed of properly. Visit www.earth911.0rg for info about recycling CFLs.
• Buy locally grown food and support restaurants who do the same. Buying locally produced food supports neighboring farmers, eliminates much of the pollution associated with transporting food, and supports a more sustainable model of agricultural consumption.
• Buy Reusable Grocery Bags. Grocery chains like Trader Joes sale reusable grocery bags at the check stand for around a dollar. Old grocery bags and canvas tote bags are also a great options.