If you want to be kinder to the planet and save some money at the same time, here are 20 ways to go green in 2013.
- Buy fresh, local food at East Bay farmers markets. Some are closed for the winter months. You can find a full list for Northern California here. Some farmers markets are open year-round. They include those in Fremont, Union City, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton, Danville and Alameda.
- Have your kids make their friends' birthday cards and bring gifts in decorated paper bags or a cool reusable bag. Kids love getting a handmade card — as do adults.
- Bring your own bags when you shop for groceries.
- Shop at thrift stores. There are a wide variety in most communities in the East Bay, including stores in Union City, Fremont, Hayward, Dublin, and San Leandro. A complete list can be found here.
- Rip up some lawn and create new garden beds this spring. Then, grow your own food this summer. Your kids will eat more veggies if they grow them themselves.
- Dispose of your hazardous waste properly. There are facilities throughout the East Bay that specialize in e-waste, mercury, pharmaceuticals, batteries and household waste. Save The Bay has a complete list of places to dispose of waste.
- Buy a share in a community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm to support local, sustainable farming and enjoy fresh veggies weekly. Local Harvest has a list of these farms and other organic food information.
- Ditch those dreaded plastic sandwich bags and get some washable containers or bags. An option is ReUsies, created by two Seattle moms.
- Cut down on car trips and run your errands on your bike or on foot.
- Pack cloth napkins instead of paper towels in school lunches.
- Look for an environmental service project you can do with your children, such as removing trash and non-native plants and planting trees in their place. Save Mount Diablo is one of many organizations that organize such programs.
- Got an older house? Install double pane windows and you’ll see immediate savings on your heating bill.
- Plant a tree. A certified arborist can help you select and plant trees that will provide privacy and shade and even years of fresh fruit.
- Dump your bottled water costs. You could save hundreds of dollars by buying snazzy metal water bottles for everyone in the family and a personal filter for your kitchen faucet.
- Organize a Halloween costume swap in September. This can be a great service project for a Girl Scout troop.
- Replace your old light bulbs with LED bulbs. They last 15 times longer and use 75 percent less energy.
- Expand your hand-me-down circle. Organize a clothing swap for your kids’ preschool or a group of friends. Everyone brings gently used and clean kids’ clothes to your garage and parents can take as many items as they donated. The rest goes to charity. You can also swap toys and books.
- Replace your showerheads with low-flow models. Low-flow showerheads can save you up to 15 percent on water heating costs and reduce your water usage by as much as 20,000 gallons a year.
- Save up to 30 percent on your monthly heating bills by having a home energy audit done by a professional. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has home energy saving tips on their website.
- Give service and experience gifts this year instead of stuff. Make homemade gift certificates for services and experiences that could include tech support, dinner and a movie, yard work, pet walking or babysitting, or a day of organizing support for the clutter challenged.
TELL US: Do you think you could stick to a green New Year's resolution? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments sections below.
