Of course, "it's the most wonderful time of the year!" Christmastime brings all those warm and familiar feelings into the fresh winter air. As familes reconvene and the old year dies down, it is time to start making those New Year's resolutions once again. This time of year serves as somewhat of a haunting reminder to those it catches by suprise. At the beginning of the year, many promised to live a life of environmental sustainability. The year began with hope and progress but may have closed in setbacks and failure.

 

Despite this recurring problem, it is never too late to begin anew. A clean slate arrives in less than a week and now lies the chance for change; a few tips can help spark new ideas later.

 

1. Survey the house. Think about the following problems: drafty windows, outdated thermostats, incandescent lightbulbs. Switching an old thermostat for an updated one could mean the difference between hundreds of dollars.

 

2. Involve the entire family. One person can make a difference, but two heads are better than one. Teaching the young ones about the importance of recycling and buying local will allow for a more sustainable household.

 

3. Be an environmental role model. Stand and deliver. This is a new year and an opportunity to commit to living a more feasible and sustainable life. Driving less and biking more is one of the many ways to express your devotion.

 

Going green is certainly not an easy task. With city recycling limits and other issues, one may think being 100 percent sustainable is impossible. The silver lining of this story essentially is to be as sustainable as possible. Stewardship overrides waste and excess every day of the year. With this said, have a Happy Christmas and a joyous New Year!

 

Photo: mararie/Flickr