Community Corner
20 Ways to Go Green in 2013
If your New Year's resolution is to live a greener lifestyle, check out these 20 tips to help you stick to your plan.
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 this summer at the Cedar Falls Farmer's Market.
- 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 consignment stores such as Main Street Exchange, and thrift stores such as St. Vincent de Paul.
- Rip up some lawn and create new garden beds this spring, and then grow your own food this summer. Need help getting started? Try contacting Bear Creek Landscapes or Cedar Valley Lawn Care. Your kids will eat more veggies if they grow them themselves.
- Dispose of your hazardous waste properly. Contact the Cedar Falls Transfer Station for more information.
- Buy a share in a community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm to support local, sustainable farming and enjoy fresh veggies weekly. One local farm is Genuine Faux Farms.
- Ditch those dreaded plastic sandwich bags and get some washable containers or bags. I like ReUsies, created by two Seattle moms.
- Cut down on car trips and run your errands on your bike or on foot. Check out bikes and get tips at Europa Ski and Cycle or Bike Tech.
- 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. Try contacting Hartman Reserve or UNI's Center for Energy and Environmental Education for ideas.
- Got an older house? Install double-pane windows and you’ll see immediate savings on your heating bill.
- Plant a tree that will provide privacy and shade and even years of fresh fruit. Try Earl May Garden Center for advice.
- 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. Reserve a room at the Cedar Falls Public Library and publicize to local parenting groups and preschools through Macaroni Kids.
- Replace your old light bulbs with LED bulbs. They last 15 times longer and use 75 percent less energy. You can find bulbs at Target, Walmart and other stores.
- 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. Contact Cedar Falls Utilities or Green Iowa Americorps for free audits.
- 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.