How You Can Help the Environment in the New Year

If you want to be kinder to the planet and save some money at the same time, here are 10 ways to go green in 2013.

1. 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.
2. Bring your own bags when you shop for groceries. 
3. Dispose of your hazardous waste properly. Visit the Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful website for tips.
4. Ditch plastic sandwich bags and get some washable containers or bags. 
5. Pack cloth napkins instead of paper towels in school lunches.
6. 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. 
7. 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. 
8. 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. 
9. Replace your old light bulbs with LED bulbs. They last 15 times longer and use 75 percent less energy. 
10. 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.

Do you think you could stick to a green New Year's resolution? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments sections below.