With the New Years comes the resolutions to do something different this year. If your choosing to be more environmentally friendly, here are 52 ideas, one new tip a week, that can make a big difference.

For your home

• Create a bee-friendly garden in you backyard or on your balcony.
• Participate in a community garden.
• Do your best to repair more things, whether it is a toaster or a piece of clothing.
• Find sustainable alternatives for all your favourite items and brands.
• Do your own repairs to broken items in your home to avoid waste.
• Switch to reusable batteries in things like your remotes or cameras.
• Cut the trash. Break down your garbage as best as you can.
• Switch your home to greener energy.
• Collect and use rain water.

For your kitchen

• Cook more from scratch.
• Eat more organic food.
• Skip the meat and have fun finding alternatives for protein.
• Grow your own food.
• Cut down on food waste and compost where you can.
• Find fair trade products for the exotic types of food, such as coffee and tea (plus you can find bird-friendly coffee)!
• Use seasonal foods in your cooking.
• Buy from your local farmers where possible.

For the kids

• Try out DIY projects out of things you have at home.
• Cut phantom energy from your home. Have the kids help shut off lights and unplug electronics that could be taking energy when not in use.
• Get your family outside to learn about their local NatureHood.
• Build a backyard habitat for local animals, like bird houses.
• Create cloth bees wax paper to use in lunches.
• Use old crayon’s wax in crafts such as making candles.

For the workplace

• Switch to LED lights and cut the phantom energy.
• Go paperless.
• Purchase recycled paper or seed paper.
• Talk to your company about greener solutions around the office such as recycling or composting.

For shopping

• Bring your own shopping bags and entirely skip the single use plastic.
• Avoid fast fashion.
• Create a capsule wardrobe with only the classics out fits you will need.
• Get thrifting.
• Donate old clothing or use old t-shirts for cloths for household cleaning.
• Host clothing swaps.
• Try your hand at sewing.

For your cleaning

• Hang laundry to dry and skip the dryer.
• Switch your washer to cold and cut the time down in your settings.
• Clear out the chemicals from your home and use eco-friendly cleaners.
• Reduce paper towel usage and use reusable cloths instead.
• Cut stray water usage.

For your travels

• Bring a reusable water bottle on trips.
• Walk, bike and take public transit where possible.
• Reduce gas use by driving electric or more fuel efficient car.
• Try your best to carpool where possible.
• Carry a reusable straw and utensils for eating fast food out.

Other green tips

• Donate to a charity like Nature Canada that is helping the planet.
• Become more aware of changes in our environment and the importance of biodiversity through reading or watching a documentary.
• Reach out to your favourite brands to ask about how they can make their products more environmentally friendly.
• Reach out to local government officials to encourage them in being part of the solution for a cleaner environment.
• Volunteer for your local environmental charity.
• Join your local park for clean up days or initiatives.
• Advocate for better environmental protection through signing petitions or writing letters to your local editor.
• Create or join a neighbourhood Facebook page where you can share, donate, swap or trade old and unused items.