By Karen Chi, Intern

We hope you’ve all had a wonderful holiday celebration with friends and family! Now that Christmas has passed, and we’ve all stuffed our bellies full of buttery, warm goodies, it’s time to think about those New Year’s Resolutions. There are a lot of things you can do to be more conscious of your environmental and social impact. Keep reading for a few quick tips, and remember: make your goals realistic so they stick throughout the year and become a part of your daily routine.

One of the best ways to minimize your footprint is to eat a plant based diet. I understand that this can be difficult at the beginning, so try participating in Meat Free Mondays to kick start a diet filled with more healthy, dark, leafy greens. Meat Free Mondays asks you to eat meat-free for one day out of the week (Monday) to start incorporating a plant based diet into your life. Being a vegetarian can require some planning so just one day of the week (plus leftovers!) can significantly reduce your eco impact. Give it a try.

Another easy switch is giving up bottled water! Buying a filter and replacements cost on average $80 a year — much less then buying a $1 – $2 16oz bottle of water. Plus think about all of the plastic you’ll save! In the United States, we have the luxury of drinkable tap water. With a simple Brita Filter and glass bottle (no chemical leeching!) you can save hundreds of dollars a year and the switch is simple. Also check out The Water Brewery in Costa Mesa for the best water around powered by love :)

One of the biggest energy wasters in a house, after the refrigerator, is the clothes dryer. When I lived in China, despite being in one of the hugest, most energy-inefficient cities in the world, a clothes dryer is often hard to come by, and not used by many people within the city. For the most part, I grew up hanging my clothes overnight on a rack outside or inside my bedroom. This saves tons of money each year–and helps make the world a little more beautiful.

And last but not least, please remember to recycle your Christmas tree and dispose of it properly!

To get some help being a bit more green in 2012, check out the free community events at Mother’s Market and Whole Foods, and of course the GRN blog :)

Happy New Year!