Call me a tainted woman, but I wasn’t too optimistic anticipating the State of the Union address.
After reviewing my 2011 environmental summary of the State of the Union, I realized Obama made promises to put pressure back on big oil, get 80% of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years (remember that one?), 80% of electricity sourced by clean energy in 2035, and break foreign dependence on oil.
Hmm…. Where are we today? (Luckily Treehugger had some Cliff Notes for me…)
Stop listening to the old wives tales: Wash your laundry in cold water.
A whopping 90% of energy used for washing clothes is heating the water (Planet Green). If you select that cold/cold option for 4 out of 5 cycles, you’ll save 72 LBs of carbon dioxide emissions this month alone! (It’s also good for your wallet – You’ll save $60-100 a year on energy bills too!)
American’s #1 New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight.
Sure, there’s some variations … Such as “get fit, be healthier, make better food choices and then there are those who get specific - consume less than X number of calories everyday, cut out candy and chocolate, stop eating standing up etc.” But the theme is we’re resolving to lose weight in ’09 (and ’08 and ’07…)
This is the week I notice a shift in those around me in their approach to food and exercise. Co-workers that ran for the holiday treats in December now hold up their bag of carrot sticks and mutter “no thanks” to the leftover seasonal baked goods. My gym parking lot becomes impossible to get a spot in (though why not park two blocks away – it is exercise to walk over) and the battle to get a treadmill is fierce.
But no complaining, I commend any efforts to take better care of ourselves. And it’s no mystery why people recommit themselves to these goals year after year. According to an article by Business Week this past August adult obesity rates have doubled since 1980, from 15% to 30%, and two-thirds of U.S. adults are now considered overweight or obese.
That’s a pretty scary stat.
But there’s a very real connection between getting healthier (read: slimmer!) and living green.
As Julie pointed out in 10 Green New Years Resolutions in ’09, there’s plenty of simple fixes that go a long way.
Here are some specific steps you can take to conquer your green and health resolution simultaneously:
As we’re quickly approaching that infamous Times Square ball falling, it’s time to think ahead and make New Years resolutions. Debating what you should 
do to be greener in the New Year?
Here’s 10 ideas to party like it’s 2009:
Are you sick of going to parties or bars seeing a girl or guy in the same outfit as you? Fear not eco-
conscientious fashionistas, there’s a clothing line in town to prevent that problem.
Nicole Rae Styer designs a line of clothes for people who like to be unique or stand out. Her inspiration comes from vintage styles. She creates one-of-a-kind dresses, tank tops, shirts, purses, intimate apparel and home decor for women, as well as kids clothing and men’s shirts. She takes pride in ensuring each piece of her line is unique and pays careful attention to detail, just two of the reasons she had her work shown at the prestigous Fashion Week run-way show last year.
Will you be hearing Wedding Bells in the near-future? The traditional wedding expo has come undone! Save the date for Unbridaled, an alternative wedding expo focusing on local, handmade, and environmentally-friendly options for planning a wedding.
