Happy New Year from 11th Hour Action!  We are very looking forward to a bright and productive 2009!  The new year is always a great time to take stock of goals and priorities and set and renew positive intentions.  We are hopeful that with the incoming Obama administration with it's emphasis on renewable energy, green jobs and conservation, and with more and more people becoming hip to the green revolution everyday, that 2009 will be a great year for environmental awareness and action!

Here are 11 EASY things we can do to make conservation and sustainability a part of our everyday lives:

1. Set your thermostat to 68. You can always put on another layer if you get cold!

2. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. It improves your fuel efficiecy, thereby cutting back on CO2 emissions.

3. Plan a weekly trip to your Farmer's Market to buy local and organic foods.  Eating local cuts down on the your carbon footprint and organic food does not contribute to pollution from pesticide use.

4.  Cut back on water use. Take shorter showers, wash car using a bucket instead of a hose (or better yet, use waterless carwash products!), only wash clothes & dishes with a full load, and turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth!

5.  Unplug your appliances and chargers when they are not in use. Use a smart power strip to make this easier! Turn off the lights when you are not in the room (I know it sounds silly but a lot of people still don't do this!)

6.  Bring your own bag to the store! The hardest thing about this one is remembering the bag. Keep them in your car or the compactable nylon ones in your purse!

7.  Recycle all you can!  Go online to find out what you can and cannot recycle in your area. You might be surprised that your city is capable of recycling more than you think!  Also, find out how you can properly dispose of or recycle electronic waste, prescription drugs, and yard and food waste. Consider making 2009 the year you start composting!

8. Consume less!  If something breaks, consider repairing it before you replace it. Repurpose things that still have some life left in it or donate it to someone who can use it when you are through.  

9.  Change your light bulbs. I know this is totally cliche by now, but believe it or not a lot of people are still using incadecent bulbs! CFLs and Cold Cathode bulbs are improving all the time, especially when it comes to bulbs used with dimmer switches.  If you tried to switch in the past and couldn't find what you needed it might be a good time to look again.

10.  Drive less. If you life in a mild climate, walk and ride your bike as much as you can.  Be efficient with your time and fuel by running all your errands during one outing instead of taking lots of seperate trips. Carpool and use public transportation!

11.  Take Action!  Consider finding a local organization that is working towards a sustainable future and volunteer!  Talk to your friends, family, co-workers and anyone you meet about these easy ways they can make a difference!  

These are just a few things that we can all recommit ourselves to doing in the New Year!  Remember, all these little actions add up to a big impact and we can all do our part.