20 Ways to Go Green in 2013

If you want to be kinder to the planet and save some money at the same time, here are 20 ways to go green in 2013. 

1. Buy fresh, local food this summer at your local farmer's markets. The Merrimack Farmers Market has a great selection of locally produced food. You could also grow your own in the community garden at Wasserman Park
2. 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.
3. Bring your own bags when you shop for groceries. 
4. Shop at one of the many consignment stores  and thrift stores in neighboring Amherst and Bedford. A large Goodwill store is also coming to Amherst this year.
5. Rip up some lawn and create new garden beds this spring, and then grow your own food this summer. Your kids will eat more veggies if they grow them themselves.
6. Dispose of your hazardous waste properly. The transfer station will have more details on what is/is not allowed.The next household hazardous waste collection date is April 20. Get more information here about collection dates and what's accepted.
7. Buy a share in a community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm to support local, sustainable farming and enjoy fresh veggies weekly. Check out Shirley Farm, in Goffstown, or Country Dream Farm, in Nashua.
8. Ditch those dreaded plastic sandwich bags and get some washable containers or bags, like ReUsies, created by two Seattle moms.
9. Cut down on car trips and run your errands on your bike or on foot. 
10. Pack cloth napkins instead of paper towels in school lunches.
11. 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.
12. Got an older house? Install double-pane windows and you’ll see immediate savings on your heating bill.
13. 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. Contact Northern Arboriculture of Merrimack, the tree and shrub specialists, or McCabe Design's Robert McCabe, another certified arborist in town.
14. Dump your bottled water costs. You could save hundreds of dollars by buying snazzy BPA-free plastic or metal water bottles for everyone in the family and a personal filter for your kitchen faucet. Plenty of sports equipment stores have an assortment of kid-pleasing water bottles.
15. Organize a Halloween costume swap in September. This can be a great service project for a Girl Scout troop. Reserve a room at the local library and publicize to local parenting groups and preschools.
16. Replace your old light bulbs with LED bulbs. They last 15 times longer and use 75 percent less energy.
17. Expand your hand-me-down circle. Organize a clothing swap or a Halloween costume contestfor your kids’ preschool or a group of friends. Everyone brings gently used and clean kids’ clothes to your garage and parents can take as many items as they donated. The rest goes to charity. You can also swap toys and books.
18. 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.
19. Save up to 30 percent on your monthly heating bills by having a home energy audit done by a professional.
20. Give service and experience gifts this year instead of stuff. Make homemade gift certificates for services and experiences that could include tech support, dinner and a movie, yard work, pet walking or babysitting, or a day of organizing support for the clutter challenged.

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