How green is your New Year's resolution?

There's nothing like a fresh start. Fresh start is a hope for a better future leaving the hurdles of the past behind. And what date is better than January 1st for a fresh start?

Many people have their own New Year's resolutions promising themselves and the world to be better this year. And this year, for many better means greener - half Of U.S. adults, we learn from a new survery, will make a green New Year’s resolution.

Thanks to Environmental Leader I learned about a survey conducted by GfK Roper that checked how much Americans are thinking of going green this year. The results were published on a news release of Tiller, LLC, and here are some of the interesting findings there: 49% of all American adults say they will make a green New Year's resolution this year. It's more popular within young Americans (58% of Americans 18-24) in comparison with older ones (40% of Americans 65+).

Here are some of the green resolutions cited by responders and their popularity within the responders:
reducing household energy usage (75%)
recycling more (74%)
reducing the use of harmful household chemicals (66%).
reducing one's "carbon footprint" (43%)
Carrying fabric bags to the supermarket (42%)

Another interesting factor that was checked was guilt - according to the news release, 31% of the responders admitted to feeling guilty in recent years about not living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Women (36%) are more likely than men (26%) to feel "green guilt."

Well, it's great to see that so many people are feeling committed to change their lifestyle. Let's just hope the willingness will really transform into action. Now more than ever it's time for action. Green action. If each and every one of us will take few steps this year to go green, 2008 might become the year of change.

We hope of course that going green this year will also include a step or even two towards sustainable reading. We look forward to seeing eco-conscious readers as well as publishers, writers, bookstores and others go green with Eco-Libris and in many other ways.

Let's make it together a year with less deforestation, less greenhouse gasses, less waste, less pollution and more trees and hope for a brighter and greener future.

Happy New Year,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Picture Courtesy of RIPPLE Africa