Here are some great New Year’s resolutions from Albany (and vicinity) neighborhood activist Paul Tick:

New Year’s Resolutions–Paul Tick’s Top Ten Picks

1. Resolve to never give up…

2. Resolve to go solar now that it is easier than ever. Everyone can go solar this year and save money and help save the environment. No matter if you rent or own, no matter if your home is in shade or sun, no matter if you have extra money to invest or not. (here is how)

3. Resolve to have a home energy audit. It will help you decrease your carbon footprint and save money. A certified auditor comes to your home, finds the places where you are losing energy and gives you an easy to understand energy and money saving analysis. Many of the ideas in the analysis will cost next to nothing and others will take a few years until you see the payback. You will choose which to implement now and which to put on hold. It is a fun learning process. Click here to learn more about this state supported program. Next watch your energy bills decrease month by month.

4. Resolve to buy local and fair trade as often as possible.

5. Resolve to reduce the use of plastic bags, plastic utensils and other plastics as much as possible.

6. Resolve to think before using your motor vehicle; to consider if the trip is necessary, if you can do it by foot, bike or mass transit, if you can combine it with other errands, if you can carpool and to slow down so as to reduce my carbon footprint.

7. Resolve to plant a native tree or bush and/or native flowers in the spring.

8. Resolve to remember that posting to Facebook is not the same as activism; that we need much more direct citizen involvement to make change and protect our democracy.

9. Resolve to encourage friends and family to become active and to sign up for News from the Neighborhood by having them click the subscribe button at the bottom of this page.

10. Resolve to have fun while being an activist.

You can sign up to get Paul Tick’s great email News From the Neighborhood on local activism here.