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Maryland Department of Natural Resources
DNR Encourages Marylanders to Make
Sustainable Resolutions for 2008
ANNAPOLIS, MD — For those contemplating their annual resolutions for the New Year, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers a list of sustainable living suggestions.
 
  1. Lighten Up. Be a part of the national campaign to change a light, change the world.  Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
     
  1. Pass on Plastic. Take a reusable bag along when shopping for groceries and other items and say “no thanks” to a plastic bag. 
     
  1. Turn it Off. When you are going to be away from your desk for an extended period of time, or you are finished working for the day, don’t just allow the machine to “sleep.”  Instead, use a power strip and turn off the power.  
     
  1. Really Recycle. Pump up your recycling habits to extend beyond the point of just throwing your used copy paper in the recycle bin at work. Create baskets for plastics, aluminum, glass and paper products in your kitchen or garage and actually use them.  Encourage those that your share a living space to do the same. 
     
  1. Donate things.  When you are no longer enamored with a piece of furniture, clothing items or exercise equipment donate it or post it online to find a new home instead of taking it to the landfill.
     
  1. Green your Car. If you must drive to a destination, make sure your car is running efficiently. Getting regular tune-ups, performing maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas and therefore pollute the air less.
     
  1. Buy All-Star Appliances. When your appliances break, buy an ENERGY STAR version.  If helping reduce our carbon footprint isn’t enough incentive, consider the lower energy bills, tax incentives and rebates associated with these products. 
     
  1. Plant a Tree. It’s simple, and it helps make the air cleaner and the land more beautiful. 
     
  2. Get Unlisted. If you notice that certain catalogs or companies are consistently ending up in the garbage without being read, be proactive and remove your name from the mailing list.
     
  3. Nature Your Children. Take the children in your life outdoors to explore all of the precious natural resources Maryland encompasses. If our youth do not understand the value of the outdoors, who will be the future stewards of the land?
December 26, 2007

Contact: Olivia Campbell
410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell
ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov