By Melissa Zietz and Steppers

It’s that time of year! Time to reflect on the past and look forward to the year ahead. We’ve asked Steppers to think about what additional actions they would like to take (or would like to see the world take) to become more sustainable in 2010. Here is what they had to say:

Dan Karamanski
For commuting to and from work, I will drive a car for fewer than 20% of the trips (5 miles each way).

Lindsay Wood Davis and Amanda L. Davis
Plant way more native Wisconsin trees and shrubs to enjoy in our yard, and have way less grass to mow!

Amelia Speight
My green New Year’s Resolution is to become more active in the various environmental groups I’m in (Natural Step, Environmental Club at the High School), and to direct other groups I’m in to more environmental practices.

Kate Heiber-Cobb
• Discretely put a clothes line up in our backyard and line dry more of our clothes. Discretely because, shocking as it seems, new lines are illegal in our city. Maybe get that ordinance changed?
• Get 10 Monona properties to hold storm water on their properties.
• Have a solar assessment done for our property.
• Increase my food production by 50%.
• Get the okay to plant fruit and nut trees in our Monona City Parks.
• Grow spinach and hearty greens in a small hoop set up on our back porch (with full southern sun exposure) this winter.

Jed Hannemann
I work part-time at a bar and restaurant. Many, many times there are recyclable items in the garbage bin. In 2010, I will make a conscious effort to pull all recyclable items that I see out of the garbage and place in recycling. I’ll also tastefully mention to fellow staff that plastics, glass, aluminum, and cardboard should be placed in the blue recycling bin and all other items in the garbage.

Heather Gates
• I resolve to replace more lawn area with food plants, so I am ever more self-sufficient, and my land is ever more absorbent of rain.
• I resolve to eat less, which will not only be good for me, but good for the planet, too. Our over-consumption of resources in this country and other developed nations extends to food. The more food we consume, the less there is for the rest of the world. The more food we consume, especially the highly-processed and/or packaged variety, the more resources are used in making it and getting it to our plates. And the more food we consume, the fatter and less healthy we become!
• I resolve to lower my electricity use (average of 297 kWh) and gas use (average of 32 therms). You can see your average use and that of other MG&E customers at www.mge.com/MyAccount/averagecost/index.htm.
• I would like every alderperson to resolve to participate in one of The Natural Step Monona’s study circles, so the leaders of our community understand the power of possibility for our city, can speak the same language about sustainability, and can be strategic in planning for and with our community. (There are no city meetings on Sunday nights! How about it, Alders?)
• I would like everyone who has internet access to resolve to watch the twenty-minute video The Story of Stuff. It shows the underside of our production and consumption patterns, and will make you think differently about just how much “stuff” you need. Having less stuff leaves more room for happiness!

Jim Keck
I will schedule our home energy audit follow up appointment and complete the items on our list to make our home more energy efficient.

Melissa Zietz
• I will reuse my existing containers and purchase more bulk items at the grocery store each week to reduce the packaging that I bring home.
• I vow to finally change over to rechargeable batteries!

We hope that our resolutions inspire you to make one (or several) of your own! Even a small step can make a huge difference for our planet. From all of us at The Natural Step Monona, have a happy and sustainable new year!