New Year's Eve is a time for promises of change--and this year, with the talk of hope and change abound, these promises need to be kept. Don't let someone else go making all the differences for you ; instead, make your own resolutions that you know you'll be able to keep. None of these interest you? Check out last year's installment of resolutions here.

Eat Local
~Green: Can't cook? Support local restaurants in your neighborhood. No matter what part of Chicago you live in, chances are, a variety of foods await.
~Greener: Travel to your local farmer's market, rather than the supermarket, for fresh produce and meats. In Chicago, you'll be able to find one no matter what the season.
~Greenest: If you have the space, grow your own garden. Not only does this allow you to focus on fruits and vegetables you enjoy, but one of the most rewarding sights is seeing your very own tomato plant bloom.

Recycle
~Green: Almost every store has seemed to hop on the trend of reusable bags instead of using plastic. This is great, just don't forget to reuse it!
~Greener: Check out Chicago's Freecycle List. Not only are you ridding yourself of clutter, but you're also helping someone else out (and possibly gaining some more clutter along the way)!
~Greenest: Build a compost bin if you have the space outside, or a worm bin if you're stuck indoors. For instructions on how to do so, go here.

Eat & Drink Smart
~Green: Buy organic, fair-trade, or local products. You'll feel better knowing that no strange chemicals are going into you or your family.
~Greener: Skip the plastic water bottles, and invest in a reusable stainless-steel bottle. Chicago has some of the best tap water--so take advantage!
~Greenest: Go vegetarian, or if you're really trying to make a change, go vegan. There are reasons abound for skipping meat, but incase you need an eye-opening stat, meat-free eaters emit 2.5 tons of carbon emissions less than meat eaters.

Save on Water
~Green: Take shorter showers. We know that some mornings, nothing short of a twenty minute epic rainfall will do, but keep those to a minimum. Also, cut down on baths. A short 5-10 minute shower uses less water than a full bathtub.
~Greener: While you're at it, get a low-flow shower head. They deliver less water per minute while at the same time still giving you pressure. Just don't think that buying one of these means you can take longer showers!
~Greenest: Invest in a dual flush toilet. It cuts down on water usage by only using the necessary amount to dispose of your waste.

Save Energy on your Technology
~Green: Unplug a device if you're not using it. Leaving it plugged in, even when not turned on, still wastes valuable energy.
~Greener: If your computer does stay on all-day long, set its sleep settings for power management. That way, when not in use, it will be using up the minimal amount of energy possible.
~Greenest: Get a smart power strip, which has ten outlets that work together by auto-switching your devices on and off automatically.
Have any more resolutions you want to share (and keep)? Post them below!