Eat right. Exercise more. Lose weight. Year after year, your New Year's resolutions have a familiar ring to them. So this year, why not take a leap and look at the bigger picture, the greater good, and live a greener life in 2007?

We asked prominent green Chicagoans and our own subscribers to share their Green Resolutions for 2007. Whether you're an enviro-novice or an eco-expert, there's a Green Resolution for you. These tips have been categorized by topic and rated for difficulty. So go ahead and make 2007 green, greener, or the greenest year yet!

1. Save Your Energy

• Green: Replace worn out incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lights. CFLs use 75 percent less energy than conventional light bulbs and are widely available.




• Greener: Install motion detecting lights and buy a water heater blanket. These simple steps will reduce your energy consumption and save you money on your energy bill.




• Greenest: Conduct an energy audit of your home. Then repair leaks and faulty insulation. To learn more visit www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.

2. Detox Your Home

• Green: Keep live plants in your home to naturally filter the air.




• Greener: Replace your cleaning supplies with biodegradable, non-toxic alternatives. Eco-friendly cleaning products are available at health food stores and many grocers.




• Greenest: Switch to low VOC paints for all home renovation projects.
  Conventional paints emit low levels of toxic chemicals for years after application.

3. Eat Better

• Green: Buy organic and fair trade products.




• Greener: Buy local at your neighborhood farmer's market.




• Greenest: Volunteer at a neighborhood garden project. For info, visit the Chicago Botanic Garden's website.

4. Travel Smart

• Green: Bike or walk when distance and weather permits.




• Greener: Offset your carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits from companies like TerraPass




• Greenest: Rather than owning a car, join a car-sharing network like I-Go Cars.

5. Save and Re-Save

• Green: Replace bottled water with a reusable water bottle.




• Greener: Recycle old electronics, paints, household chemicals and batteries at Chicago's Household Products and Electronics Recycling and Training Center.




• Greenest: Initiate recycling programs in your community and office.

Do you want to share your green resolutions or read those of other Chicagoans? Post your comments below.