With a new year upon us, many Hoosiers across the state are creating lists of resolutions that include everything from losing weight or kicking a bad habit to getting better grades or studying harder. While any resolution to better yourself is important, the Indiana Department of Education encourages everyone to add “going green” to their list as well.

Vowing to go green doesn’t mean rushing out to buy a hybrid vehicle or put up solar panels. Going green can be as simple as becoming more conscious of the waste you produce, electricity you use and how you treat the Earth. Going green simply means choosing to change daily habits to have a positive effect on our planet.

For great ideas on how to start simple, check out our Tips link to the right. For more tips, click through our 2008 topics (by month) to see what you can do to start modeling environmentally responsible behaviors.

Many educators and Hoosier students have already made the commitment to go green. To check out what you can do both inside and outside the classroom, click through our Spotlights link or see what schools have done green by going to the Indiana map.

It’s never too early – or late – to start making the choice to help the Earth. There’s no better time to begin than right now.