How to Start Living Green

Most of us contribute to pollution and the destruction of the environment every day. Though it may seem overwhelming, it's really quite simple to begin taking small steps towards changing our everyday habits and start living green!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bags). Reduce your use of plastic grocery bags by purchasing inexpensive canvas bags from a craft store, and remember to bring them with you when you head to the grocery store (or better yet, your local farmer's market).
   
   If you're crafty, you can even customize your bag like this clever "it" bag from Anya Hindmarch:
   http://www.anyahindmarch.com/division/environmental_bags.aspx
   
   If you forget your reusable shopping bag, ask for paper. Not only do they fit more items, so you use less of them, paper bags can be saved and reused and then recycled.
2. This may seem obvious, but vehicle emissions are one of the biggest sources of air pollution and with gas prices hovering around $3/gallon across the country, getting behind the wheel does a number on your wallet as well. When you can, avoid driving and walk or bike instead. If you think you don't have time, consider the multi-tasking aspects of combining errands with exercise. If this isn't possible, try taking the bus or other public transportation. Or, ask a couple of friends to coordinate schedules for typical errands like grocery shopping and going to the dry cleaners. This way, you'll all be making less of an eco-impact and having fun at the same time!
3. Instead of purchasing commercial house cleaners which are typically full of chemicals and whose packaging is anything but user-friendly, create your own organic cleaners. There are plenty of web sites with detailed recipes for everything from glass cleaners to furniture polish made from ingredients such as lemon, baking soda, olive oil, and even mayonnaise!
   
   A few to check out:
   http://mlmgorilla.com/naturalcleaningrecipe/
   http://earthnotes.tripod.com/clnrecipes.htm
   http://www.naturalsolutions1.com/nontox.htm