How to Green Up Your Life

Heard the phrase: "green up your life"? Think you have what it takes to go green? Have you dreamed of living off-the-grid, relying solely on the wind, sun, rain and the earth? If you're trying to incorporate green living into your life, you need to take some things into consideration. Going green isn't easy, like so many people claim. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and time. So, do you have what it takes? Let's find out! Ask yourself the following questions - before you stick your neck out and go "cold turkey" green...

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Dedication
• Hard work ethic
• Time
• Understanding
• Ability to learn
• Creativity
• Endurance
• Money

1. Are you ready to sacrifice? By sacrifice, I mean: do without water, lights, microwave, hair blow dryer, TV, fans, air conditioning... There will be days when you don't have any sun shining. If your batteries aren't charged up enough, you won't be able to use them. Other days, the wind won't blow. Some days you won't have sun or wind. It's days like these you have to really conserve the power you do have - or do without totally.

2. How important is luxury to you? Will you cry when you can’t get a glass of something to drink with ice in it? Can you remember to unplug what little you do have when you’re not using it?

3. How badly do you want to go green? Get a pen and paper and make a list of pros and cons. It will help you put things into perspective and you can go from there.

4. How much are you willing to spend? Wind generators and solar panels and batteries and accessories aren’t cheap – not the quality ones anyway. What about a gas generator? Lanterns? Wood for a woodburning stove? Maintenance on the equipment…

5. Do you want to invest the time and effort it takes to learn how to live green? Truly living green means that doing average things take longer. Washing dishes, for instance, can't be just tossed into a dishwasher and washed for you. Washing clothes on your hands takes a lot longer than throwing them in the washer and pushing a button and walking away.

6. What about washing detergent? Want to make your own? Cleaning supplies? want to invest the time into learning how to make your own natural household cleaning products?

7. What will you give up in your life to help save the environment? Living green takes time, money, dedication, sweat, perseverance, sacrifice, a willingness to learn... So, do you have what it takes to live green? (Be sure to check the Resources below for an article with green living tips.)

Tips & Warnings

• Living green can be an awesome experience filled with amazing adventures, life experience, and memories that will last a lifetime. It all depends on how you approach it and what attitude you have.
• Greening up your life is a lot of work - get ready!

Resources

• How to Go Green
• Green Living Tips
• How to Live Off-grid
• How to Use Leftover Coffee

[ermabombeck]

on 1/2/2009 Wow, reading your great article makes me see how selfish I really am. I definitely could do more to help the planet but I don't think I could go all the way. I will keep plugging away in small ways, as best I can to be more green.

[MicheleLTune]

on 1/2/2009 Thanks, Alrady! Maybe you can go solar some day. :-)

[cecilporter]

on 12/31/2008 This isn't really a "how to" so much as a series of questions about what you're willing to do.

[MicheleLTune]

on 12/3/2008 PABechko - Way to go (green)!!! Good for you! *claps hands*

*smiles*
Michele

[PABechko]

on 12/3/2008 Excellent article. I'm half way there with a tombe wall, passive solar house, pellet burning stove as back up and all bulbs replaced with low watts. Looking for more avenue now -- hoping federal rebates and credits will be reinstated with the new admin.