Green Matters

Simple Tips for Living Green
By Eleanor Sweetwood
Living Green. It is in the news every day, but what does living green really mean? Simply put, it means making responsible environmental choices about the way we live our lives. The products we purchase, the products we discard, even a small change can make a big difference. The best part is you don’t have stop shaving your legs or wearing Birkenstocks to really care about the planet. A few key changes can get you started and if we all make an effort with small changes, then collectively we can make a very big difference.
Simple tips for Living Green:
1. Spend wisely. Consumers exert tremendous influence through their purchasing power. Make a decision to purchase from environmentally responsible companies. To learn about the companies that are making a difference, conduct some research through the Internet, www.thegreenguide.com/products/ is a great resource to get you started. Buy products from companies that minimize their packaging or use biodegradable ingredients.

2. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Reduce the amount of products you purchase. Is it a need or a want? It is human nature to accumulate more stuff. Think twice before any purchase and ask yourself if you really need to buy it. Buy products in bulk if possible to reduce packaging. Reuse everyday products. Convert clothing into rags or donate to thrift shops. Shop for second hand items. Repair broken items. Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum cans (don’t forget aluminum foil). Set up separate containers right in your kitchen to make sorting easy. For a directory of your local recycling sources go to www.ourearth.org or www.earth911.com.

3. One step at a time. Make an effort each day but be consistent. Try not to take on too many green ideas at one time. You will become overwhelmed and stop trying at all. Try one thing until it becomes so automatic that you can’t remember when you didn’t do it. An example might be reusable shopping bags. Buy some reusable shopping bags and use them each time you shop. If you find yourself in the store having forgotten them, walk out of the store and get them out of your car. After using them to bring your groceries home, put them by the door so you can’t leave the house without remembering to take them with you again. If you start at trip to the store without the bags, turn around and go back home. Keep an extra set with you all the time. This is one way to make a commitment to do one thing until you have it fully ingrained into your routine. Then add another change. Yes, you are going to forget sometimes. Don’t beat yourself up or throw in the towel. Keep taking small steps toward a greener lifestyle. For some easy tips to get you started, try greenlivingtips.com.

Albert Einstein said,
“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.”
Every time you do one thing for the environment you are setting an example for others. People whether friends, family, or complete strangers will see you and want to follow your example. This is the most powerful step you can take in making a change for the better. Living a green lifestyle is easy with a few simple steps., you can do it now. You will feel better and so will the planet.