Easy Ways to Be More Green Today

Making your everyday life more sustainable and Earth-friendly doesn't have to be a dreary exercise in self-sacrifice. Environmentally friendly changes can be fun and easy once you figure out where to start. With more and more people switching to sustainable lifestyles, going green can reconnect you to your community and give your social life a boost. Plus, making environmentally responsible choices can save money on energy bills, gas and food. How can something that fosters new friends, saves money and a helps the planet possibly be that bad?

Energy

Saving energy is the most direct way to reduce your impact on the earth and also the simplest way to lower your bills. Start with the low-hanging fruit and switch most of your light bulbs to CFLs. That wasn't so hard, right? If you're ready for more, wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot, use a clothesline instead of your dryer, lower the temperature on your hot water heater and shut your computer down completely at night instead of just sending it to sleep. If you're feeling ambitious, switch some of your appliances to more energy-efficient models, check with your local power company for green-power options and look into creating your own energy with solar panels or wind power.

Food

One of the most fun ways to make food consumption more eco-friendly is planting an herb garden. Herbs are small and easy to grow on a windowsill, so there's no reason to pay too much for them in a grocery store after they've been trucked halfway across the country. Plus, having an herb garden handy will likely encourage you to cook at home more, saving money and reducing waste. While you're looking for something nice to cook in your rediscovered kitchen, consider locally produced vegetables, dairy and meat.

Transportation

People in America love their cars and luckily you can go green without abandoning yours by simply reconsidering the way you use your car. For short trips, walking and biking are healthy options that don't use a drop of gasoline. On those trips where you do drive, sticking to the speed limit, consolidating errands and carpooling all reduce gasoline use and emissions.

Making environmentally responsible choices can save money