Easiest Ways to Go Green

Yes, it's the hottest trend, it's the fashionable thing to do that makes you feel better. Save the environment, just like Brangelina! Okay, so even I'm guilty of it. Now that its popular, its easier than ever to reduce your carbon footprint--and it's even kind of fun.

Not that kind of BYOB! I'm talking about bring your own bag--this is possibly the easiest way ever to go green.

So I've been thinking about the amount of plastic bags I get handed a week. Several for groceries, often from two different stores, couple from the pharmacy, some from the convenience store, several more for takeout items--and don't forget shopping! All in all, probably twenty five a week. 25, just me. And I hardly reuse any of them. I save them, but they just pile and pile until I have to throw some out.

Forget it! No more! My local Whole Foods has abolished plastic bags, and I scoffed at the notion initially--despite the fact that paper bags are totally recyclable and biodegradable, I really thought that plastic can't be all that bad.

Except that it takes thousands of years for them to biodegrade and become acceptable to the earth.

And I thought that in my one store, there can't be that many.

Except that in six weeks, they conserved over eleven thousand at my one store. Not so easy to ignore.

Most stores are now selling reusable canvas or recycled material totes that are huge and sturdy and can carry just about everything you need, and Whole Foods sells them for 99 cents, I think Hannafords was selling them for 1.99$. They're cheap and reusable--buy one, and use it!

And if you forget (like me) when they ask paper or plastic, say paper. Take it to your recycling point and recycle it when you're done.

It sounds so easy, and we all know that tin cans and milk bottles are recyclable--but did you realize these are too?

Electronics: How many times have you traded in your iPod? What did you do with the old one? You can donate them to a second hand store if they still work, sell them on Ebay, and with many electronics you can send them to be refurbished, and at places like Podswap.com you can receive credit for your old one toward another iPod.

Trading up in your cell phone? If the old one still works, donate it to US Soldiers, and if it doesn't, go here for a free mailing label to send it to a recycling point.

Most local disposal facilities (is it unladylike to call it the dump?) have drop off points to recycle tv's, computers, VCR's (because yours is pretty dusty...) and DVD players.

Batteries are really important to recycle, because if left alone they can leak dangerous acids and other hazardous wastes. Better yet? Grab the rechargeables--they save you money and they save the environment!

Paint! Got anything left over from the last home makeover you did? Don't let it weld itself to your garage floor, recycle it. Click on the link to find a location near you.

Charities will also accept donations for large items like boats and cars--ultimate perk, it's a huge tax break. Also, don't forget to recycle your clothing by donating it. Again, tax break! Score.

Earth 911 offers a searchable database of what to recycle and where you can recycle it.

This seems so obvious, because it's the most selfish one with the most immediate impact--conserve energy and water.

It's both really expensive for you and really harsh on the environment when you use more energy than you really need. Ensuring your home is properly insulated and your windows are airtight saves you big megabucks on heating bills. Shutting off lights when you leave a room likewise saves on electric bills. And using less water (not letting a faucet run while you run over to the fridge or cutting down your forty five minute shower) is really going to save on your water costs.

The main problem with energy is that most of the ways you're getting power and heat now are completely unsustainable. Like gas heated homes--big problem! I'm sure you've noticed a overbearing rise in your bills, and among other reasons, part of it is due to already shrinking availability.

Gas has to be pulled from the earth, and they are non-renewable--we can and will run out at our current rate of consumption. Instead we're challenged to find sustainable sources--sources that provide for our current society without damaging the supply to our posterity. This includes wind power (what they're doing with ocean-based windmills these days is incredible), solar power, and hydroelectric power. The basic idea is to work with nature for the energy we need, not against it.

But until you have a windmill on top of your house, remember: use only what you really need and be conscious of waste.

When it comes down to it, I'm not going to bike to work and I'm not going to stop taking planes overseas because they aren't fuel efficient. But that doesn't mean that I'm not conscious of what I'm doing.

If you go to carbonfund.org not only can you calculate what kind of toll your taking on the environment, but you can make a tax-deductible donation to offset it.

Crazy, right?

Well, not so crazy. Carbon calculators like carbonfootprint.com and carboncounter.com let you calculate your effect--for example, I drive my fuel efficient Corolla a lot, to the tune of 30,000 miles a year (crazy I know, I courier). Now despite the fact that I get almost 35 miles per gallon, these calculators tell me I emit upwards of seven metric tons of carbon dioxide.

That's really bad. The average American has a carbon footprint of 16.64 metric tons--the average Indian has a footprint of 1.05 metric tons.

Yeah.

So what does the offset do? Essentially you calculate your debt to the environment and they reinvest that money--or however much money you want--into the environment, be it electrifying truck stops to saving and replanting forests to upgrading sustainable power facilities, the money goes toward helping build a greener future.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you choose something that not only enriches your life, but the environment too.

Recycle, Reuse, Renew.

Be conscious of the effect you have every day.

Hey, it's not every day you get to make the smart decision and be popular while doing it.