How to live Green(er) in Four Easy Steps
Everywhere you turn we are now being encouraged to conserve energy, live greener. As a long time environmental activist, I cheer this shift in our societal perspective. If you're new to the idea of conservation, here are simple measures you can implement right now, right at home.
The first step to living a more environmentally conscious lifestyle is to want it. Don't just mouth the words. Make a commitment to changing your habits in a meaningful way that will not only have immediate health benefits for you and your family, but will contribute to safeguarding our planet.
Once you made your commitment, educate yourself on how your everyday actions, like food shopping, house cleaning etc, impact the earth. Visit websites such as newdream.org which provides solid information in a reader friendly format. If you're in the know, it's harder to slip back into your old routines. Read all you can from as many different sources as you can. There are numerous, quality environmental based websites.
Start small. Like any new change in behavior, taking baby steps will help ensure that you stick with your new greener lifestyle habits. Pick an area that you think you could improve and find ideas on how to do it. An example: Stop using paper towels; instead use dish rags or towels to mop up messes, and recycled paper bags on which to drain fried foods. I don't want to hand you a list of do's and don'ts on green alternatives. It's much more exciting for you to discover or think of alternatives on your own.
As you progress, be mindful in all you do. How often do we go about our day on auto-pilot? We shop picking up the same items off the grocery shelves without thinking about the packaging, how the food was processed, or where it came from. We get attached to our favorite brands of soaps and personal products without thinking much about the ingredients and where they might end up. Consider greener changes in all aspects of your daily life. Ask yourself, "How can I do___________ greener?" Being mindful will open up a whole new world of possibilities for you.
The health of the planet is all of our responsibility. We can make a difference one habit change at a time.