Ten Tips on Being Green

Environmental awareness has s-l-o-w-l-y made its way into the mainstream - what a journey! If you're starting to get hip to being green, below are 10 tips to help get you rolling.

The first Earth Day I remember, I was about 10 years old and in the 5th grade. Other mind mementos from that time are Dynamite magazine (the bomb magazine for kids), everything Star Wars (the movie, the trading cards, the figurines), Kiss, digital watches (the first ones that had a dark maroon screen and the numbers came on when you pressed the button on the side), and the passing of Elvis. I was disappointed at the time that nobody but me seemed to care about about the Earth and recycling - how could they not be interested in something this important?! Now that I think of it, I was a little Lisa Simpson. Those PSAs with the Native American dude with the tear rolling down his face because folks were littering really had an impact on me.

It wasn't until close to 25 years later, when I moved to the west coast from the Midwest that, for the first time, I was surrounded by people who dug recycling just like me! Now, that's not to say my peeps in the Midwest weren't doing their thing, but it was just a little bit easier because more folks were into it. Of course by that time, things were beginning to get into recycling gear. Some folks were trying to be a part of the future by driving electric cars (remember the old Honda EV and the first Insight?). Recycling is way easier than is used to be. Increasingly companies are using recycled materials for packaging their products and using less packing for that matter. The other day, I discovered the BeGreen Pilot pen. It's a disposable pen made from almost 90% recycled materials - pretty cool, right?

A lot of folks still aren't consciously on the proverbial green bandwagon but are starting to think about it. To help with the process along, here are some tips to get the ball rolling and most of them will save money too!

1. Use energy-efficient light bulbs

I think it's awesome that many stores now have an equal number, if not more of the energy-efficient bulbs as
compared to the non-efficient ones ("non- efficient" just feels weird to write - like it's wrong to say; why you any
one every want anything that was "non-efficient"?). A couple of years ago, I was shocked to find that my dad
was hip to using energy-efficient light bulbs and was turning my brother on to them. Neither one of them is
particularly environmentally aware (that I know of anyway), but they're both seriously into saving money and
one way to do that is using energy-efficient bulbs. The energy-efficient bulbs use something like 65 - 75% less
energy and last a whole lot longer.

2. Get some rechargeable batteries

Buying regular batteries always makes my pocketbook and me twitch a little. I'm a musician and I go through a
good number of AA, AAA and 9-volt batteries. The initial investment may hurt a little but, you will make the
investment back in no time and many times over - I never run out of batteries now! Plus, you'll not feel as guilty because you're using eco-friendly batteries!

3. Turn the light off when you leave a room

A no-brainer, right? It's easy - just turn off the light. Can't get much more environmentally-friendly than that! You may have heard this one from one of your parents....

4. Walk

Instead of hopping into the car to pick up one or two things at the market, take a walk (you'll get some exercise
and fresh air too!) or wait until you go out again for something else - combine errands. Now, I live in Los
Angeles - I know that walking can be terribly inconvenient at times. Laugh all you want, but sometimes it is
easier to drive your car to go across the street rather than walk in this town! If you live near one of the 15-way
intersections you know what I'm talking about! (Okay, they're not really 15-way intersections, but they can be 5
or 6-way intersections - always fun!). But, then again, you'd have to find a parking space.... It's probably an
extra bonus plus to do this if you sit at a desk all day. It'll get your blood flowin', your chi movin' and help relax your mind because you're being physically active - it'll feel great!

5. Reusable shopping bags

At this point, many major stores - grocery and department stores - all have reusable shopping bags. Usually
you have to purchase them, but they're usually only 50 cents or a dollar. Get a couple and use them. Put them
in your car - so they're handy when you need them. If you ride the subway, walk or bike, you're probably carrying
a bay with your stuff anyway. folding up one little cloth bag won't take up too much space....

6. Make sure your tires are properly inflated

Good for the environment and your wallet! You spend more money on gas when your ties are under-inflated
because under-inflated tires require more energy to move. If they were low for a while, you may even notice a
difference in how your car handles.

7. Un-plug or turn off your power strips

When my old housemate told me about this one, I thought "Duuhh!" The thought had never occurred to me
even though I was completely aware that the power supplies connected to the surge protectors were always
warm - indicating, of course, that energy is being used even if I'm not actually using any of the items plugged
into the strip. If it's warm, it's using energy. Turn the power strip off or, better yet, unplug the power strip if you
can - plug it back in when you use it again. If you have a lot of gear that's connected to an outlet and you do
this, you'll definitely notice a difference in your electric bill! Okay, this is probably even more eco-friendly than turning off the light in the room....

8. Turn of the water while you brush your teeth

This is one of those funny little things that a lot of people don't even think about or notice until it's pointed out
to them. Now that you've read this, you'll think about it next time you brush your teeth. Being green branches out into environmental conservation. Don't waste it if you don't need to!

9. Recycle, Reuse, Biodegradable

Reading labels is a good thing. One of the things you'll find out is if the packaging is recycled and/or
biodegradable. Plus you can always look for the recycle symbol to see if the packaging is recyclable. I also try
to reuse things like Zip-lock bags and aluminum foil, if I can. (Reused Zip-Locks are great for keep loose
screws and whatnot together in a tool box, use for packing small loose thingies if you're going on a trip, etc).

10. Shop at your local farmers' market (or at least buy locally grown foods if, if you can)

Shopping at your local farmers' market helps the local economy, uses less fuel, is often organically grown
(though that probably varies from place to place) and great prices. The person you're buying from is often the
same person who grew the food, so if you have questions, they can often give you detailed answers. Do you
know where your food comes from? I know it can be a bit of a change of lifestyle to go to one, but they can also
be a fun, social outing and you're getting some exercise and fresh air because you're out walking around.
There's usually music and arts and crafts vendors in addition to the farmers.