Tips for "Going Green" Without Sacrificing Your Sanity and Wallet!

Ok, so "going green" isn't exactly a new term in our society, but it also doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon. Each and every day new ways are being developed to become more earth friendly. Some people go green to the very furthest extent- they don't own a car, they grow their own food, and they produce little to no trash each month. While all that is great for the environment, it's just not a feasible way of life for most of us. In fact, some people have avoided the move to "go green" simply because they feel it would involve serious lifestyle changes. Not true!! There are many very easy and unobtrusive ways to help the cause without giving up those things we all love. Here are just a few things to keep in mind.

1) Unplug items when they aren't in use. You can find this tip mentioned in a lot of articles. Here's why. When anything is plugged in, whether it is a lamp, kitchen appliance or charger, it produces electricity even when it's not on. The amount of electricity produced may be small, but it still creates the gaseous by-product that then gets released into the air, helping to contribute to global warming. By simply unplugging things that aren't in use, you can not only prevent the creation of these gases, but it may help lower power bills as an added bonus. Save the earth and money in one easy step? Who wouldn't be ok with that?

2) Buy energy efficient light bulbs. Yes, it's true that these cost just a little bit more than your average filament bulbs, but the long term savings are more than worth it. These bulbs last up to three times longer than regular light bulbs, and use less electricity to power. And as we discussed earlier, less electricity means less harmful gases in our air. As an added bonus during the summer months, these bulbs also produce much less heat, helping to keep your house somewhat cooler, which can also mean savings on power bills. Again, it's a win-win situation.

3) Just say "No" to plastic. How often do we run to the drug store, dollar store, or grocery store and only pick up one or two things? If the rest of you are anything like me, it's pretty often. Next time you run to the store to grab just a couple of things, tell the cashier you don't need a bag. Think of the plastic you could save over the course of a year by making this a habit. Many places now sell reusable bags for a dollar or two, and if you keep these with you, tucked into a purse or pocket, then they are always handy. If you don't want to spend the extra dollar, just don't use a bag and carry your items out. I do this all the time and I've yet to find a store that has a problem with it.

4) Get involved in a recycling program. Many cities provide curbside recycling pick-up, and even those that don't usually have drop-off centers for paper and plastics. Once you've set things up, recycling becomes as simple as remembering to throw certain pieces of trash into a different container. While finding a program near you may require just a little more effort than unplugging the coffee pot, it's still not a difficult activity consisting of maybe a few phone calls. As with all these other tips, the benefits are well worth it.

So there you have it, just a few pretty easy things you can do to help our environment and our future. Lifestyle changes not required!! All of these can truly help provide long term changes to our world, and the satisfaction of knowing you were a part of that is priceless. There are many, many other things everyone can do to be more "green." New books and articles are being published all the time, covering things from simple tips like these to complete overhauls of how you live. There is no limit to what can be done!