How to Go Green & Reduce Your Impact.™
"Going Green" is not just the latest buzzword, it is a lifestyle change. It is impossible to do overnight. The best way to make environmentally conscious choices is one by one, as your budget and needs shift. The Organic Bag Lady could write an encyclopedia on ways to green your life, but we will only address a few easy ways here, and if you want more great information, just go to our FAQ Page and there are additional resources there.
Easy:
1) Switch to powdered, biodegradable dish and laundry soap. This uses less water and packaging materials.
2) Replace your incandescent lightbulbs with CFLs (compact flourescent) bulbs. They are a little more expensive, but they last much longer, and more than pay for themselves with energy savings.
3) Use reusable bags for all of your shopping needs. Not just at the checkout stand, but in the produce and bulk aisles, at the mall, and lunches. This is easy if you find the style of bag that fits you.
More Difficult:
4) Eat Less Meat! This is harder for alot of people, until they discover that there are great meat replacement products out there, and that if you are on a budget, it is doubly desirable. The energy it takes to bring meat to your dinner plate is tremendous, and each meal you replace it with another protein source, you are making a big difference.
5) Drive less. This means carpooling, riding bikes, public transportation, and scheduling your outings more efficiently. This will also save you big bucks, but definitely infringes on the freedoms from joyriding alone all over town.
Most Difficult:
6) Replace your car with a hybrid or other clean technology. If you are looking for a new vehicle, consider a hybrid. They are very cost efficient when considering gas savings and tax deductions, especially over time.
7) Buy organically and locally. This is hard for the average consumer, but every purchase you make organically, and with local products contributes greatly to the environment, your health, and helps create a bigger demand for those products.
