How GREEN are you?

I found this great article on the Everyday Health website titled Are You Greener Than You Think? It made me feel so much better about my contribution to producing a healthy environment. Sometimes we get caught up in thinking that it will cost too much to go green. But there are a lot of little things that you can do, and probably already are doing! So here is the list that they provided of practices that show you are living a greener lifestyle. I challenge you to adopt one or two new practices from this list (that is if you don’t already do them all!).

If your household…

• Recycles
• Consolidates trash
• Reuses plastic shopping bags or swaps them for cloth bags
• Utilizes sunshine light during the day
• Uses long-lasting fluorescent lightbulbs
• Unplugs electrical cords when they aren't in use
• Opens the windows for fresh air instead of using air-conditioning
• Covers windows with curtains to keep out cold or hot air
• Closes the fireplace damper when a fire isn't burning
• Has insulated heating and cooling pipes
• Machine washes only full loads of dishes and clothing
• Removes lint from the dryer filter after each use
• Covers pots and pans when cooking
• Cooks food in the microwave instead of the oven
• Uses shower-time efficiently
• Repurposes old furniture
• Washes dishes in a plugged sink or an energy-efficient dishwasher
  

If you eat/drink…

• Organic foods
• A variety of fruits and vegetables and limit your red meat consumption
• Locally grown foods
• Filtered tap water instead of bottled water
• Food products with recycled or limited packaging
• At home or in a restaurant, to reduce take-out containers
  

If you buy…

• Organic cotton, bamboo, soy, or hemp clothing
• Reusable products, such as cloth napkins or plastic containers for food storage, rather than the disposable versions
• Natural bath and body products
• Nontoxic cleaning products
• Repurposed clothing, furniture, or electronics
• Rechargeable batteries

If you travel…

• By carpool
• By public transportation
• By bicycle or on foot
• In a fuel-efficient vehicle
• By car and open your windows (rather than using air-conditioning) while driving around town
• By car and use air-conditioning (rather than opening your windows) to prevent air drag while driving on the highway