By Zoe B, Aug 03, 2009

This is a great question.

My biggest attempt to become more green is to walk--basically everywhere. If I can avoid taking the subway I do, and that goes double for cabs. Luckily I live in NYC which is a city built for pedestrians and walking from A to B is in many cases the easiest way to go. Not only that but walking is great passive exercise too, and it's free!

By Victoria Klein, Aug 03, 2009

Sounds like you have a fantastic start! Here are a few others to take your efforts even further:

+ Get one of those roll-up/compact totes & carry it in your purse - that way you always have a bag when you need it (and never have to bring home plastic ones). My personal favorites are from Envirosax envirosax.com/) - I've got over 10, haha.

+ Carry a reusable water bottle with you - fill it up before you leave home & then use public water fountains or friends' water faucets to refill it.

+ Check you faucets and toilets for leaks - they could be wasting up to 700 gallons a year! Most dripping faucets just need a new washer (less than $1!). Also, if you aren't already using a low-flow shower head, go for the gold and get one - it can save you nearly 200 gallons a year.

+ Try growing herbs and spices in your windowsill - they are uber easy, can be grown year-around, will make your cooking fresher than ever, and give you an easy, everyday connection to nature and farming.

+ Replace your home cleaning & laundry products with all-natural versions (or make your own! You can find oodles of simple recipes online - just Google it).

+ When eating, use cloth napkins that can be used over and over.

+ Open your windows! Fresh air is king :)

+ Find a nearby farmer's market and spend more money there than you do on clothes, transportation, or at a regular grocery store.

HOPE THOSE HELP :D

By Karyn Polewaczyk, Aug 03, 2009

I feel really lucky that my parents were/are frugal and adhered to pro-environment habits before 'green' became cool. That said, here are my top 5:

-I consignment shop for clothing (save for a killer pair of Frye boots I plan on treating myself to this fall). Not only can you find great buys, you're saving the need to create another article of clothing - a lot of energy and natural resources go into just one t-shirt, even organic fabrics - and it's fun to find one-of-a-kind pieces that no one else will have.

-I live in a highly compacted area, full of public transit options and wide sidewalks. I pay more in rent (and would pay more in a mortgage, if that were the case) for this 'luxury,' but wouldn't trade it for a condo in the suburbs, any day. I can walk, take my bike or ride the train to essentially everything and anything I need. I do have a car - which I've driven maybe five times in the past year. (Thanks, mom and dad for letting me keep it in your driveway!)

-I'm frugal with utilities. If I leave a room (and I live in a tiny one bedroom apartment; these "rooms" are more like closets), the lights go off; I keep the water off when I'm brushing my teeth and don't have a dishwasher so don't have to worry about using excess water while cleaning dishes. I hardly ever use air conditioning (I actually prefer to be without it regardless of where I am, unless it's absolutely necessary), and try to eat a lot of fresh foods that require little to no cooking time, save for gas. My gas bill averages $9 per month and my electric bill hasn't been more than $12 all year - the proof is in the numbers!

-I don't color my hair. This is a multifaceted choice: I'm really picky about my hair, and know that when I've colored it in the past, am back in my stylist's chair way frequently to touch up roots - at $300+ a pop, it adds up. I also enjoy that I don't wash my hair every day, which cuts down on shower time; I'm also not exposing myself and the environment to chemicals used to process artificial color. Of course, I do have a gray hair or two that I fastidiously pluck, and am open to the thought of coloring (safely) again, but for now, this works well for me on many leve.s

-I buy local food. I wind up buying less than I would if I were at a conventional supermarket - it's definitely pricier - but the quality and taste of the food is better, and I like knowing where my tomatoes, eggs and soy milk come from.

By jack p, Nov 16, 2009

Hi guys,

These are all really great ideas,

I would definetly reccomend the Greener Greed book thoughwww.goforagreenerlif...

Tips on sustainable living, i recently just changed my motor oil and got the best tips from the GREENER GREED! Now im planning to make a green construction chicken pen/coop!

Go GREENER GREED!

Regards,

Jack

By jack p, Nov 16, 2009

Hi guys,

These are all really great ideas,

I would definetly reccomend the Greener Greed book thoughwww.goforagreenerlif...

Tips on sustainable living, i recently just changed my motor oil and got the best tips from the GREENER GREED! Now im planning to make a green construction chicken pen/coop!

Go GREENER GREED!

Regards,

Jack

By Melissa S, Jan 08, 2010

Great post! It's refreshing to see so many people doing their part. Every effort made is a step in the right direction and helps to preserve and conserve :) I'm very grateful that I've been educated and enlightened to do the same and am proud to say that my list would go on for days, but I won't bore you with it. Mostly just wanted to say thank you to everyone who doesn't take what we have for granted. You all ROCK!