Small Ways to Make a Difference

There are a lot of little tips that people always tell you about being green. I don’t mean to reiterate them, but on the slight chance that you haven’t heard, here are some ways to be kind to the planet and yourself:

• Always keep a few reusable grocery bags in your car, or in your coat closet so you won’t ever be without one. Landfills are full of plastic bags that could have been avoided.
• Take shorter showers to conserve water. I need to work on this one. Or better yet, share one with your significant other, if you’re feeling adventurous. Nothing like a man shampooing your hair.
• Bring houseplants into your home. It will improve the air and your mood. It’s also better for the environment than continuously buying cut flowers (which can be oh so beautiful) that are shipped from somewhere like South America. If you do buy flowers, by them from local farms in season.
• Use nontoxic cleaning products like Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, or Method.
• Carpool with your spouse, a friendly co-worker, or a girlfriend for just running errands.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room. It’s amazing how many people forget to do this. The same goes for televisions, radios, space heater, and the like.
• Incorporate sustainable fabrics, such as organic cotton, into your wardrobe.
• Use beauty products and cosmetics that are chemical-free. So many of the low-end (Covergirl, etc) and high end (Nars, etc) contain a lot of nasty ingredients– parabens, petroleum products, and many other unnecessary things. I should do a separate post about this. Josie Maran, Burts Bees, Kiss My Face, Korres— these are all good places to start.
• Use a stainless steel water bottle instead of a plastic one. And fill it with filtered tap water. Think of how many plastic bottles you’ll save, and all of the fuel it would take to get them to you. Plastic takes a lot of energy to make so even if you recycle it, its carbon footprint is far from minimal.
• Drive a fuel-efficient car. Best choice? A hybrid like the Toyota Prius.
• Bike or walk whenever possible. Or use public transportation, the next best alternative. It will save you money and lessen your carbon footprint.