Simple Steps for Greening

There is a debate about global warming. Some feel there isn't such a thing. I know where I stand on the issue, as most of us do. We each know our position. Rarely are we middle of the road. Whether you're firmly in the YES, the globe is warming or NO, the globe is doing it's normal cycle, I believe there are some things we can agree upon. We can agree, these things are just good for the world around us, simple to do and easy enough to employ without feeling forced or as if we're taking up some cause.

We can agree doing good, feels good, it can impact our lives and the ones we touch in a positive manner. Too, trying to do every thing at once, to become carbon footprint free could burn you out quicker than a roadside flare. Here are simple and often free things we can do.

Much of daily lives are surrounded by technological advances that made aspects of life easier. Think about the napkin. A simple, mass produced paper product that made take-away food much, much easier. Paper towels? So very convenient. Now we realize how much wood is required to make our throw away face wiping products. At our home, we gone back to tea towels. We throw them in with laundry we would be doing anyway and we're reusing towel. As a special bonus, cloth is so much nicer on my baby fresh face!

This idea is one of my favorites, and I have to honest, I'm really enjoying my switch here. This simple step helps your local economy, your local self employed, yea yea, the environment AND your body. It's as simple as shopping for all natural and or organic meats, vegetables and fruits. You're going to like this because you'll recall FOOD HAS FLAVOR! I didn't realize how bland genetically altered or synthetically boosted foods are. So, this one is more selfish but does a lot of good.

I don't understand the reasons but many of the online magazine resources do not like links in the body of the article. I think it's because they want to ensure the content is of worth and not all self serving links back to the writer's own personal site. So, I'm typing out some of the web addresses I think you'll benefit. First, check out LoveBottleDOTnet. This is a site dedicated to glass water bottles. Of course, you can find metal bottles getting popular as well. The push away from plastic is two fold, one, there are reports on BPAs, bad chemicals released from the plastic that is not good for you. Secondly, plastic is clogging up our world, it's not quickly degraded and not generally not so good and we LOVE the stuff, it's everywhere. If you must have plastic check out NalgeneDOTcom, they make sport tough bottles and have switched to non BPA product.

Reduce the amount of packaging and or wrapping you're using. Opt to buy boxed laundry detergent instead of plastic bottled detergent. Decline to have things bagged by the grocer when you can easily carry out the good/goods. Simple, quick and easy something you can do and feel good about it.

Sometimes we need to find a little motivation and for this next one my wallet is my motivation. I switched all the light bulbs in the house to the little twisting CFLs, they burn far cooler than traditional bulbs. For typical 60-watts of light, I was using 13-watt bulbs! The second thing, and this is the one I needed motivation for, I plugged my televisions, dvd players and lights into power strips. Most appliances, including your cell phone charger, will draw power even when "not" in use. This is supposed to make them start faster. I just read a review that warned, if you used the "full shut off mode" for this particular television, it would take 10-whole seconds for the screen to light up. Well, I did install the strips AND, I cut my bill in 1/2!!

Here's one I love, it's easy, easy! If you're a social network user, specifically Facebook and Bebo, they have an application you can use. It's free. It's called, Lil Green Patch. All you do is click it, daily, and click your friends' names in your group and send them a virtual flower. For every 10 you send, the advertisers of the site, save 1-sq foot of rain forest. They cap how many people you can send to each day, but hey, I'm at 20 people a day. So, every day, I send 20 people a virtual flower and I'm saving 2-sq feet a day of rain forest. It's quick, it's free and it's something simple you can do to help. Your friends don't have to send one back nor do they even have to click to accept your flower for their virtual garden, you simply have to send 'em.

Here's a quick hitter for you: the ACEEE new greenest car in America report was released. A Honda Civic took the top spot with the Toyota Prius right behind.

Wanna help shoe children in other countries, check out Toms Shoes DOT com.

Check out Green Is Sexy DOT org for a bunch of commentary on green and whatnot. As a bonus, you'll learn it was founded by Rachel McAdams, an actress.

That's it, the aim was a guilt free, pressure free, and easy way to make a difference.

About the Author

Welcome to our 20th year Anniversary Celebration! Action Whitewater is taking 20% off every trip in celebration of 2-decades of quality American River raft trips on the American River. Owned by Christopher Pyle, a guide of 24-years, AWA is geared and focused on providing you the best experience to be had on the river, from equipment to crew, we're all about you!