What steps have you taken toward green living?

It seems like everywhere I look these days there are easy-to-adopt tips for green living. Granted, I spend a lot of time reading about environmental issues, watching documentaries, and cruising around the web to see what others are saying, but it really seems like useful tips are popping up all over: change a light bulb in your house to a CFL, use re-usable shopping bags, recycle, use more natural products, buy local, plug your electronics into a single power strip, and turn the strip off when you go to sleep.

I was curious to see what people would say, then, when I came across a thread on craigslist where someone asked about starting points for helping the environment — and saving money. “FostAdpoptMom” says she’s done the following so far, but wants to do more:

• Recycles papers and bottles; is buying containers to keep the recycling organized
• Is buying linen bags for groceries, and re-uses plastic ones that she has already
• Tries to use Tupperware instead of plastic bags for school lunches and food storage in the freezer
• Uses energy efficient bulbs and keeps the thermostat set low
• Is interested in composting

Others chimed in with the following:

• Biking, walking, taking the bus
• Unplug products that you rarely use (DVD player, VCR, etc.)
• Reduce red meat consumption (this person cited the March/April 2007 issue of The Green Guide by pointing out:

If, like most Americans, you get close to 30 percent of your calories from meat, dairy and poultry,
your diet contributes over 3,274 lbs [of CO2 emitted]. Vegetarian diets contribute half that, but you can also
replace your calories from red meat with fish, eggs and poultry, for savings of over 950 lbs.

• Eat locally grown food; subscribe to Community Support Agriculture (CSA) to buy food
• Line dry your laundry

FostAdoptMom also posted a link to an A-to-Z list of ideas, some of which were pretty clever! (My favorites: Avoid fast food, Boycott a product that is bad for the environment and write a letter to the company telling them why, Feed the birds — a natural pesticide!, Spend your money wisely, Support green companies, and Yell at a litterer.)

What changes would you suggest to green living newbies?

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