The first step might be as simple, and immediate, as recycling your trash, buying an organic apple or plugging the cracks around your windows with a $3 tube of silicon caulk. It is clear to even the casual observer that making our lives fuller requires constructive action. Millions of motivated people want to do something that feels ‘right’. We want to live more sustainable lives. That’s what being "green" is all about. We want to leave the planet enriched for our kids and grandkids. We want to act on our good intentions.
Many of us just don’t know where to start. As the Chinese say, “A journey of one thousand miles starts with a single step.” So any action you take, no matter how small it might seem, has a cascading effect.
As Americans, we represent 5% of the world’s population, but consume 25% of the world’s resources. Much of this overconsumption ends up discarded as needless waste in landfills or incinerators, with devastating long-term health and environmental consequences.
Each person living in our country puts an average of more than 24 tons of carbon, the major greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere each year just from the activities of our modern lifestyle. The human cost is high, even with healthy diet, and pollution-related ailments are on the rise.
The long-term stakes are even higher as we use up irreplaceable natural resources while making the planet less hospitable to life. Something has to change - and simple lifestyle changes can reap big changes.
Did you know?
In a single year, we send 500 million tons of solid hazardous waste to landfills and pump 3 million tons of toxic chemicals into the air and water.
You can help!
Here are some simple things to think about to help simplify your lifestyle and help the planet:
- Buy organic, local foods as much as possible.
- Filter your water.
- Look for non-toxic, organic fiber clothing and green dry cleaners.
- Use natural personal care products.
- Think green when you clean. Ditch toxic cleaning products.
- Recycle. Reduce. Reuse.
- Say “no” to disposables. (i.e. single use plates, cups, bottled water, etc.)
- Consider natural lawn and garden care.
- If you’re planning on building, think green building materials, carpets, cabinets and home furnishings.
- Save transportation fuel.
- Offset your carbon footprint.