As the new year kicks off it’s smart to be aware of the basics of green living.Everyone has a different opinion about which green living skills matter most and I’m no different. In my opinion, if you focus on the skills and tasks below, you’re doing great.
1) AUDIT: Green audits are your first and best tools on the path to green living. If you don’t know what you’re doing well and what needs work, you’ve got zero platforms to work from. Read Green Audit Know-How for the scoop then conduct some of your own green audits…
- Green Home Audit: excess packaging in the bathroom
- Green audit your kitchen pantry
- Green audit your trash
- Green audit your bathroom habits
- Green audit your lawn
2) REDUCE CONSUMPTION: Buy less stuff! The most simple, but not always easy to accomplish green living skill is to reduce consumption. Buying a lot of stuff is not eco-friendly. Buy what you need 90% of the time and keep useless or fun purchases to about 10%.
3) REUSE: If something is broke, try to fix it. If you can re-purpose an item do it! Always aim for reusable goods instead of disposables. Think outside the box about what you can do with the stuff you already own before you buy new. At the very least donate used items instead of tossing them in the trash.
4) RECYCLE: Recycling is easier now than ever and if you’re not recycling, you’re missing a huge part of the green living puzzle. To locate recycling resources in your community visit Earth 911.
5) CLEAN GREEN: If I had to pick one most excellent green living skill over all others it’d likely be green cleaning. It’s not only a super easy green step for anyone, but it’s so healthy for both humans and the planet that it’s almost laughable NOT to clean green. You can make your own green cleaners or buy some.
6) LEARN & DISCUSS: No one knows everything and with green living the issues change often. Stay up to date on green issues via books, news, reputable blogs, and so on. Once you’ve got facts discuss with friends and family to get alternate views and to open up the green circles you run in.
7) HAVE FUN: I get the feeling that people don’t consider green living skills fun, but simply necessary. Take it from me, if you have real fun while living green it’ll be so much better. Embrace nature – remember how fun hiking and the beach can be? Get out there and join a group of tree planters – make friends as you participate. There are green toys, green cosmetics to mess with, awesome green clothing, fun books, eco-friendly music and more to enjoy. Don’t just live green because you think you have to, live green because it’s worthwhile and a good time.
8 ) READ LABELS: Many folks who try to live green are held back by companies who greenwash and by “green” items that are a waste of time. The best way around this is to learn to read labels and research ideas and companies religiously. There is seriously a lot of questionable green information out there, and while it can seem overwhelming to sort through it all, it’s worth it because why waste your time and money on non-green stuff?
9) TEACH THE FUTURE: If everyone taught their kids to live green early on we’d be in great shape later on. Our kids are going to be the ones who make the biggest impact, so teaching them about green issues now is vital. With this is mind, brush up on your green parenting skills and make green living a part of their world now.
10) ADMIT DEFEAT: Choosing your green battles is a BIG deal. You cannot win every green fight, you can’t always buy a hybrid or eco-friendly home. You can’t do it all. You can do a lot though, and it’s important to remember that even the smallest green steps add up. If all you do is feel bad about the things you aren’t doing green living becomes a lot harder and less fun. Start small and keep on trucking!
[image via stock.xchng]
Post from: Blisstree