Greener Living For a Greener World - (2012 Edition)

We hear a lot about green living on an almost daily basis, yet many people are not aware of what those especially important words are really all about. Green living, or living green as men refer to it as, is living your life in an environmentally responsible and ecofriendly way in an attempt to decrease the ecological impact you will make. There are wide varieties of practices we can all adopt to conserve our resources and help keep our planet healthy. Some of the most common include sustainability, recycling, alternative energy sources, green construction, organic food choices and several other environmental topics. Becoming educated on green living and its impact on the environment is the first step towards each of us doing our part because it has to be a group effort. If we all want our children and grandchildren to live healthier lives, it needs to start now with us and needs to continue. Your local library, government agencies and the Internet are great sources of knowledge and information about green living and the part it plays in decreasing global warming and preserving the planet. Simple things can make a huge difference such as using organic flowers and plants for decorations as opposed to artificial flowers you buy in the supermarket. Instead of using batteries that need to be tossed in the garbage after a few weeks, consider rechargeable green batteries. The next time you consider buying a new item of clothing, consider recycling something you already own. Are you having invitations made up for your next big party? If so, consider making your invites on the computer and emailing them or using recycled paper. These ideas may not seem like much, but they will make a huge contribution to living green. We cannot be expected to change our lifestyles overnight and no one expects us to do so. However, by making just a few changes in our daily lives, and encouraging our children to do the same, we will be making a huge impact on the problem of global warming. Rather than making huge changes in your lives, try adopting new methods of doing the same things. For instance, next time you go shopping for a snack, look for items that use recyclable packaging. We all like drinking water. Rather than buying bottled water day after day, consider refilling the bottle a few times before tossing it. An even better idea is investing in an ecofriendly stainless steel water bottle. You are still going to be drinking the water you love so much, but you will be doing it in a green or ecofriendly manner. These simple steps are what it is going to take to provide generations with a healthier environment.