Top 5 Ways To Green Yourself
O.K., now that you have taken care of the kids, the house, your work, your child’s school, the groceries, the cleaning, and everything else, it is finally time for you. If you have any time, energy, and motivation left, use these ideas to become the Green Parent you always thought you would be (before you had kids!).
- Learn: Get informed about environmental issues so that you can make the best eco-friendly decisions for yourself and your family. Surf the web, pick up a good book (such as The End of Nature by Bill McKibben or Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold), or watch a movie (try An Inconvenient Truth or King Korn) to arm yourself with knowledge and ideas.
- Vote: Use the power of the ballot to send a clear message to elected officials about your environmental concerns. Browse the environmental record of potential candidates at the League of Conservation Voters and be sure to let them know what you think.
- Get Involved: Get involved in the environmental issues that affect your community. Organize a recycling center or used clothing drop-off location. Encourage your local utility company to offer discounts or rebates on energy- and water-saving products. Lead a trash clean-up day. Or, write an editorial letter to your local paper about the environment initiatives that could give your community a boost.
- Join The Club: Become a member of your favorite environmental organization, such as the Sierra Club, The Natural Resource Defense Council, and the Humane Society to support their efforts and stay informed about their latest campaigns.
- Give Back: Give a little back to the environment by donating time or money to a charity that helps to protect the environment. Sponsor a local environmental club or organization or check out the Charity Navigator, or Idealist to find an environmentally friendly campaign that interests you.
A great blog called Modern Eco Homes (written by a very nice Greenie, Kristen) just compiled advice from some leading green sites on the web on what things the average person can do to get started on being green. Your list is great because it offers specific and broad suggestions. The list on Modern Eco Homes gives a twist on the same. Just thought you may be interested….
http://www.modernecohomes.com/blog/