It’s the old adage that if everybody did a little, we'd accomplish alot. If you haven’t done alot or anything at all to modify the way you live to help the planet, don’t feel guilty! Sometimes it’s just about having a place to start. Even the effort of one person can make a difference. I hope you will put some thoughtful consideration to the items listed below that might provide a “baby step” to help get you moving in a newer, more earth-friendly direction. Perhaps you will find one or even two that speak to you. Please consider this beautiful opportunity we have now, to together bless and protect our Mother Earth.

In deepest appreciation,

Karen

These suggestions are not my own, and I am sure that you will have most probably heard many of them before. I am of the mindset that they bear repeating.Enjoy!

1. Skip bottled water. Try installing a water filter or filter system in your home. The initial cost, yes, greater than a bottle of water, but definitely pays for itself in the long run.

2. Buy organic whenever you can afford it, food, clothing and cleaning solutions. Look for recycled paper products.

3. Look for the Energy Star Label.

4. Get yourself off of the "junk mail list." the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service will help to remove your name from these mailing lists. Check out www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing. If you wish to stop receiving prescreened credit offer, visit www.optoutprescreen.com.

5. Recycle electronics whenever possible. I heard about Hewlett Packard recycling center offering an opportunity to recycle a desktop for a charge of $48, but gives you a $50.00 coupon on your next purchase. Not a bad deal.

6. Lower the hot water thermostat in your home.

7. Barnes and Nobel at iGive.com will send a percentage of your purchase to non-profits like Sierra club or use GoodSearch.com instead of Google to help “Action for a clean environment.”

8. Change your dry cleaning to “wet” cleaning. There is a liquid alternative option to avoid the chemicals/carcinogens used to dry clean. Check it out in your area.

9. Reuse plastic grocery bags

10. Check your tire pressure. Proper inflation improves gas mileage.

11. Solar charge your gadgets. Check out SolarStyle scoo2-charger FK, $56.

If these ideas have piqued your interest, find even more by visiting one of the following:

TheGreenGuide.com
ClimateCrisis.net
EnergyStar.gov