Eight small green steps that add up

You don’t have to make grand green gestures, sometimes all those tiny steps you do add up significantly. The next time you’re feeling bummed because you haven’t built an eco-home, bought a hybrid, or planted a tree, choose one of these small steps, add it to your day, and feel better. Bonus if you work in many of these small steps throughout your week!

1. Pay you bills online – why have mail come to you? It’s a waste of gas and paper plus costs more.
2. Take your reusable bag to the pet shop. Or video store, or mall, or even the library. I know many people who remember to take their bags when they hit the grocery store, but why pick up plastic bags elsewhere. Take your bags with you no matter where you’re headed.
3. Switch to a more eco-friendly toothpaste.
4. Buy a refillable hand soap pump – actually buy one for each bath and one for the kitchen. Get hand soap from the local co-op bulk soap section OR buy the largest bulk bottle of hand soap you can find at a regular store. This cuts down on massive packaging waste.
5. Wipe out your microwave. A dirty microwave has to work harder to heat food. Why waste the energy?
6. Reuse your shower towel at least twice. I use mine all week – if you showered you should be clean, and this cuts down on water and energy waste used to wash clean towels.
7. Carry a reusable coffee mug to your fave coffee shop.
8. Save some shower or bath water this week and use it to water your houseplants.

[image via stock.xchng]