Building Energy

• Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

• Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.

• Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

4.  Eat smart.

• If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

• Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmerskeeps money in the local economy.

• Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.

• Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

5.  Skip the bottled water.

• Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

• Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

• Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

6.  Think before you buy.

• Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.

• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

• When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.

• Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

7.  Borrow instead of buying.

• Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

• Share books, DVDs, and CDs using green sharing sites like http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/search.php

• Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8.  Buy smart.

• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

• Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9.  Keep electronics out of the trash.

• Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.

• Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.

• Recycle your cell phone.

• Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event. 

10. Make your own cleaning supplies.

• The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.

• Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.