Itenary for "Green Practices for Urban Living"

Changing life practices can be a daunting task. Everywhere we turn is an option for consumption.  We hear the conversations about "green living" and "global responsibility," but the thought of overhauling all of our actions seems impossible, expensive and exhausting.
However, it doesn't have to be so hard. The best way to start your journey is: to start!

We don't all need to convert to bio-diesel (which is still a great option), relinquish niceties, or don solar showers. The best way, is to evaluate your personal, everyday consumption. Most basically: what do you throw away most? Is it styrofoam containers from eating out? Starbucks cups? Everyday appliances? Papertowels, disposable wipes, swiffer sheets? Drive everywhere always?

Here's how to start:
1. Be proud of yourself! You are starting something new, it's a process, don't be too hard on yourself if you falter or need to start small.

2. Take a few days to make a mental note of how much you throw away. How many bags of trash, and how much trash throughout the day. What are your common reoccurring practices?

3. Take a look at your life. Make a commitment to start small and begin a few of the bellow practices, a good place to start is 2- 4 for a few months and then evaluate.

4. A good strategy is to plot your success on a calendar- gmail has a very easy-to-use system. Start a few practices and put reminders in your calendar to help you keep up good habits. Log a few months  in advance to check in and see how you are doing. Then celebrate! Evaluate how you are doing and add a few more practices to your life.

5. If you feel more ambitious, check out the "advanced green-keen" blog to follow


Simple Behaviors for Lowering Your Carbon Footprint

• Kill your phantoms (see post on phantoms) 
• Pay bills online
• Read newspapers online
• Greening your home (see post on greening your home)
• Responsible ways to drive: carpool, car maintenance driving practices
• RECYCLE (see Chicago Recycles blog)
• Keep informed: recycle old PCS, follow Blogs, ect
• Lights Off! Motion sensors if you forget, dimmers, florescent bulbs, and candles
• Timers, turn off phantoms at work and at home
• Keep recycle bins close so you will be inclined to use them, add a recycling calendar to your gmail to remind you
• Canning, freezing, stocking up while foods are in season (same goes for wine)
• Drive responsibly- bike when possible, car pool, train if you can 
• Plants in the home and the office
• Cut the paper towel, go to recycled napkins or better, reusable towels
• Use good cleaning products
• Dryclean less, turn down plastic wrapping when an option- bring bags with you
• Put old stuff in alleys, or on craigslist
• Donate hair to oil spill