10 easy ways to create a positive environmental impact

How can I make simple changes that positively impact the environment?

An easy way to go green

It 's the new year. Also in this case. Many of us decide to make changes in our life these days - not a surprise. Often, the resolutions we make for ourselves are dramatic, powerful, even overwhelming. Losing lots of weight, become vegetarian, giving up smoking - we all have our ace in the hole. Too many years pass, however, when we lose sight of these noble goals and before the end of the first quarter, we are already out of our game and return to smoking, go back to sleep, out of the daily regimen of going to the gym.

This is not a post on how to stay on track with your goals. This is not about making small steps in between milestones or pinning a calendar for the huge wall and fill it with black X every time you complete another day on the positive side.

Achieving the goal of Going Green

I like to think they want to achieve the objectives in the most realistic way. This means that - what we actualize and realize my goals appearance Tuesday at 1:30 in the afternoon or one morning a typical Saturday at 09:43. This is more real to me, and therefore more manageable. My goal for this year? To go green in every way possible. Like many, I am willing to work for it, but I wonder if there are others who would make positive changes if they were easy to make, and does not involve too much work.

Large differences are often made with tiny incremental changes - you can not say just how much of a positive impact has been looking at some of those small steps, but taken in aggregate, the impact can be enormous.

That said, here is a list of ten small realistic steps that I'm going to take this year to go greener. If we all do what we can to support even some of these things, the positive impact on our environment would be enormous.

Ten easy ways to positively influence the environment

1.) Farmer support Market

Buying Local has a dramatic impact both your health and the environment. While the goal of supporting local, organic, independent farmers, you also have the opportunity to eat seasonally and raise the bar for you, in terms of healthy eating habits. By the way - have you ever tasted a plum, or a tomato, or even locally grown, organic salads? You'll never go shopping at the supermarket again if you have taste buds.

You will fill your body with products that is at its freshest, and increases the demand for organic products is incredibly beneficial. The National Resources Defense Council notes that most of the U.S. production will travel an average of about 1,500 miles before it makes its way to your supermarket. The negative impact on the planet is huge - just think of the pollution that is created in that transport.

2.) Toilet Paper

Seriously. Find online or at your local super market, the local Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. If the supermarket does not have it - take a second and talk to customer service about ordering, and do so every time you shop there. Even in their stock at the end. We're talking about toilet paper made from recycled paper. The impact on the environment in terms of total number of trees saved each year is enormous. Your Bumm not know the difference.

3.) Washing with cold water

Do not personalize your laundry - of course, you enjoy a hot bath, but not the old sweat socks, shorts and yoga pants know the difference? A very simple thing to change in your routine daily or weekly, and the environmental impact is great. Procter and Gamble argues that if we all started to use the cold water washing machines, we could save enough electricity to light two and half million homes for a year.

4.) Bad Habits of bottled water

How's this for the facts: According to National Geographic magazine, Americans buy about 7 billion gallons of bottled water a year. This equates to approximately 22 billion plastic bottles that are then thrown away, and often not in the trash. Consider the (annual) 1.5 million barrels of oil that is used to produce plastic bottles - this amount is enough to power about 100,000 cars for a year. Ways to improve? Buy a filter for the tap water and drink the water that has been suitably filtered. Order bottle service by an organization as large and Sparkletts, Arrowhead, and drink from a cup at home or at work. At the very least, recycle plastic bottles that are used - ever.

5.) Re-use paper gift

Unwrapped gifts with a little 'of concern, or teach your kids a new lesson environment, before making a mess with ripping birthday on holiday or on the packaging. The amount of paper that could be saved is astronomical, if everyone were to recycle the wrapping paper just a few gifts each year.

Get a bag or a box, and start saving bows, ribbons and neatly folded, carefully washed gift card. No one will know the difference. Trust me. And if they do, you have the perfect opportunity to open a conversation about conservation, without sounding arrogant. They will feel great to have helped without having done anything.

6.) Grocery Bags

When they ask you if you want paper or plastic, just that neither of them. Spend a dollar store and buy a reusable cotton or hemp bag, and keep them in the trunk of your car for shopping. For a look at the environmental impact of the two paper bags and plastic bags [http://www.greeneggsandplanet.com/blog], read these posts earlier. Get creative with the kids and find white canvas bags online - this will give your children the opportunity to be creative, and paint or decorate grocery bags for customization.

7.) Houseplants can be your friends

It was noted that many green plants in the home can help in the process of removing indoor air pollutants if and to keep them indoors. Plants such as ivy and other golden pothos practically grow. Do not worry - they are harder to kill than keep alive. It will help to keep alive as they fight environmental toxins in the home.

8.) Delete spam

I hate junk mail that arrives in your inbox almost every day? For most of us, that pile of material goes directly into the trash. For others, it goes straight into the trash. Neither party ever reads any of it, yet still shows every day. Take a second and visit the Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service to register not to receive more spam. The process could take several months, but eventually, you will not get so much junk in the mail.

9.) Buy Bulk

Tea drinker? Couple of trips to the local coffee house every morning? Eating cereal or oatmeal? The next time you buy tea, for example, think about choosing looseleaf tea packaged. Reduce the amount of packaging materials that are used can make a big difference to the environment.

Think about packaged tea - there's the stock card paper box wrapped in plastic, inside the paper, the plastic that is often wrapped around the tea bag, tea bag, the string, the jib and the tag tea. All these materials are disposed of, generally not recycled, and much of it can be eliminated with the purchase of bulk leaf loose tea and use of your tea infuser.

10.) Green your guide

No - I will not make a blanket statement that we should all run out and buy a brand new Prius - will not be 'possible for everyone and it is not the only way to green your vehicle. Moreover, there is no reason to feel bad about not having so miserably right out the door when it comes to efficient vehicles.

If you can afford it, buy a hybrid. But there are many other ways to do something about fuel consumption and pollution of the vehicle. Carpool if and when you can - you have to overcome the identification with the vehicle and the first time alone, but it's worth the sacrifice of small size. Bike to work, if you can, you'll get exercise and to help the planet at the same time.

Or just drive smart when you get behind the wheel - get timely enhancements and keep your tires inflated to the correct pressure for maximum efficiency-saving gas. If you take long trips on the highway (out of the way of traffic), then switch to cruise control to improve the mileage. Curb your desire to drive your car as a weapon - remove from the stops in a less aggressive, more gently brake and slow down when you can. The speed limit is not so bad. And out of the drive-thru: or exit from fast food or park your car and walk it.

Final Thoughts on Simple Steps for Going Green

Taking the small yet significant steps towards being more green this year may lead to real change, measurable and positive for the planet. Some simple questions here and there, changing a habit or two, to educate themselves and make smarter choices - a bit 'at a time is really all you need. Think of the many millions of people who live in America, making a collective change everything at once - that alone could pay huge dividends for our future .......