Now that we know that our actions have and continue to have significant impact on the well being of our natural environment and on our planet’s very survival, living green is more than a concept it’s a reality that many have embraced with a passion.

One of the reasons that the “living green” movement is finally spreading at breakneck speed is that the steps involved in becoming green are doable and increasingly more affordable.  First some definitions are in order.

Green living is essentially defined as a lifestyle intended to ensure that the footprint or impact of our daily living on the environment is as minimal as possible.  It’s taken a few years but that message now resonates with a good percentage of the population.  We now understand that each individual can make a difference in helping to maintain a green, sustainable world.

We realize that the choices that we make are not just about us but about outcomes and impact on a world beyond our immediate view.  From the food we eat to the level of energy we consume in our homes, we have opportunities to make a difference and to heal and rejuvenate our world.  The steps we must take require conservation, recycling and reuse.

Here are some actions that you can take to adopt a greener lifestyle in your home and community:

• Save energy: Buy energy efficient appliances and light bulbs; turn off lights and electrical equipment that is not in use; hang your laundry out to dry in the yard or on your balcony (if you can); get an energy audit on your home; and check your insulation to ensure it’s the best you can afford.
  
• Choose your communities with care:  Many state/provincial governments are giving financial incentives to developers who create communities that fit new urbanist principles.  The “new urbanism” philosophy promotes communities that accommodate higher population densities; more parks and social spaces;  and good public infrastructure and transportation systems.  These “new urbanist” communities also focus on creating greater neighborhood unity and social interaction while helping to reduce our ecological footprint.  Think about living in or moving to one the many newly constructed or renovated new urbanist developments in cities and suburbs across the country.
  
• Eat local: According to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, many fruits and vegetables in American local supermarkets typically travel 1,726 miles before reaching their retail destination. This is because most consumers desire much of the same fruits and vegetables throughout the year without concern as to whether the item is in season or not for that region.  The fuel consumed and pollution generated by the transportation required to move produce from across the country and the globe to American supermarkets is seriously harming our environment.  Locavores, or people who prefer to eat food locally grown within a 100-mile radius of their community, eat food that is in season or that can be easily and naturally preserved.  They buy locally and this has the added benefit of boosting the business of struggling small farmers and other related local agricultural industries.
  
• Support Conservation Initiatives:  Volunteer your time and energy to local conservation projects in your community and when possible donate available resources to this cause.

These are just a few examples, but they are a great start.  You’ll find that as you take steps to live in a way that is more ecologically beneficial to our environment, you and your family will  feel a sense of empowerment and satisfaction at being a part of an effort to save and improve our world.

Written especially for Feminist Housewives by Sharon McMillian of New Urban Mama