On Going Green...

Thanks to Al Gore and the Inconvenient Truth documentary, there is a heightened awareness of global warming and the impact we have on our planet. As a whole, people want to go green but what exactly does that mean? We know that we should recycle and that hybrid cars are a great idea but is there anything else?

Here are a few ideas that may help you go green. None of them are time consuming or difficult to do.

1. Buy a reusuable shopping bag. This prevents plastic bags from filling landfills. I have a canvas shopping bag that I picked up at Trader Joe's. I take it with me each time I go grocery shopping and it eliminates the need for plastic or paper grocery bags. An added bonus is that Trader Joe's enters me into a raffle each time I shop with the canvas bag. The prize is $25 worth of groceries.

2. Wash your car at a car wash that recycles water. There is a water ban in metro Atlanta so you shouldn't be washing your car yourself anyway. A professional will probably do a better job and if they recycle water then you know they are acting responsibly. Cactus Car Wash is a popular carwash in the city that recycles water. Cactus Car Wash

3. Reconsider public transportation. The cost of gas is rising so its a timely alternative. Give MARTA a try. If MARTA can't get you there, then try a Flex Car. Its a service that allows you to rent a low emmission, fuel efficient vehicle for a few hours at a time. This way you have the benefit of a vehicle without the long term expense. Flex Car

4. Donate your old computer and accessories. Electronic equipment is a significant component in landfills around the world because it is slow to decompose. Instead of throwing away your old pc, monitor, printer, etc; you can donate it to a local school or charity. I did this a few years ago. I gave an old pc to an elementary school and they were very appreciative. It was a win-win situation because they received a free pc and I got the tax write off.

If donating your equipment is not an option, you can recycle it at no charge. One option is Hewlet Packard. They have a recycling program where you receive coupons on the purchase of HP products. Its a great way to save a few bucks on new equipment and also recycle the old. Click here for more details.

5. No list on going green is complete without talk of recycling. If your community doesn't offer recycling services, you can drop off your paper, aluminum, and plastic items at Ikea. Click here to learn more about Ikea's committment to the environment.

For more ideas, check out the 10 Things To Do from the Inconvenient Truth website.