It’s time to GO GREEN! Yes, everyone can do their part in protecting our environment.   By working together to protect our world we can accomplish great things.
 
Here are 10 things you can do to start:
 
      1.      Re-route your commute.
Walk or bike to work and save money on gas and parking while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
If you live far from your office, investigate the option of telecommuting. Or move closer—even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
If your streets are not conducive to biking or walking, lobby your municipal government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in decreased traffic and pollution.
2.      Buy used.
Whether you’ve just moved to a new area or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items, rather than buying them new. Check out garage sales and thrift stores for clothing and other everyday items.
Use your creativity in gift giving, including making homemade gifts, donating to a good cause, or even regifting. (And gift green, in general.)
Your purchasing habits have a real impact, for better or worse. When making new purchases, make sure you know what’s “Good Stuff” and what isn’t.
3.      Buy Local
Shop at your local farmers’ market. Though the offerings can be more expensive, you can generally count on a higher quality product—and the entire purchase price goes directly to the farmer. Buying any goods produced locally saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other items across the country and around the globe.
Start a local currency program in your town. This can ensure that money stays in your local economy, valuing local services and supporting local merchants.

4.   Compost your food scraps.
Composting helps reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill, which can save you money if you live in a municipality with a “pay as you throw” system. In the process, you create free, healthy fertilizer for your garden (or your neighbor’s—or lobby for a community garden!)
If you don’t have a yard or space for a compost pile, try indoor ‘vermiculture,’ or worm composting.
5. Change the thermostat setting and install energy saving devices.
Setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer can translate to substantial savings on your utility bills.
Install low-flow showerheads and take shorter showers to save water and the energy used to heat it. Or, consider eventually installing a solar hot water heater on your property.
Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible and use a drying rack or clothesline.
When incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with longer-lasting, low-energy compact fluorescent bulbs.
With the money you save from making these changes, consider buying wind energy from your local utility or purchasing renewable energy offsets. Renewals offer our best hope for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a host of other pollutants. In some cases, “green energy” options can be cheaper than electricity from conventional sources!
6.     Skip the bottled water at the grocery or convenience store.
Filter your tap water for drinking rather than using bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it produces large amounts of container waste.
Check out this recent update and life cycle analysis for the latest on bottled water trends.
7.     Make your own cleaning supplies.
Using simple ingredients such as baking soda, soap, and vinegar, you can make cheap, easy, and non-toxic cleaning products that really work! Save money, time, and your indoor air quality.
8.     Think twice about new electronics.
E-waste from discarded cell phones and computers is a growing environmental problem. Mounds of electronic refuse are being shipped abroad illegally for ‘disassembly’ by workers with little protection against the mercury and other toxic substances they contain.
Keep your electronics as long as possible and dispose of them responsibly when the time comes.
Buy higher-quality items and don’t give in to ‘psychological obsolescence’ marketing campaigns.
Recycle your cell phone and support good causes at the same time!
Ask your local government to set up a responsible recycling and hazardous waste collection event.
9.     Add one meatless meal per week.
While strict vegetarianism isn’t for everyone, even the most devout carnivores can cut back on meat consumption without cramping their style—and save money in the process. Industrial meat production requires huge energy inputs and creates noxious waste problems. The proliferation of factory farms is damaging the environment, and the global nature of the industry creates conditions that promote the spread of diseases such as avian flu, potentially costing society billions.
10. Use your local library and other public amenities.
Borrowing from libraries, instead of buying personal books and movies, saves money and printing resources. Consider donating the money saved to your local library.
Be an active civic participant and ensure that the public spaces and facilities in your town are well maintained. This will promote a healthy, sustainable community.
19 ways to go green
Green living doesn't have to be complicated; below are some simple tips to help you live more sustainably.
  1. Conserve energy by purchasing major appliances with an Energy Star rating, and by adding timers and automated thermostats to control usage. Also, consider switching to fluorescent light bulbs and adding more natural lighting with additional windows or skylights.
  2. Repair leaky fixtures and install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
  3. Use water-based paints, finishes and sealants.  Some milk-based paints are available, also.
  4. Look for wall coverings that are made of paper or natural fiber, rather than synthetic materials, and printed with natural inks.
  5. Choose carpeting, rugs, window treatments and other textiles made from natural fibers, such as cotton or wool, which are untreated and free of toxins, such as pesticides or chemical cleaners.
  6. Ask for flooring products made from rapidly renewable resources, such as bamboo or linoleum.
  7. Select solid woods, when possible, for furniture or cabinetry, rather than pressed woods or composites that may contain formaldehyde or other chemicals that may be toxic.
  8. Reuse materials creativity, such as brick, stone, glass, tile or metal, in new and interesting ways. Old wood also can be safely treated and used for accents.
  9. Consider the “lifecycle” of furnishings and accessories before purchasing:  Are they made of materials that can be reused or recycled when the item eventually wears out or is not longer needed?
  10. Recycle packing and shipping materials from any newly purchased items, and safely dispose of paint cans and other containers whose contents could potentially contaminate the ground or water supply.
  11. Install lights with sensors that turn on when they detect movement and automatically turn off after a few minutes.
  12. Do not let the water run when brushing your teeth or washing your face.
  13. If every household in the US replaced 1 roll of 1000 sheet bathroom tissues with 100% recyclable rolls, we could save 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 155 million gallons of water.
  14. Scrape – don’t rinse! When using a dishwasher, pre-rinsing is no longer necessary with today's technology and detergents. You may be using more water to pre-rinse than the dishwasher uses for a full wash cycle.
  15. Check your refrigerator’s seal by closing the door with a lit flashlight inside. If you see light seeping out, the door should be adjusted or the seal replaced to stop energy leaks.
  16. Buy locally produced products and materials whenever possible to reduce additional energy use and pollution associated with transportation.
  17. Eliminate waste by choosing products that are biodegradable or recyclable.
  18. Look for reclaimed wood products salvaged from older structures and certified wood harvested from sustainably managed forests.
  19. Hang damp laundry on an outdoor clothesline or indoor drying rack instead of using an electric dryer.
 
Here are some top charities that are making a difference
 
Keep America Beautiful
 
Keep America Beautiful is a national nonprofit public education organization dedicated since 1953 to engaging individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their local community environments. For half a century, Keep America Beautiful has been the nation’s leading community improvement organization successfully implementing an effective, systematic strategy for reducing waste,  preventing litter and beautifying communities nationwide.
 
Do Something
 
We believe young people have the power to make a difference. It is our aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of do-ers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.
 
Our website is a community where young people learn, listen, speak, vote, volunteer, ask, and take action to make the world a better place. Currently, only 23% of this generation actively volunteers. Our hope is to create a do something generation: a world where more than 51% of young people are involved with community action.
 
Wildlife Conservation Society
 
The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild lands through careful science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks. These activities change attitudes toward nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in sustainable interaction on both a local and a global scale. WCS is committed to this work because we believe it essential to the integrity of life on Earth.
 
Here are some great websites to learn more about how you can make a difference.
 
Earth Day Network
 
Earth Day Network is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and impact their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies.
 
Earth Day In A Box
 
This free resource has all the information you need to plan your local Earth Day event, get involved, and help protect the environment. We encourage you to share Earth Day in a Box with others, including our fliers. Good luck and please share your Earth Day photos and videos with us.
 
 
Global Warming
 
Go Green Shopping
 
This website offers suggestions on how to start shopping smart – the go green way!
 
How To Go Green
 
A great blog on how to go green in your daily life.
 
iVillage – Go Green
http://groups.ivillage.com/green?dst=rss%7CMSNBC_Today_Books
 
Here we can share our simple Green choices so going Green can be easy on our lives and our wallets. Let's Go Green together and see how much fun we can have!
 
The Members Project
 
American Express joins the Go Green project. If you are an AE card holder you can do your part.
 
The Members Project is an exciting and innovative new initiative that gives American Express® Cardmembers the chance to dream up, and ultimately unite behind, one idea that will have a positive impact in the world around us. American Express will fund the winning idea with up to $5 million.
 
Go Green Resources
A whole range of resources are available for learning about green design and building, energy efficiency, and leading a sustainable lifestyle. Browse the resources below for a sampling of organizations, publications, government agencies, and others which offer advice on navigating the green landscape.
The Green House
 
Great information on living green!
 
Environmental Tips
 
Everyone can make a difference in their community. Take time to watch these videos to see how you can make a difference.
 
Earth Day for Teachers
 
For teachers who are green conscience. Here is a great resource to start your classes to be aware of what they can do to make a difference. Start them young and be a part of future generations in protecting our world.