On Thursdays we take you to “the well”; your source for inspiration and how-to’s.

Recently while at a dinner with a group of friends, green living became the hot topic of discussion. Everyone at the table had an opinion and everyone talked about what they were doing to help the environment. Over the course of the evening, an abundance of ideas were tossed around the table. We discussed everything – from green products, to recycling, to how to cut down on emissions of CO2 (the main culprit in global warming). While we were discussing these serious environmental challenges, I noticed that the biggest issue on everyone’s mind was how they could make changes in their lives without dramatically altering their lifestyle. As it turns out, we came up with a bunch of small things that people can do to make a difference.

The leading topic of the evening was the use of gasoline: How far were people commuting? How much were they spending on gas? Could they possibly cut back on their habits? We all agreed that working close to home, walking, biking, taking public transportation, purchasing a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle, and car-pooling were at the top of the list for a cleaner environment.

Green cleaning products were another hot topic. A lot of my friends were beginning to cut back on products with harsh chemicals that can harm their environment. Chemical-free and environmentally-friendly detergents and cleansers not only help to prevent indoor air pollution, but they also avoid polluting local water supplies. Plus, they’re just as effective and they smell better than their chemical counterparts!

Recycling and reusing is another simple way to lessen your impact on our delicate environment. These days, it’s becoming more and more popular to take a reusable tote to the grocery store instead of wasting paper and plastic bags. And what started out as a boring, old, canvas bag, has now turned into a fabulous eco-fashion statement.

We also gathered some important everyday habits that encourage a cleaner, healthier planet. Here are some easy and effective tips that will save energy, resources, and money:

-Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room
-Run the dishwasher when it’s totally full
-Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth
-Unplug your appliances (toaster, space heaters, radios, lamps etc.)
-Use compact fluorescent light bulbs

These are just some of the many things we can do in our daily lives to make an impact on the world at large. Remember – you may only be one person, but if each and every one of us makes an effort, the accumulative result will create a lot of positive changes in our world. We’re all in this together!

~Jennifer Rosen

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