I have been reading an interesting book lately called Go Green, Live Rich. Mainly it is about calculating your carbon footprint, or the impact your lifestyle has on the environment. There are so many simple things we can do to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Here are just a few of the things I do that are easy and cheap:
1.) Always take your own shopping bags with you to the store. Many of them fold up into a tiny carrying case that you can keep in your purse or car.
2.) Ride your bike or walk for all of your quick errands. 40% of all car trips in the US are less than 2 miles. Plus you save money on gas and burn off some extra calories.
3.) Shop local and shop organic. Find a local farmers' market. Not only are you supporting local farmers, but you are reducing your carbon footprint by buying food that has not used much energy getting to you. Also, organic food is healthier for you, healthier for the plant or animal, healthier for the environment. Plus, stores like Whole Foods now offer store brand organic items that cost less than the name-brand non-organic ones. If you can't buy all organic groceries, get at least organic produce that you know doesn't have pesticides in it.
4.) Replace burned out light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use 75% less electricity than regular incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, and will save you $45 per bulb for the life of the bulb.
These are just a few of the many easy and inexpensive things we as human beings can do to show respect to our planet, other earth inhabitants, and ourselves which end up saving us money.
