Green living Pays Off

Living a sustainable lifestyle or "green living" seems second nature to those living with eco awareness in their life, but as a personal consultant, many of the clients I speak with share their anxiety about where and how to start "living green." Also expressed is a concern that their contribution would be minimal and have little impact on the environment.

In my personal consulting, I find it useful to start with a bit of encouragement regarding sustainable living. Sometimes the thought "a little bit of something, is a better than a whole lot of nothing" shifts ones perspective and sparks enthusiasm that generates forward momentum.   Also important to know, you don’t have to have solar panels on the roof and wind turbines in the backyard to make a difference. A primary aspect of pursuing a sustainable lifestyle is the recognition that every action is part of a larger whole.

Here's a look at how seemingly small sustainable lifestyle changes add up to bigger environmental pluses:

•    Buy perishable groceries only as needed: It saves $50 a week and eliminates wasting produce and dairy products.
•    Recycle cans, bottles, and paper: This cuts the family’s contribution to landfill by 66 percent.
•    Switch to CFLs, unplug computers, and turn out lights when leaving the room: That reduces electricity usage by one third.
•    Grow a vegetable garden: It saves $300 a month on summertime groceries.
•    Buy an annual share in a local organic farm: reduce what you pay each week for produce.
•    Purchase a Prius: It saves about 400 gallons of gas (approximately $1,400) annually.
•    Insulate the attic floor: It saves 156 gallons of oil — and $546 — over one winter.
•    Install a rain-water-collection system and soaker hoses: That cuts summertime water consumption in half, plus earns a 20 percent water-bill discount year-round for the eco-friendly practice.

When you think about it small changes do add up. When combined with others living sustainable lifestyles, the impact is bigger. If you need help in building a sustainable lifestyle or bringing eco awareness into an area of your life, we are here to help.