Many people are hesitant to “go green” because they feel it would involve making major changes to their lifestyle. That’s not necessarily the case, as even small changes can make a positive difference in the world around us. Walk Rather than Drive One of the easiest ways to live an organic lifestyle is to walk rather than drive whenever possible. You could also plan to ride a bike whenever you are running errands or even use it for your commute to work. Not only will you be getting lots of exercise, but you’ll also be reducing the greenhouse emissions that result from driving. If it’s not possible to walk or ride a bicycle, consider carpooling or taking public transportation instead. Use Renewable Resources When buying clothing, household goods or furniture, think about purchasing ones that are made from renewable resources. Bamboo, wood and even recycled plastics are used to manufacture many common items, and the goods made from them are surprisingly affordable. You could also consider buying used furniture and appliances rather than purchasing new ones, as this helps ensure that unwanted items are not tossed into a landfill. Recycle It’s becoming easier to recycle plastic, glass and aluminum all the time. Check with your local solid waste management office to find out about recycling drop-off centers that are close to you. You can also check with this agency to find out where you might drop off items such as old tires, car batteries or paint. Disposing of them in this manner is an important part of living an organic lifestyle since they may leach toxins into the groundwater if they are placed in a landfill. Filter your Own Water Plastic water bottles generate more than 1.5 million tons of waste each year. Instead of buying bottled water, purchase a filtering system in order to produce your own drinking water. Keep a few empty water bottles on hand or dispense them into gallon jugs and then carry them with you whenever you are on the go. Not only will this help the environment, but you’ll be saving a great deal of money on the purchase of bottled water as well. Shop Carefully for Appliances The energy efficiency of appliances should be a major factor to consider whenever you are shopping for them. New models are becoming even more energy efficient than ever, and many are designed to conserve water as well. You may want to consider buying a solar-powered water heater, freezer or refrigerator rather than an electric model since this can help reduce our dependency on energy. You should also think about the size of the appliance you are buying so that you will not purchase one that is larger than what you need. Bigger appliances require more energy, and high energy consumption is generally bad for the environment. You don’t have to make a lot of changes all at once in order to live an organic lifestyle. Even if you begin slowly, you’ll find that over time it becomes second nature to choose environmentally friendly practices over old habits. Above Image Source: Flickr Creative Commons/AndyRobertsPhotos