There are many ways  to be green today. Some require more time than others, but may be worth it in the end. Here are some tips that you may find helpful to use in your home.

1. Recycle-How many people get excited that it is recycling day? You can get rid of more than just empty milk containers. You could make a habit of going through your house once a month and any containers that almost empty, make a point of trying to dispose of them in the next month.

2. Florescent lightbulbs anyone? Is your house or business using energy saving florescent or LED light bulbs. If not, change them. You don't have to change the bulbs as often and it will save you money.

3. Post large items that have been laying around and are not used anymore on either Craig'sList, or www.recycle.com. These sites can help you get rid of that awful couch or old computer that no one wants. 

4. Reuse... This can be as simple as bringing cloth bags to the grocery store instead of using the plastic bags that the stores provide. Many times you end up just throwing those plastic bags out in the garbage (because most of them don't make it home without being ripped).  You can also save up your aluminum cans and other metal itmes to sell at a distrubutor that processes these metals. It is true that aluminum doesn't sell as well as copper, but every little bit helps.

5. Water, water, everywhere.... Many people buy plastic water bottles by the case in the grocery store. I agree that it is very convenient to do, it can become very costly. By simply filling plastic containers that you most likely already have, you can fill up your own water bottles. By doing this you can save money  by crossing another item off your shopping list.

6. Buying new high energy applainces. This option is expensive, but it makes sense in the long run. If you are still using a washing machine from the early to mid 90's, it is time to upgrade. The new washing machine uses less water and can wash more clothes than your traditional washing machine. Fewer loads to wash also is timesaver for that person on laundry duty.  Refigerators as well as washer/dryers also fit into this category.  The more modern refrigerators use less electricity than the older models (even if the older model is  smaller).

7. Consider installing solar panels. This option must be planned, because the panels and installation are not cheap. I would recommend that you get estimates and references from various installers to compare them. You can acces what a kilowatt of electricity is being sold for at  www.flettexchange.com. Many states offer incentives to people that install solar panels in their states. There may be federal grants available also.

8. What am I going to do with all these tree branches? Many cities have a compost center to get rid of yard waste. This is a great service for the residents. If you are new to an area, just contact you local town hall and find out about this service.

9. You can compost yourself. Well, not yourself, but food scraps like banana peels, potato skins, carrot tops, etc. These composting bins are beneficial because instead of throwing these scraps out or putting them into your garbage grinder, you can compost these into usable mulch for your garden. It does take time and practice to put in motion, but Rome wasn't build in a day.

10. Book lovers unite! There are many things that you can do to all those extra books that have not been read in 15 years. You can donate them to your local school or library. You can decoupage them,(what?), you can drop them off at your local recycling center. There are also used book stores that will take your books, depending on their need. They then allow you to purchase books at a discount. Hint, try not to buy as many books as you dropped off, that defeats the purpose. 

Recycling is just a small part of being green.  By taking an active role in your environment and teaching others to do the same, we are truly "being green".