A Green Lifestyle
Having an office or home that contributes to a healthy environment is important, but we can do more. It's imperative that we help protect the world's air, water, land, wildlife and climate as well.

Ask yourself: Am I using more resources than I need? Am I using more energy than I need, and am I using that energy as efficiently as possible? Are my actions making my community a healthier place?

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling

• Have separate bins to separate materials for recycling such as newspaper, white paper, clear & colored glass, plastic water and milk bottles, aluminum, cardboard, batteries and fluorescent light bulbs. Check out your neighborhood for different recycling collection depots.
• Recycling is important, but it's more important to use less.
• Be creative. Don't just recycle. Use things over and over again.
• Packing peanuts can be reused by facilities like UPS or FedEx.
• Computers, monitors, cell phones and other electronics include toxic materials that should not sit in landfills, and many retailers and other companies will take them for recycling.
• Includes saving a material from disposal and renovating, repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality, or value of a product.

Cleaning

• Use nontoxic, environmentally safe, biodegradable cleaning products, including laundry products.
• Don't pollute your indoor air by trying to mask odors. Choose fragrance-free products.

Transportation

• Buy a high-efficiency car if it's within your budget.
• Leave the car in the garage, even if it's a few days a week. You can walk, ride your bike, take the bus or train or join a car pool.
• Suggest a van-pool at your work.

Personal practices

• Buy produce and other goods from local vendors. It reduces the amount of fossil fuels required to transport them and helps support your local economy.
• Bring reusable bags when you go to the grocery store instead of using plastic or paper bags.
• Use nontoxic gardening techniques. Be careful not to over-apply or improperly apply pesticides, which might harm family or pets.
• Urge the school district to renovate and build green for your children.
• Advocate green building codes in your neighborhood.
• Modify your investment portfolio to include socially responsible areas.

Energy

• Many of your everyday items are using energy even when you don't have them turned on. TVs, VCRs, DVD players, cable boxes, computers and printers, microwave ovens, cell phone adapters, and many other electronics are designed to consume energy even when it's turned off.
• Many utility companies are offering the option to purchase green power and more are adding it. This type of green power may add a couple dollars to your utility bill, but you will be helping to combat global climate change.
• Use compact fluorescent lamps in your lights.
• Wash your clothes in cool rather than hot water.

Some information provided by the USGBC