It’s Essential Every Home Be Green (By Kevin Finke and Rob Stalder)

By now, we all know the inconvenient truth.  It’s essential that each of us make every effort to green our lives and especially our homes. Seriously, if you haven’t yet changed your light bulbs to the compact fluorescent variety, you need to get out of the hole you’re in and do it.  It’s one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to help save the planet.  Every bulb reduces CO2 emissions by 67 pounds and saves you $45 over its lifetime.

Another easy way to green your home is to leave with your own reusable bags when you go shopping.  “Paper or plastic?” should be responded to with “No, thanks, I brought my own.”  Most groceries and other retailers sell their own reusable bags, but we like ChicoBags (http://www.chicobag.com/ ).  They’re stylish, inexpensive, come in an array of colors and can be customized with just about anything: your name, a catchphrase, a company logo.  Moreover, they have an integrated pouch to stuff them into and a carabiner, which makes toting them around super easy.

Further, as a green crusader, you should be encouraging your friends and family to green up their lives as well.  Buy a dozen ChicoBags and give them as gifts when an opportunity presents itself.

For more information on going green, there is any number of websites and books to use as resources, but might we suggest “Go Green, Live Rich–50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying)” by David Bach.  Not only does the book outline 50 great ways to go green but also lists hundreds of resources for everything from finding locally-grown, organic vegetables to estimating the cost of installing solar panels.  It’s available at any Border’s bookstore or online at http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=076792973X

Kevin Finke and Rob Stalder are the owners of Gatherings, an earth-conscious lifestyle and event planning company.