“Going green” doesn’t have to be a daunting task that means sweeping life changes. Simple things can make a difference.”

The above quote from their site sums it up well. Many people adopt “going green” and environmental awareness with an all or none attitude. If they can’t live their life completely in balance with nature, then they don’t do anything at all. That is not a good way to look at it. Every little bit can help, even if it is just a few small things here and there.

Some of my favorites from their list were:

• Turn off lights.
• Turn off computers at night.
• Re-think bottled water.
• Take a shorter shower.
• Shower with your partner.

There are obviously other benefits to the last one on that list besides saving water. I encourage you all to check out 50 Ways to Help the Planet and try to implement a few of them into your life. Also, the layout and icons on the site are beautifully designed.

What are some of the ways that you help the planet? Post a comment below and let us know!

Photo from Wire & Twine Green Line

What Is An Ecological Footprint?

Wikipedia describes your ecological footprint as “a measure of human demand on the Earth’s ecosystems. It compares human demand with planet Earth’s ecological capacity to regenerate it… Using this assessment, it is possible to estimate how many planet Earths it would take to support humanity if everybody lived a given lifestyle.“

Ok, so the ecological footprint calculator basically tells you how many planet Earths it would take to sustain the entire human population, if every single person lived the way you do. I took the test on two different sites and got two different results. I am not sure which one is more accurate. Even if they aren’t incredibly precise, it is fun to get a rough idea of your ecological footprint. They ask you questions about your home, energy use, eating habits, and transportation.

My Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint Calculator #1

This one is a visually appealing calculator from Earthday.net. It has a visual and sound corresponding to all your answers. Here are my results:

Eek, 3.4 planets. Looks like I need to simplify even more!

Ecological Footprint Calculator #2

This calculator is from MyFootPrint.org. It looks more like a standard online survey, but is also very professional and visually appealing. You can see your score as you go along in real time for each category. Here are my results:

Wow. 5.21 planets. Even worse than the previous results. I should rethink my lifestyle!

Your Ecological Footprint

One of the great things about living simple is your reduced effect on the environment. We should all strive to sustain our resources and leave this planet in good shape for future generations. It is easy to get motivated to do this simply by imagining how the world would be if we continue our wasteful ways. Imagine that it is happening to you right now.

Imagine that our parents and their parents lived their lives completely in opposition of the environment. They consumed like there was no tomorrow. As a result there is no fresh water. No food. Pollution. No diversity in nature. Global warming. Increased natural disasters. No oil. No crops. No animals.

Imagining that should push you to make more environmentally sustainable decisions.

So, how big of an effect do you have on the environment? Take the ecological footprint test and let us know! Post your results in the comments section.

Photo By James Jordan

Here is a list of ways that you can conserve water and save some money while you are at it! Some are easy, some are more time consuming and difficult. Decide which ones are right for you.

1. Shower less – If you aren’t dirty and don’t smell bad, then don’t shower! Just do it when you need to!
2. Shorter showers – If you can’t give up your frequent showers, at least shorten them.
3. Use low stream shower heads – Yes it does feel nice to have blasting water on your body, kind of like a massage, but installing a low stream shower heads can save a lot of water.
4. Keep a bucket in your shower – Collect the unused water while you are getting the temperature right.
5. Don’t take a bath – A quick shower is much more water efficient than a bath.
6. Turn off water while washing hands – Use water only to rinse, not while you are lathering.
7. Wash clothes with less water – Set the dial on your washing machine to exactly how much you need to get your clothes covered. Some people leave it on the highest setting when only washing a few pieces of clothing. Or you can simply just wait until you have a full load before doing laundry.
8. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth – I know too many people who let the water run the whole minute or two that they are brushing their teeth. A small one, but over time it can make a difference.
9. Use your garbage disposal less – Water is needed to run it properly. Compost the items instead.
10. Turn off the faucet when shaving – Plug the drain in your sink and use the pool of water to rinse your razor instead.
11. Keep grass longer – Change the blades on your lawn mower to higher setting. This will provide more shade for the ground and less water will be lost.
12. Reuse dishes – Dishes can often be used a few times without having to be washed.
13. Turn off your sprinklers - Is having a nice green yard essential to your survival? No. The easiest solution is to get rid of your grass entirely and replace it with some nice looking rocks, dirt, bark, gravel, stones, tiles, or any other alternative that don’t require water.
14. Lower your sprinkler use – If need that green yard, reduce your sprinkler to the bare minimum to keep your grass green.
15. Water deep, less frequently – This will be better for your yard and save water as opposed to more frequent, shallow water sessions.
16. Pull weeds – Weeds compete with your grass, plants, and flowers for water.
17. Optimize your sprinklers – Make sure that they are hitting exactly where your yard is and not being wasted on the sidewalk, street, or other parts that don’t need water.
18. Use mulch to trap moisture in your yard – Use leaves, wood chips, or bark to keep the moisture in the ground.
19. Wash dishes by hand – There is much argument about whether washing your dishes by hand or with a dishwasher saves more water. If you leave the water running the whole time you are washing dishes by hand, I can see how it would be hard to determine which is better. But if you turn off the water once you have your sponge wet and soapy, then turn it on again only when you need to rinse, washing by hand can save you a tremendous amount of water.
20. Wait for a full load with your dishwasher – If you do use a dishwasher, make sure it is completely full before running it.
21. Use a low flow toilet – Older toilets use around 6 gallons of water every time you flush. New low flow toilets use around 1.6 gallons per flush.
22. Only flush for number two – This method taken from the movie “Meet The Fockers”. If it is yellow let it mellow if it is brown flush it down.
23. Don’t flush random trash – If you blow your nose into a tissue or toilet paper, throw it in the trash, not in the toilet.
24. Check for leaky sinks – Search around the house and get them fixed as soon as possible.
25. Check for leaky toilets – Fix these as soon as possible as well!
26. Save cold water while it warms up – While you are waiting for your water to get hot, capture it with a cup or bucket and use it later for whatever you need. Drinking, gardening, washing, etc.
27. Keep cold water in the refrigerator – Instead of waiting for water to get cold in the sink, have some ready to go in the fridge. Keep it in a gallon container or use a filter container.
28. Capture the rain – Utilize the water from your next big storm by using buckets or a rainwater tank.
29. Use flow restrictors on faucets – Install these on all the sinks in your home.
30. Don’t wash your car – Keep that rugged look on your car and save water and money by not washing it.
31. Wash your car on the yard – If you must wash your car, do it on your yard so that the excess water is not wasted.
32. Wash your car with a bucket – Fill up a bucket with soapy water and then wash your car. Don’t leave the hose running while washing it. Only use the hose for rinsing.
33. Insulate your water pipes – This will allow your water to heat up faster, thus wasting less water while waiting.
34. Cover your pool – If you have a pool, cover it when it is not in use to keep the water from evaporating.
35. Wash your pets on the yard – All the excess water will be utilized by your grass.
36. Cook with as little water as possible – When boiling anything, just use what you need.
37. Check your well – If you happen to use a well, make sure it is running correctly.
38. Sweep sidewalks and driveways – Sweep those areas with a broom instead of blasting them with a hose.
39. Spread the word to friends, family and coworkers – The more people who know about ways to conserve water, the better.
40. Add your own way that you conserve water – Post a comment below and let us know what methods you use to save water!

Use as many of these as you can to greatly reduce your water usage and save money on your water bill. Don’t forget to add your own ways that you save water in the comments below!

Photo By Fox_Kiyo