What can you do?

These are steps you can take today, to be more green!

Here is what you can do:

1. Make good faith efforts
When you pledge to hang onto your lunch waste so you can recycle it at a later time.
Don't pretend to recycle and loose steam after you begin. This is something that cannot get stale and has to become a part of your day to day routine. Express your green habits to others and let them know about your commitment. You can be the green person in your circle of friends. Trust me, your Pedagogy will rub off quickly. So if your slacking people around you will begin to one up you. And the reality is, you have to keep up with the Jones, or your a

Green Bull-Sheeter.

2. Keep it simple
This one is very straight forward. You have to walk before you run. So what if your energy & green ignorant? Just because you drive and SUV and you made a personal vow to make changes, if it is for the environment or your pocket book. Start with everyday chores. Really sit down and collect your routine on paper. What goods and services are coming into your house and leaving in your trash? In the grand scheme of things, you shouldn't have any trash. This is a bold claim, that I do not live up too, but I also find clever ways to reuse plastic containers. Large yogurt tins make great pencil holders. In fact decorating your office with re-used "trash" can really spice of your identity in the work place. The most important principle behind keep it simple is express your values to others. You are starting today and you are proud to be doing it. This falls back to step one, you have to share what your doing with others.

Note: There is a reason people hate treehuggers. Because they preach and have lengthy rhapsodize about their efforts to change the world. Your efforts should be no less significant. If you cut down all your waste at home and recycle are you really making a difference? Of course you are. If you think otherwise you need greener friends, or a "green ego check." Because you cannot drive your hummer around any longer without making people angry at yourself. Be proud and embrace change openly, and annoy everyone until they begin to annoy there peers!

3. Take one step at a time
Yeah, this a no brainer. Going back to the previous points you will have to find out. What do you want to get out of this? If you cannot afford a hybrid what other alternatives are available to you. Have you considered riding your bike to work? Can you ride alternative means of transportation to work. Is it time saving or cost saving? Money going in and out vs time and convinces. Nobody wouldn't go green unless the advantage outweighed their 'wasteful way of life.' The best way to make steps in becoming green is, make goals with your financial means and those goals should reflect your current green values. Walk before your run.

4.Establish Accountable Individuals or Teams
This one a is a biggie. If you start to recycle and make the transition with a core group of individuals you are going to move past your goals quickly. The team you build can also establish the capital needed to finance green projects. Local municipalities may have lacking programs. If your neighbors band together and form a green alliance such as co-op operations for food & recycling, this can be of great benefit. Start-up are usually small and everyone on your team works together for a common cause. How many of you really get fresh food from your local growers. I can honestly say, I don't. Being young has its disadvantages but I too am making goals. In later features I will share to you the goals i have already accomplished. It all starts at home, and it is your job to find a core group that can bring your goals to life.

5. Evaluate Using Credible Guidelines Standards & Sources
Check your local state, county, city government websites. These sources can give you up-to-date code, and information about any programs. Also remember, google has really made the internet radically different. If you search "your location recycling centers" it is much easier to find answer with modern search engines

6. Stay abreast of Changing Environments.
When you identify your green values do some research on those subjects. Find out what is current and what the next wave has in store for that category. For example if your going to buy a Alternative energy car, do you know what fuel you want it to run on? Which brand loyalty do you have? Are you sure your making the right choice? Make sure you see what is just over the hill, because buyers remorse can be often time fatal for your psyche.

7. Communicate Clearly and Carefully
This clause works into the previous statements. Especially when working with a team you have to state your goals and values clearly to get to the next step. If you are at anytime vague or your not congruent with yourself, you setting yourself up for extra steps in the long run. Being green should be simple, and fun!

8. Get more in-depth training in Critical Areas
This one is the most relevant for any die-hard eco-naught. Carefully analyze a subject with personal research. If the feel appeals to you so much, why aren't you working in it already? What steps will you need to take to make those dreams come true? Because living in a pipe dream sucks and you most of all have to live with yourself. Go ahead, be a champion and work on defining your new green values.

The green commitment is not only a challenge but it should be fun and simple! I hope this check list has given you some more reason to peruse a greener life-style. Yes, I will abuse the word green, until it really is cool and socially accepted. Till than absorb, learn, and geek out. Being green is the new way of life!