by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: June 12, 2008

With all the talk of "going green" today, there are so many little everyday things you can do that can help the environment. Here are some simple ideas:

* Purchase a programmable thermostat, or increase the temperature above 78 during the daytime (summer) or below 68 during the daytime (winter).
* Purchase ENERGY STAR-rated appliances
* Purchase a higher-SEER (14 or above) air conditioner or a 90 percent-rated AFUE furnace

* Insulate your home with R-14 (or above) insulation
* Seal doors and windows
* Take shorter showers
* Replace all incandescent lighting in your home with compact fluorescent light bulbs
* Purchase solar screens, window tinting, or solar film for sunny windows
* Set your computer to sleep, or turn it off, when not in use
* Unplug all computer equipment (printer, fax, etc.) when not in use
* Install low-flow faucets and showerheads

And that's only the beginning. If you want to start a family tradition by engaging your kids in fun, eco-friendly activities, here are some additional ways you can help the environment:

Start a Family Garden
With the price of produce these days, you can purchase veggie plants at your local garden center or superstore and enjoy the higher quality of home-grown vegetables. The easiest veggie to grow is actually a fruit, the tomato. In the South and West, make sure you purchase heat-tolerant tomatoes such as Heatwave. Otherwise, going with a mainstream hybrid such as Better Boy or Celebrity is always a wise decision.

Compost
Tossing your grass clippings, leaves, and food scraps into a compost pile or composting bin rather than in your trash can is a great way to produce rich, nutritious soil additive you can blend into your garden to really make your veggies grow.

Become a Crazed Recycler
Growing up in the '80s, I remember recycling mainly glass and newspapers. These days, you can recycle just about anything - styrofoam, plastics, paper packaging, and the list goes on. Look for that telltale recycling symbol on the bottom of packaging and other goods and find a recycling center in your location (my local library has an on-site recycling dumpster). You'll quickly find yourself recycling everything in sight!

Walk or Ride Your Bicycle
I realize this isn't always practical, but when possible walk or ride your bicycle to get to where you want to go. Is your friend's house a couple of blocks away? How about the corner grocery store? Who knows, you might just get healthier in the process.

Drive Less Often, Combine Trips, and Use Public Transportation
Do

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