DO! DO! DO!

1 - Eliminate waste by choosing products that are biodegradable or recyclable.

2 - Stop forgetting to bring my reusable bags to the supermarket.

3 - Reuse shopping bags as trash bags.

4 - Stop using Ziplock bags!

5 - Reduce use of paper napkins and paper towel.

6 - Buy only eco-friendly dish liquid.

7 - Drive less, walk more.

8 - Keep my place a little warmer during summer and a little cooler during winter in order to reduce energy consumption.

9 - Make my shopping lists on my i-phone instead of wasting a piece of paper on it.

10 - Buy less and use the public library more (or just upload the books to my kindle).

11 - Do my laundry with cold water.

12 - Make my own iced-tea in order to reduce packaging consumption.

13 - Stop buying the Swiffer to clean my floor and start using rags.

14 - Do not let the water run while washing face.

15 - According to the National Building Museum's "Green Resource Guide 2006", "If every household in the U. S. replaced 1 roll of 1,000 sheet bathroom tissues with 100% recycled rolls, we could save 373 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 155 million gallons of water." I'm willing to give recyled rolls a try and buy a pack, at least once in a while (until I can afford to buy it exclusively).

16 - Buy locally produced products and materials whenever possible to reduce additional energy use and pollution associated with transportation.

17 - Look for reclaimed wood products, salvaged from older structures, or certified wood harvested from sustainably managed forests.

18 - Choose textiles made from natural fibers (such as cotton, wool or linen) which are untreated and free of toxins, such as pesticides or chemical cleaners.

19 - Recycle batteries and electronic equipments.

20 - Install a dual-flush retrofit in my toilets.

21 - It's time to ditch the drier sheets. According to the webiste www.treehugger.com, "[drier sheets] can be full of cancer-causing chemicals and neurotoxins such as toluene and styrene. They also break down organic fibers, shortening the life of your fabrics. Instead, toss a sachet of dried organic lavender in the dryer for a healthy, sweet scent".

22 - Here's a hard one to do: drive on the speed limit in order to save fuel and thus, be green.

23 - Running the dishwasher only when it's full (which I usually do) can save 400 gallons of water each month!

24 - Energy Star estimates that you can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80 percent when using the microwave instead of the oven.

25 - 70 percent: The reduction in cooking time and energy use from using a pressure cooker to cook your food. Not only do I use a pressure cooker, but I also soak grains such as beans, for example, overnight, in order to make the cooking even faster.

26 - Buy green Christmas gifts or even better: make gifts with all the yarn I have accumulated over the years.

27 - Buy used books instead of new ones. www.amazon.com sells used books (they don't qualify for Amazon Prime though) and www.bookmooch lets you trade the books you no longer wants for the ones you do.

28 - Join the Freecycle.

29 - Recycle crayons by melting them in the oven or sending them to www.crazycrayons.com

30 - Now that Christmas is near, make my own Christmas decoration instead of buying it.

31 - Find an eco-friendly dry cleaning near me. (There's actually an "organic drycleaning" nearby but I honestly don't buy that).

32 - Sew and patch a garment before donating it (this way it can find a new home easier).

33 - Buy in bulk in order to lower packaging consumption.