Sometimes, it's the little things that make a big difference - especially if a lot of people implement them! If you want to take some small steps to make your life a little greener, here are some suggestions.

1. Carpool

If you have to commute to work or school, see if you can combine vehicle use with a neighbour, friend, or work colleague. It's not a huge step, but it's one less car on the road that morning.

2. Leave the car at home

Why not leave the car at home, and walk or ride a bike. This keeps the car off the road, reduces emissions and makes you healthier.

If exercise is not for you, then why not catch a bus. It’s a great way to travel and can be very relaxing, especially if you have a good book.

3. Recycle

If you are looking for ways to go green and you are not recycling, this is the small step to start with. It is not a huge lifestyle adjustment to set up a couple of bins and plan regular trips to the recycling plant - or, hopefully, you can set your recycling out for the local waste management to pick up.

4. Lights

Turn off lights when you're not in the room. When you can, use daylight for reading and eating, and when it's dark use a single lamp - preferably with a CFL bulb.

5. Errands

Try to combine errands in one trip so you use less fuel. The carpool principle can be applied here, too.

6. Water

While water is abundant on the planet, clean, safe drinking water is not. Try to conserve this precious resource with some small steps. For example:

• Do not flush liquid waste every time you use the toilet. Flush after two or three liquid waste toilet visits.

• Pre-rinse dishes in a pan or sink of water (rather than under running water), then load the dishwasher. Also, running the dishwasher only when it's full can help save water as well.

• Wash your car as infrequently as you can, and when you do, turn the hose off while you soap up and scrub the car. When you hose down the car, use a trigger nozzle and do it on the grass.

7. Heating and Cooling

Turn down your thermostat at night and when you leave the house. Even better, install a programmable timer - it's simpler than you think and is still considered a small step. Make sure your furnace filters are changed regularly, and use fans as much as possible in the summer.

8. Food

Cut back on meat where you can - since we're talking small steps, maybe have one meatless meal a week or three meatless meals one day a week. Commercially-raised meat is said to have a negative impact on the environment, so the less you eat, the lower the demand, and the fewer animals are raised for slaughter.

Make the switch to local and organic food. Maybe choose one food to start with, such as apples or carrots.

As you implement these small steps, you and many others like you can have a significant, positive impact on the environment.