For so many years now, green was the buzzword in many circles. Now, you may be wondering what living green is all about considering that so many people are taking it up as their new ideal.

Well, living green means different things to different people. However, one common theme persists despite these differences in opinion - living green means making the choice to lead lives aimed at achieving health for one's self, for one's community, and for one's environment. In short, it is the conscious choice to be more eco-friendly, day in and day out.

Common Criteria

To be more specific about it, living green follows certain common criteria regardless of the daily activities involved. More often than not, it will take plenty of practice to determine the best course of action for living green but soon enough, it will take little effort to do what's right for your health and the health of the environment.

With that being said, here are the common criteria for living green:

Your actions should lessen the use of energy and other resources, both of the natural and manmade kinds. This involves saving on the use of water, soil, trees, fuel and even air.

• Your decisions involve lesser toxins and harmful chemicals being released into the environment.

• Your uses of resources are designed to recycle, reuse, and reduce wastes.

• You utilize organically grown, sustainably produced, and socially responsive resources.

• Your actions are in themselves socially responsible, ecologically aware, and environmentally friendly in virtually all aspects possible.

You will observe that all these actions and decisions involve the environment at some point while engaging your health in terms of the physical, mental, and financial aspects first and foremost. It only reinforces the thought that human beings and their environments are intimately connected.

Common Ways

If you think that living green is mission impossible, think again. In reality, you can take baby steps towards truly living green - no undue pressure, no great money involved and no extra strenuous effort necessary. Just your commitment to living green and acting on your commitment may be enough.

The following are good steps to starting your journey in living green:

• Lessen water wastage by taking more showers instead of tub baths, using just a glass of water to brush your teeth, and washing the dishes only when it can fill the dishwasher, to name a few suggestions.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent lights to lessen energy costs. Better yet, go for solar power to provide light to the interiors and exteriors of the house as well as to provide heat.

• Compost your household and garden wastes to make natural fertilizer for your garden. For that matter, plant more fruits and vegetables even in containers to lessen dependency on supermarkets. You save on food costs, you eat organic foods, and you help the environment.

• Walk, jog, and ride a bike to your nearby destinations instead of using your car. You lessen emissions, lessen dependency on fuel oil and you get your exercise, too.

Indeed, living green has its benefits. So, start today and reap them all!