Many of us have taken our earth's resources for granted, and it continues to become apparent that we need to change how we live in order to conserve our planet for future generations. It is vital that we change our lifestyle habits, both at home and at work, to preserve our resources. Over 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown out every year - a number that continues to rise and continues to affect our environment negatively.

Here are some starter tips for kicking off your Green Team at home and at work:

Turn Off the Lights

- turn off the lights if you plan to leave the room for more than 15 minutes

- install motion sensors or timers on outside lights instead of leaving them on continuously

- take advantage of the natural light that comes into your home and office by placing seats near windows

Use Electronics Efficiently

- plug electronics into power strips and turn them off when you are done using them

- set computers to sleep mode when you are not using them

- recycle electronics that you do not need

Use Less Paper

- print on both sides of paper or use the back side of scrap paper to print

- buy chlorine-free paper made from recycled materials

- buy paper made from bamboo, hemp, organic cotton or kenaf

- request that bills or other documents be sent via e-mail

Conserve While You Eat

- bring reusable dishes, utensils and glassware to work for eating meals

- bring food in reusable containers 

- buy organic food and support your local food market

- use a water filter instead of buying bottled water

Modify Your Commute

- use public transportation 

- try out a car-sharing service

- ride your bike or walk instead of driving

Green Cleaning Products

- use non-toxic cleaning products

- use cloth towels or paper towels made from organic or recycled materials

- use a "green" dry cleaner that only uses natural products

Being green is easy...start today.

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