Green Living is a popular movement developing in the wake of growing fears about the changing of our environment.

Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth highlighted what, for many, was already an obvious fact: That we humans are having a powerful, possibly irreparable, impact on our ecosystem. His message was by no means new, but it gave much power to the notion that it is every individual's duty to take action to protect our planet.

And with $100 a barrel oil and a faltering economy, Americans have a strong financial motivation to look at the long-term impact of the way they live and spend. Increasingly, consumers are letting their feelings about the environment and financial security influence the way they build and furnish their homes.

Marketers are very aware of this burgeoning green mentality and they are eagerly searching for ways to profit from eco-consumerism. It is all-to-easy for a company to slap a label on their product proclaiming it's "greenness" without really justifying its positive effect on the environment.

Consumers are increasingly required to sift through the "green" offerings that come their way to find those that will truly make an impact on the environment and their pocketbooks.

The best way to ensure you make good decisions for living green is to do plenty of research. Sites like thegreenguide.com offer consumers practical advice for living green.

For those looking to make changes in the way to live in and build their homes, these simple tips can help make a difference.

Stick with the Basics

Consumers who are just starting to transition to an environmentally friendly lifestyle should begin by adopting simple methods that have been in place for a long time.

Recycling and buying recycled goods is a great way to live green that has been around for decades. You can look at your city's website for information about recycling drop-off points and involve your whole family in collecting and sorting your recyclable goods.

Another quick and easy way to start living green is to replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which last up to ten years! These bulbs may be more expensive ($5-$10 per bulb), but can save you up to $30 in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulb.

Building Green

When building a new home, search for a builder with experience in green construction. You can encourage your builder to use products that are less harmful for the environment, which can range from flooring to insulation to paint.

Also look for energy-efficient building materials like composite windows, which will not only help the environment, but will save you money on energy spending over the long term. buildinggreen.comhas a wealth of resources for those looking to make a difference when building their new home.

The Green Remodel

As with building a new house, you can remodel your home to have minimum environmental impact. Use the links mentioned above to find out if things like "low-flo" toilets and tankless water heaters may be right for you.

If you're planning to remodel your kitchen, look at countertops and tile made from recycled material, like recycled glass. There is a fast growing market for these items and the savvy consumer can find many options to meet their style needs.

Even making small changes, like installing a low-flo shower head or PVC-free shower curtain, can have an impact on your environmental footprint.

These basic tips should help you get started down the "green living" path. Whether big or small, making changes in the way you spend to protect the environment is a good investment for the future.

Published: February 1, 2008

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