1. Plastic bags are so last year. They quite simply sit in landfills, pollute our waters and negatively impact our eco-system. They never fully biodegrade; it is even questionable whether or not the so-called biodegradable bags leach out toxins when composted into our soil. Why not invest in some cloth bags? To be extra green look out for organic cotton or hemp bags.  All you have to do is leave them in your car, and you are on your way to making a difference.
2. Many people have a cup of coffee or tea as part of their morning routine whether at work or on the road. By simply buying a reusable mug you can divert all those coffee-shop cups and Styrofoam cups you would normally use from a landfill. When will you be making the switch?
3. Ditching the disposable water bottle dependency keeps the environment happy and our wallets green. You can potentially divert 60,000 water bottles a year from our landfills by using a glass or stainless steel water bottle. And this will help provide a solution to the “disposable” culture we have created over the years.
4. Recycling is one of the most common and thought of ways to live green. However, have you ever thought of recycling items when not at home? The majority of people still use recyclable items outside of the house. So, next time you buy that juice in a glass bottle, maybe think of bringing it home instead of just tossing it away.
5. Some organic foods can be expensive and not always available to everyone. Buying organic has health and environmental advantages: fewer pesticides are sprayed in the environment and are less ingested when eating that apple. Consider purchasing items on the dirty dozen list  (apples, celery, strawberries, spinach, nectarines imported, grapes imported, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce, kale/collard greens). During the summer months, look out for the local farmer’s market, where produce is less likely sprayed and will be a cheaper option.
6. If every American skipped meat and cheese one day a week, it would have the same environmental impact as the country driving 91 billion fewer miles a year. Give Meatless Monday a try and maybe it can be a weekly occurrence for your family.
7. Walking and biking is not only good exercise; it is equally as good for the environment. Take a nice stroll to the store instead of driving.
8. Living a more green life is as simple as remembering to turn off your lights in the home. You probably do not need every light on, so why not think to turn them off when not in use? Another trick is to plug your appliances and electronic devices into a power bar. That way, just flick the switch on the bar to stop the “phantom energy” from being sucked from the power grid. Believe it or not, even when your electronic devices are off, energy is still being used.
9. The good old energy-guzzling appliance: the dryer. The dryer is a great invention, but it uses a lot of energy to dry your clothing. The alternative is to hang your clothing outside or in the home, just like our grandparents did many, many years ago. And your clothing will smell nice and clean after hanging in the sun. Why not give it a try and add it to your laundry routine? If not all the time, do it at least some of the time. A little goes a long way.
10. Cold water is the way to go. No need for the super-hot water to clean your clothing. Cold water works just fine.

Going green and lessening your impact on the environment doesn’t have to be difficult and inconvenient. Taking small everyday actions can help the planet enormously. If everyone did their part, the impact would be significant.

And which ways will you choose to green up your life?

Stephanie Moram is the Good Girl Gone Green. She is a tree hugger; she is almost vegan; she is trying her best to make a difference on this planet. To say she is passionate about “all things green” and environmentalism is an understatement! Stephanie wants to be the voice of change that will help others make their positive contribution to the environment. You can find Stephanie making a difference over at Good Girl Gone Green or on twitter at GGirlGGreen.