• Reduce, reuse and recycle to go green.recycle image by Kirubeshwaran from Fotolia.com
  
  Going green follows the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce waste by throwing fewer things in the landfill. A green lifestyle also reduces the amount of energy and water used on a daily basis. Use products made from renewable or sustainable resources. Use products made with renewable energy sources such solar and wind energy rather than coal and petroleum-based products. Recycle garbage and packaging containers whenever possible. Going green requires a change in thinking and behavior.
  
  

Reduce Energy Consumption

• Compact fluorescent bulbs use less energy and last longer than incandescent light bulbs.Cfl fluorescent lightbulb on dark background image by Silverpics from Fotolia.com
  
  Going green means reducing energy consumption and using less fossil fuels. One simple tip is to adjust the thermostat so the air conditioner and furnace run less often. If possible, replace old equipment with new energy-efficient units. A second tip involves replacing light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. The federal government claims they use 75 percent less energy, and last longer than incandescent bulbs.
  
  

Reduce Water Usage

• Water is not a renewable resource, so conserve whenever possible.Stream of water. image by Yuliya Tipukina from Fotolia.com
  
  Water is a limited resource. Living green means wasting less water. Replace the toilets and shower heads in the house with low-flow models. If you have an old style toilet, and can't afford to replace it, add a brick to the reservoir to reduce the amount of water used with each flush. Take shorter showers. Never pour water down the drain that can be used for something else such as watering potted plants.
  
  

Reuse

• Charities are willing to take unwanted items and sell them in thrift shops.salvation army store 2. image by mdb from Fotolia.com
  
  Another principle of green living is reuse. Decrease your landfill footprint. Find other uses for old items. If they still work, but you don't want them, give them away. Your old wardrobe can become cleaning rags. Compost table scraps. Donate old books, videos and music to organizations that can use them.
  
  

Recycle

• Recycle trash whenever possible.recycle bin image by feisty from Fotolia.com
  
  Recycle paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and electronics. Minimize the waste destined for landfills. Towns and universities offer recycling programs for many household goods. Electronic materials contain hazardous chemicals such as cadmium, lead and mercury that could poison the environment if not recycled.
  
  

Farmer Markets

• Go green--buy locally grown organic foods from farmers markets.Fresh organic carrots in farmers market image by Timothy Stirling from Fotolia.com
  
  Buy locally grown produce from farmer's markets. The food is fresher than supermarkets, and it has not been transported by trains, trucks or ships over great distances. Because the food has been transported shorter distances, it uses less fossil fuel. Look for organically grown produce to reduce the amount of pesticide put into the environment.