By Andrea Donsky | Naturally Savvy

Environmental sustainability is all about making sure there is a healthy environment for future generations.

The David Suzuki Foundation describes sustainability as “living within the Earth’s limits—improving our health and well-being by reducing and eliminating pollution and waste. It means tackling the root causes of health and environmental problems before they occur.”

A 2005 study shows just how serious the situation is. Of the 30 member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United States ranked 30th in progress toward sustainability based on 29 environmental indicators; Canada ranked 28th, proving North Americans lead an altogether unsustainable way of life.

It is time to take tangible steps to halt climate change and move toward a more natural way of living that works with the environment instead of against it. While it may seem like environmental sustainability is an insurmountable issue for the average person to tackle, the little things we do as individuals add up to a whole lot of change.

Here, Naturally Savvy offers tips for living a more sustainable life.

Buy Local

Buying local foods and products significantly cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions associated with shipping. Head to your local farmer’s market for fresh local produce, meat, fish, eggs and other items produced by local artisans. When shopping at the supermarket, pay attention to where foods come from. Local produce is always fresher, since it has spent more time ripening in sunshine than getting tossed around in a truck.

Conserve Energy

More than half of the energy generated in the U.S. is produced by burning coal, so cutting energy use will minimize your impact on the environment in a big way. It can be as simple as turning down the thermostat a few degrees in the winter, or turning off lights when you leave a room. Also consider switching to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which are so energy-efficient that if every American replaced an incandescent bulb with a CFL bulb, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing two million cars from the road. Another great way to cut down on energy use is to replace old appliances with energy efficient appliances, and add extra insulation in your roof to minimize heat loss.

Cut Out Carbon

There are countless ways you can reduce your carbon footprint, the simplest being walking, biking or making use of public transit whenever possible. While public transit may seem like a heavy polluter, many transit companies use hybrid busses and light rail systems that are far softer on the environment than most gas-powered vehicles. If you’re shopping for a new vehicle, consider a hybrid or electric model. Another little way to make a big different is by switching to green energy. Solar and wind power eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal, oil and natural gas.

Reusable is Best

Recycling is great, but it requires energy. Instead, take some time to think about the ways you can reuse things rather than automatically recycling. A primary example is plastic shopping bags. While many communities and companies now recycle plastic bags, the bags are made from petrochemicals, and the pollution created by producing and later recycling the bags is significant. Bins and cloth bags are a great alternative that can be used for years. You can also reuse plastic and glass containers and jars for storage of bulk foods and leftovers.

Opt for Organic

Whether you’re buying food or clothing, organic is better for you and the environment. Many pesticides are known or suspected carcinogens, eye and skin irritants, endocrine disruptors or cholinesterase inhibitors (affecting neuromuscular function). Not only does choosing organic minimize the amount of trace pesticides that end up in your body, organic farming prevents pesticides from ending up in the water table or lingering in the air.

Clean Naturally

It may sound simple, but get back to basics. Leave chemical cleaners on the shelves, opting instead for all-natural cleaners or natural homemade alternatives. The chemicals you use in your home will eventually end up on little hands, which inevitably end up in little mouths. Plus, cleaners usually get poured down drains, ending up in lakes and rivers. As a general rule, if you can’t eat it, you shouldn’t be cleaning with it.

These simple changes can be easily incorporated into everyday living, and they will result in big advancements toward creating a more sustainable way of life.

Andrea Donsky is the Co-Founder of NaturallySavvy.com, an information based website informing readers on the basics of natural health.

By Cynthia Boris | GlobalShift.org

Recycle, save energy, reduce your carbon footprint, protect the environment, stop global warming — it comes at you a hundred times a day in the form of TV shows, magazine articles, billboards and even the packaging on the food we eat. Going green is “in” but that doesn’t mean you’ve got to use an exercise bike to power your home or wear nothing but clothes made of recycled soda cups. There are plenty of small things you can do to get started and when it comes to saving the planet, every little bit helps.

Start by taking a look at your everyday behavior. Chances are there are one or two changes you can make right away that will not only help save the planet, they might save you some money, too.

– Do you leave the water running when you brush your teeth? Turn it off and you’ll be saving up to 8 gallons of water a day. Good for the planet and great for your water bill.
— Going grocery shopping? Invest in reusable fabric bags and use them every time instead of paper or plastic. Less garbage for the landfills and you might get a bonus back from your grocery store for every bag you use.
— Packing lunches? Forget those handy little snack packs. The extra packaging is a waste and you’re paying for it. Buy a big bag of chips, cookies, and other snacks then pack them in your own reusable containers. Less waste and your cost per unit will drop considerably.

And the easiest one? Replace all of your light bulbs with new compact fluorescent bulbs. You’ll find them in every discount and hardware store for only a little more than the cost of your old bulbs but wow, what a difference. They use less energy and they burn for years saving you dollars and effort, particularly on those hard to reach ceiling lamps!

From there you can step up to larger changes in your routine which might include carpooling or taking public transportation to work once a week, buying locally grown produce from the farm, composting, and taking recyclables, especially e-waste to a center on a regular basis.

When it comes to going green, the most important thing to remember is that it’s not an all or nothing proposition. Every step counts. Every bottle that goes into the recycle bin, every lamp that gets shut off, every plastic bag that gets reused — it all adds up.

According to Earthshare.org, if everyone in the US recycled one Sunday paper we could save 500,000 trees a week.

Do your part. Make one small change for the greater good. What’s it going to be?

Cynthia Boris is the managing editor of GlobalShift.org, a blog dedicated to helping the next generation build a better tomorrow.