Even some of those old-time earth lovers who faithfully wore ecology patches and showered with a friend back in the '70s are finding it harder to think, live, and act "green" in today's "grab it and go" consumer culture. Fortunately, doing the green thing is easier today than it's ever been. Check out these ideas for putting a bit more green into your buying habits:

Shop with the basic green trio: reduce, reuse, and recycle
Green living is easy with some simple (and not-so-commonly known) everyday consumer habits
Go even greener with earth-loving building supplies, energy sources, eco-autos, and more
Don't stop now: more green guides for the road ahead


We Have All Been Here Before: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Maybe the environmentalist mantra "reduce, reuse, recycle" seems about as contemporary and action-inspiring as "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute." Trendy or not, this simple three-part recipe sums up the basics of green consumerism:

Reduce your consumption (of both goods and energy), and you reduce the waste and pollution of manufacturing and transporting things to you. Reducing consumption also conserves landfill space—the less you buy, the less you have to dispose of.

Reuse instead of tossing, and buy with usability in mind. Americans generate 250 million tons of waste per year. Disposable goods are anything but cheap when you factor in their environmental cost. Buy durable goods and use them up or give them to someone else to use. Keeping the things you buy out of the landfill is smart.

Recycle what you buy, and buy recycled. You're probably already recycling at home, but you can wield real eco-muscle by using your purchasing power to push companies to do their part. Read the recycling information on product labels and buy from companies that make real efforts to incorporate both pre- and post-consumer recycled materials in their products.