Going Green One Step at a Time

With all of the talk about "going green," it's easy to get overwhelmed. Maybe you're afraid that the commitment is too huge, too expensive, too drastic. But don't worry, going green is easier than ever, and there are some very simple things you can do to get started.

File Your Taxes Online: If 10,000 taxpayers file just one 1040 form online instead of on paper, we'll save more than two trees' worth of paper.

Sign Up To Receive and Pay Bills Online: Convenient, often free, and if all Americans viewed and paid all their bills online, we'd save 18.5 million trees per year.

Turn Off the Water When Brushing Your Teeth: If 10,000 of us turned off our  faucets every day for one year while brushing their teeth, we'd save over 18.25 million gallons of water - enough to grow wheat for nearly 160,000 loaves of bread.

Switch to CFL: As your regular light bulbs burn out, replace them with a compact florescent light bulb. They last up to 10 times longer, and save you on your electric bill.

Unplug: Turning off your appliances isn't enough - if they're plugged in, they still use electricity. If 10,000 of us plug our cable boxes into power strips that we turn off when not watching TV, we'll save about $300,000 per year.

Improve Your Gas Mileage Without Buying a Hybrid: Be sure your tires are properly inflated. If every American made this change we would save 40 million gallons of gas everyday.

Bring Your Own Bag: Paper or plastic? Neither! If 10,000 shoppers use reusable totes instead of plastic grocery bags, we'll keep about 9 million bags out of landfills every year.