You might be a tree-hugger if...

Being good to the planet doesn't always require extensive changes to your life. Sometimes, you're already doing some of your part.

You might be a tree-hugger if…

You use the library
Library is green – people re-use the books, instead of buying them, which creates more demand for them. According to the American Library Association, Americans each check out an average of a little over seven books per year. Using the most recent U.S. Census estimates on population, that would mean that more than two billion books are lent from American libraries each year. That’s two million books that weren’t purchased, so it follows that this number lowers the demand for new book printing, thus saving trees.
Photo courtesy freefoto.com.

You go to a park
Parks are green in more ways than one – kids share the same playground equipment, which reduces demand for the plastics that go into today’s equipment. Parks are multi-use environments, unlike movie theaters or office buildings. Plus - using a park doesn’t usually mean using electricity.

You use a dishwasher
Yes, you read correctly!
Washing dishes by hand is green – no or low electricity use, but a new study shows that using any dishwasher is better than by hand. Dishwashers use less soap and less water! Energy Star washers have the bonus of using less energy, which is the icing on the cake: less energy production and lower energy bills

You buy organic food
Organic food, aside from its pricey reputation and possible health benefits, is actually better for the planet. When farmers use pesticides on their crops and then it rains, the pesticides get into the soil, but it doesn’t stop there. It can end up in the water supply.

Shut off the water when you brush your teeth

Running the water while you scrub your choppers is just plain wasteful. All you have to do is wet your brush, shut off the water, put on the toothpaste and brush. When you need to rinse, fill a glass with enough water to hose ‘em down and then shut the faucet off again. This method conserves water. You could save up to 20 gallons of water per day! According to another site, shutting off the water while brushing your teeth saves four gallons per minute.
Photo courtesy freefoto.com.

You go to the farmer’s market
Locally grown food doesn’t have as far to travel, so less fuel is used to get it to your pantry. Plus, a lot of the food at farmer’s markets is organic.