How Green Are You?
Are you a Mint, a Celadon or a Forest?
Mint (a frothy, light-hearted, rather silly green):
If we were all Mints, there wouldn’t be much of a planet left – not one we’d want to live on, anyway. It would resemble the Moon. Or maybe Mars.
Celadon (a sea-green, with a serious side):
If you score as a Celadon, you’re trying to be green – and it’s pretty admirable. But you’re not going quite far enough. You’re only half-way there.
Forest (the full rich green, and the real deal):
You get full marks for your environmental soundness. If you were any more aware, you’d be a tree. The more people there are like you, the more planet we’ll have left to save.
DO YOU CLEAN GREEN?
a) You buy cleaning products that promise the ‘best’ clean, and there isn’t an eco-friendly symbol in sight.
b) You mop up everything with endless sheets of paper towels and use synthetic sponges. 
c) You buy cleaning products that are non-toxic, biodegradable, phosphate-free and chlorine-free.
Answer: If you picked (a) and/or (b) you’re dirtying the environment and not even worthy of being a Celadon! In fact, you’re barely a Mint. If you’re (c), then welcome to the Forest.
Here’s why: Cleaning your home can be harmful to your health, as many common household cleaners contain toxic solvents, fragrances, disinfectants, and other ingredients that can pollute the air and cause respiratory, skin, and other reactions. Use natural products, such as natural fiber sponges, rags instead of paper towels, and homemade cleaners like vinegar & salt to prevent mildew build-up, washing soda & water for sparkling windows, and dish soap & baking soda for countertops and cupboards. If DIY isn't your thing, then try Method products at http://www.methodhome.com/
FOR MORE INFO
http://www.eco-labels.org/home.cfm
http://www.buygreen.com/
LET THERE BE LIGHT (OR ARE YOU IN THE DARK ABOUT WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE PLANET?)
a) When a light bulb goes, you just replace it with a regular incandescent light bulb – though you only turn on lights where you really need them.
b) You’ve religiously replaced all of the light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent light bulbs.
c) You’ve resorted to candle light.
Answer: (a) have you been hiding in a cave, Mint? (b) well done, Celadon, now you’re truly enlightened (c) no need to go that far, Forest!
Here’s why: Regular incandescent light bulbs are inefficient, with 90% of their energy going to generate heat not light. Replace standard lamps with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs—they cost more per bulb, but are far more efficient and last up to ten times longer. Over the life of one CFL, you can avoid replacing up to 13 incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy.
FOR MORE INFO
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=608
ALSO FOR PRODUCTS
http://www.abundantearth.com/
WHICH WILL SAVE YOU ENERGY AND GAS ON THE ROAD?
a) Making sure your tires are properly inflated.
b) Using your cruise control and not speeding.
c) Changing your air filter.
Answer: Just (a) you’re a Mint. Add a (b) and your on your way, Celadon. And all of the above – well, you’re a green machine, Forest.
Here’s why: Using less gas by following these tips will also help reduce smog and emissions that contribute to global warming. And cleaning your air filter regularly can improve your gas mileage significantly. Speeding uses extra gas, so using your cruise control will improve fuel efficiency. 
And car tires that are under-inflated will lead to poor gas mileage.
FOR MORE INFO
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=263
FOR MORE INFO ON GREEN CARS
http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicle/
ALSO
http://www.greenercars.com/
IF YOU SHORTEN YOUR SHOWER BY TWO MINUTES, YOU REDUCE YOUR CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS A YEAR BY:
a) 18 pounds
b) 174 pounds
c) 342 pounds
Answer: (c) 342 pounds. Shorten that shower and be a Forest. (Mint and Celadon, are you paying attention?)
Here’s Why: Other ways to use less water and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions? Wash clothes in warm or cold water, install low-flow showerheads (they can save hundreds of gallons a week), run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they're full, and replace your old washing machine and dishwasher with progressive Energy Star models.
FOR MORE INFO ON GREENING YOUR HOME
http://www.greenhome.com/
ALSO
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=267
ARE YOU TAKING THE PLANET TO THE DRY CLEANERS?
a) When you buy clothes, you care more about the style than what it’ll take to clean it.
b) You only buy clothes that you can wash in water.
c) You only buy organic clothes made from natural fibers (or recycled materials) produced with no or little pesticides.
Answer: (a) you’re being taken to the cleaners, Mint (b) go a step further, Celadon, and wash only in cold water (c) you’re a true tree-hugger, Forest.
Here’s why: Dry cleaning is a hazardous process that uses toxic chemicals and poisons the environment, our clothing, and us. Most dry cleaners use the solvent perchloroethylene, which excels at removing soils and stains without damaging fabrics, but it also makes us and the environment sick; it’s been linked to cancer, liver and nervous system damage, infertility, and hormonal disruption. Some 57 million pounds of perc are used each year by the country's 34,000 dry cleaners, and around 12 million pounds are released into the air.
FOR MORE INFO
http://www.greenearthcleaning.com/
ALSO
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16753903/site/newsweek/page/0/
DO YOU LEAVE A PAPER TRAIL?
(a) E-mail? What’s that? And you still use the antiquated office (paper) fax machine and make hundreds of photocopies.
(b) E-mail is your one true love, and you get all your bank and credit card statements now online, but you still get a ton of unwanted catalogs and junk in the snail mail.
(c) You’ve cancelled all unnecessary magazine subscriptions and catalogs, and eliminated your junk mail by having your name removed by the Mail Preference Service. You recycle all your paper.
Answer: (a) soon they’ll be no trees left, Mint (b) glad you’re seeing sense, Celadon (c) good to know we still have a Forest!
Here’s why: Each year millions of trees and billions of gallons of water are used to create junk mail that never gets recycled. And the average office employee uses approximately 10,000 sheets of paper a year, creating a stack four feet high. So, send faxes by fax modem, and use recycled office paper. Cut down on junk mail by calling your credit card companies, banks,
catalogs and magazines to make sure your address isn’t sold onto junk mailers. When you receive unwanted mail, call the company to remove your address from its list.
TO REMOVE YOUR NAME
http://www.dmaconsumers.org/
FOR MORE ECO-PAPER INFO
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/119/paper
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FOR MORE GENERAL INFO
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/
ALSO
http://www.thegreenguide.com/
FOR INFO on more green products for the home go to:
http://www.thegreenguide.com/products/
GLOBAL DIRECTORY OF GREEN RESOURCES
http://www.onegreenearth.com/
Juliette Dominguez is the author of DIVING FOR AIR and has written for Glamour, Vogue, and the UK Daily Mail, among others. Check out her website www.JulietteDominguez.com.
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