Over the past couple of years, environmental issues have been an important topic in the news, politics, on college campuses, public school systems and many more. Environmentalists are stressing the importance of practicing eco-friendly habits that will contribute to the clean maintenance of our world by reducing your impact on the environment and help you save money.

The concept of ‘going green’ and all the personal changes that it entails can seem overwhelming and can turn people away from the concept altogether. People are naturally resistant to change, so when they hear all of the changes that come with maintaining a ‘green’ lifestyle, people usually turn away and become uninterested and complacent. Fortunately, there are fun and easy ways to promote a ‘green’ and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

With the high cost of gas, it seems like the most logical place to start utilizing ways to improve the environment by making sure that you are getting the most out of every tank of gas. It is easy to improve your vehicles fuel efficiency through a few maintenance steps and driving habits. Changing your air filter every 12,000 miles will encourage a smooth running engine, using fuel cleaner every 3,000 miles will promote cleaner fuel economy, and avoiding quick starts and sudden stops will improve your vehicles gas mileage.

The most effective way to improve your gas mileage however, is to ditch the car altogether. On nice days chose to walk or ride a bike instead of driving. It not only promotes a cleaner environment by saving possible pollution from a car, but it also gives you a perfect opportunity for exercise.

The easiest and most obvious way to live a little ‘greener’ is of course, participating in recycling. At most public arenas, there are places where you can recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans. It is easy just dump your trash in the first available trash can, but utilizing these recycling facilities will do a lot for the environment.

Kick the plastic bottle habit. In America water bottles are consumed in mass quantities and eventually become a big percentage of land fills. To decrease the land fill waste, getting rid of the plastic bottle habit would significantly decrease land fills and benefit the environment. Trading in water bottles for refillable bottles and drinking from a glass as often as possible will not only benefit the environment but also save some money.

Other easy ways to promote a ‘greener’ lifestyle include: resisting eating out, hang some laundry out to dry, use reusable shopping bags, increase your organic products, make your showers quick, and put on a sweater rather than cranking up the heat.