It not only makes sense but has a ring of poetic justice to it too: maybe the American dream is what is indeed killing America.

Suburbia. Suburban sprawl. The Suburban?

The Congress for the New Urbanism (who I love with all my green heart!) set up a contest earlier this year for a video that could convincingly promote “walkable, neighborhood-based development”. Let me tell you, the winner created a remarkably convincing presentation.

(“Built to Last” by First + Main and Paget Films.)

So, back to the question: what can you do about the environmental crisis right now?

Need some milk from the store? Take an evening stroll. Dry cleaners? Find one within a mile or two and take the bike. The less you drive, the more money you save, the more calories you burn. But most importantly, the less you fossil fuels consume and the less pollution you pump into your air.

What can you do about it in the long term?

When you are looking for that perfect apartment, let Walk Score help you score the perfect home. That’s right – you type in your potential new address and let it tell you how walkable your life will be. Local bars and restaurants? Library? Grocery store? The Walkability Score will then rank if your potential home is a “walkable” one, but also tell you how your address rates compared to others in the area.

It’s just that easy. As you go about your day, choose well. Take a walk, get some fresh air, and save the planet.

___________________

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

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But why?

Unless you have been living in a cave for the past decade (which is quite a ecologically sound lifestyle!), you already know the reasons why. Global warming. Overpopulation. Sustainability. A better future for our kids and their kids and all the future generations of this world.

But what I want to prove to you is being an ecologically-conscientious person doesn’t have to mean being a radical hippie, never eating out or *gasp* giving up your tv! Low-impact living can be easy, convenient and affordable if you just think ahead a little. I want to prove to you that low-impact living is a lot easier than you think!

Now, most of these tips can be used for anyone living in an apartment, condo, townhouse or even a house of your own. But this blog will be specifically geared toward those of us living in American apartments (which makes up roughly 1 in 4 households according to the Residential Energy Consumption Survey way back in 2001) because I’m sick of hearing people say that low-impact living is entirely undoable in a modern American apartment. Hey, if this guy can be no impact, then you can certainly learn to easily lower yours!

Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday I will offer you one way to Green Your Apartment. With each tip, I will try to offer three levels of Green as well as letting you know how much time, money and energy you will have to put in to make these changes.

• Level One, also known as “Newbie“: you are concerned about all this “global warming” talk. Heck, have you noticed the freaky weather?! This is the easiest, cheapest, quickest tip I have to offer.

• Level Two, also known as “Amateur Environmentalist“: for those of you who have seen “An Inconvenient Truth“, changed to CFL’s and recycle your beer cans and bottles. You believe in making a difference but the convenience and cost factors have made you reconsider going pro.

• Level Three, also known as “Certified Tree-hugger“: for those of us (yes, I’m in this group) who look for cloth diapers instead of the disposable paper, use homemade cleaning supplies and bring your own reusable bag to the store. There is a deep commitment to the environment which makes your relatives look at you a bit funny when you refuse the Styrofoam cup at a local burger joint and pull your own non-leeching plastic cup from your bag for your beverage.

There is, however, another level. Level Four, also known as “Green Guru“: you are dedicated, you are Dharma-esque. You forgo plastic containers and use your own organic hemp shopping bags. You have undyed organic fair-trade sheets and bamboo wood in your kitchens stocked with homemade organic preserves. I salute you and aspire to make you proud with my tips.

Look for my first tip starting with the New Year on January 2nd! Until then, have a Merry green Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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