While I am under no illusions that gadgets will save the planet, I am excited by all of the great green iPhone apps appearing in the handheld web space that could potentially help consumers make better choices when shopping, driving, and well ... just living! Having easily-accessible, practical, and proven information readily available - while you drive, fly, walk, shop, eat, or just hang out - can make the job of knowing how to green your life much simpler and may just cut your green costs as well.

One of the tragic results of our modern lives is that we are so disconnected from the natural world.  We go weeks--even months--going outdoors for a few minutes each day; spending our days in front of computer screens and our weekends in shopping malls.  But thanks to the environmental movement, people are starting to reclaim their rightful place outdoors.  Some individuals are planting organic gardens, others are helping clean up local parks and rivers, and still others are planning eco adventures to help them enjoy nature.

Understanding how our planet functions by learning about its various ecosystems, natural cycles, and so on is important if we are going to be successful in preserving the earth for future generations. Many organizations attempt to aggregate the most relevant information about environmental issues using a variety of methods for presenting the information.
 

Eco-tourism is building up steam as travelers are demanding greener options for transportation and lodging.  In the past decade, a whole new generation of green hotels have cropped up around the world; but some of the very best are right here in the U.S.  If you’re planning your vacation and looking for some eco-friendly destinations, check out my picks for the Top Five Green U.S. Hotels:

Using solar panels on your home may sound like something that only the fringe of society are doing—people who live on communes or insist on “dropping out” from the daily routines that most of us live by.  But the truth is that more and more middle-class families in urban neighborhoods are embracing solar energy by installing solar panels with which to heat, cool, and power their homes.

You could be spending upwards of $2,000 annually to pump and heat the water in your pool according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). Having a nice cool, wet place to get relief from the summer heat doesn’t have to cost you or the environment as much as all that. With solar pool heating, you could significantly cut your pool-related energy costs while also cutting your carbon emissions.

Green food equals organic food. Yes, organic fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy all require fewer infusions of chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, and so on), so it’s no surprise that organics are greener. But did you also know that your organic food could help you reduce your climate impact?

The workforce is ready and on the search for green jobs!  What does this mean?  Basically there are two types of career paths for green collar workers:  First, you can choose to do a job that helps develop, market, or sell green products and services; and second, you can work with existing companies to help them take existing structures and processes, making them greener.

Strapped for cash but seriously interested in producing your own renewable electricity? If you haven’t already, you should seriously consider looking into getting solar panels for your home through a solar leasing program. Even with EEMs, financial incentives from the government, and dropping prices for solar technology, it can still be out of reach for the everyday homeowner. But not with a solar lease.

Green brides are now demanding that their special day matches the ethics by which they live the rest of their lives.  But even if you’re not ready to go 100% green at your wedding, there are a few easy things you can do to make the event more eco-friendly.