Everyone seems to be conscious about trying to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle but many fail to really do anything about it. Either they don’t really know what to do on a simple day to day basis or they just become lazy and fall back into old and environmentally bad habits. With a bit of knowledge and perseverance, you can integrate new green actions into your daily routine without a second thought. So here a 5 things you can do that will show you how to live a greener life.

1. This is an easy one which you can put into practice the next time you go shopping.  Opt to use cloth bags at the grocery store instead of paper or plastic.  These cloth bags can be purchased for as little as a few dollars each and they’re strong enough to carry just about anything in them.

These bags help reduce waste since most people throw away the plastic and paper bags.  The hardest part of using cloth bags is remembering to take them to the store, but once you get in the habit of using them, it becomes unconscious habit.

2. Replace your standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.  These bulbs use less energy and last for four to five years, almost 15 times longer than traditional bulbs.  While the cost of a compact fluorescent bulb is more than your standard bulb, they easily pay for themselves over time requiring less frequent replacement and reduced energy consumption.  In fact, studies show that a CF bulb can actually pay for itself within one to two months.  One CF bulb also saves about five pounds of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide a month.  Replacing every bulb in your home can have a huge impact on the environment and on your wallet.

3. Another way of living a greener life is to use public transportation.  By car pooling, taking the bus, or taking the subway you can cut down on the amount of gas you use and the amount of exhaust your car emits.  While it may be an inconvenience in some ways, it is one of the best ways of helping the environment.  Even better, walk or ride your bike to work if possible.  This not only saves you money and helps the environment but it also keeps you fit and healthy!

4. Adjust your thermostat by a few degrees.  By turning your thermostat down by just two degrees in the winter, you can save over 50 pounds of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide per month.  Turning it up a few degrees in the summer can likewise save you money and save the environment.

5. Finally, only wash your clothes or run your dish washer when you have a full load.  It wastes water and electricity to wash and dry only a few pieces of clothing.  In fact, if you can, try to wash your clothes using the cold water cycle as uses up to 50% less energy than a warm water one.

By just doing these basics not only you can save some serious money but you can rest assured that you’re doing your part for a cleaner, brighter future.

So there you have it. Remember that when you first start doing these things it might be a pain or you simply might forget to do them. But if you can continue to do these actions for 30 days straight they will become a part of your regular routine such that you hardly have to think about it. Thus these five little things will become second-nature to you.