There are likely as many answers to the question “Why Go Green?” as there are people who live a sustainable lifestyle. It is a deeply personal, encompassing choice that is usually embraced wholeheartedly by the individual for often deep, philosophical meaning.

Find some of the most frequently discussed reasons below.

Whatever you do, don’t let it overwhelm you! #staypositive

 
Action is the antidote to despair.

– Joan Baez

Climate Change
Probably most well-known as “global warming”, the science behind climate change is one of the most hotly debated topics among people today. Although it is often a huge motivator behind the green movement, there are still those who fail to acknowledge its validity, many others who feel helpless about it, and very few who ask the real question: Man-made or not, does it actually matter?

 
Peak Oil
Peak oil has gathered a lot of attention in recent years. The term refers to a peak in oil extraction followed by a decline of production and a dramatic rise in cost. The idea that we can actually run out of (or at least, cease to be able to afford the increasingly difficult extraction of) oil is a disconcerting idea when almost every aspect of our Western lifestyle depends on it as a cheap commodity.

 
Environmental Impact
While climate change and peak oil can be debated, the impact of environmental pollution on humans and habitat is undeniable. Every year more fresh water is polluted, natural landscape is lost, and animals are becoming endangered or extinct. A loss of biodiversity raises the risks of disease, blight, and famine and the rate at which humans pollute the Earth is much faster than the rate at which the Earth can be restored.

 
Health and Wellness
Every week we read about a new study that […]

When it comes to reducing waste, saving money and being healthy, stainless steel water bottles are most definitely one of the first and most important steps you should take.

Statistics
If tap water cost the same as bottled water, the average monthly bill would be about $9,000!

If you traditionally purchase bottled water, switching to a reusable water bottle and simply using water filters will save you tons of cash, up to $200 a month depending on your current buying habits.

It also means safer water, since bottled water is not required to meet the same standards as municipal water, meaning you don’t know what you’re getting.

And of course, it means far less waste: 30 billion plastic water bottles are thrown away each year, it takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to produce all that plastic and it takes about 1,000 years for the bottles to decompose.

But decomposing plastic has its own risks. Plastics contain harmful chemicals, such as BPA (bisphenol A – an endocrine disruptor linked to cancer, neurological issues, diabetes, reproductive issues and more). Consuming these is bad enough; distributing them to the Earth in the form of 30 billion plastic water bottles a year is pretty scary.

You can read more about the impact of bottled water just about anywhere. So, let’s move onto the solution.

 
Choosing the Best Stainless Steel Water Bottles
For starters, understand that you’re going to want more than one. You’ll need one for every member of the household, then maybe 1-2 more for hiking trips, guests, replacements for a lost or dirty bottle or just to have on hand.

Thee reusable water bottles will cost a little bit more, in terms of initial investment, but they pay for themselves very, very quickly. However, you might be […]

Water conservation not only saves us money, it saves energy as well and ensures the health and well-being of our bodies and our environment.

Consider this:

Only a little over 2% of the world’s water is fresh water and only 1% is accessible drinking water.
Our bodies are approximately 70% water; our brains are 85% and our bones 10-15% water.
If the water in our bodies drops 2.5%, our efficiency drops 25%.
We can only live without water for approximately 10 days.

And we are not the exception. Our bodies, as well as every living thing on Earth, including everything that ensures our survival, depend on an abundance of clean water.

And nearly all of the water we get from the tap has to undergo a lengthy, energy- and resource-consuming process to make it clean and safe for our consumption.

Water conservation not only decreases energy and resources being consumed by purification or transportation methods, it also decreases pollution to nearby lakes, rivers and reservoirs, as overloaded systems can create backflow into natural habitats. It will also lower your monthly bill and lengthen the life of your septic tank, if you have one. And many of the tips below will decrease (or even eliminate) your reliance on the water grid.

 
Water Conservation in Your Home
General:

Find and fix leaks.
One small drip per minute is almost 53 gallons of water wasted per year. Tighten pipes and talk to your water company on how to check for hidden water leaks and leaking pipes.
Buy water-efficient appliances.
Compare water usage on dishwashers and washing machines and get the most efficient machine possible.
Turn the water off before a vacation.
This water conservation tip will prevent any bursting pipes or new drips while you’re away.
Water houseplants with ice cubes.
Ice cubes will absorb slowly, […]