It seems that here in the United States, we’re getting hit with green from all sides. These days, we hear green murmurs in international conferences, from the federal government, in the media, and through advertising which all trickle down into the general population. Nearly 60% of people who pick up a newspaper and magazine find themselves reading a green article. And over 30% of consumers go into stores and realize that they are now buying more green products. How has all this green snuck into our lives?

Every little effort to live green adds up and there are so many different things that you can do. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. Here are a few simple steps that you can take toward a greener life. This short list is a place to start if you’re in the early stages of going green or it may just be a checklist to refresh your memory. Either way, every effort adds up to a more eco friendly future.

Modern conveniences are growing as almost every household has air conditioners, computers, multiple cellular phones, PlayStations, refrigerators, televisions, and many other cool gadgets. And how many of our modern conveniences are made of plastic? In fact, if you look around you might be surprised to find you’re surrounded by it! And what about cars, can you look outside without seeing at least one? What do all of these things have in common? And can we create a sustainable urban lifestyle?

What is biodegradable? A seemingly simple question has a multitude of different answers. If the various governing organizations cannot agree on a definition of biodegradable, then how is the average person supposed to understand what it is? The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a government agency created to protect human health and the environment, defines biodegradable as those materials with the capacity to decompose under natural conditions.