Paper manufacture accounts for a high percentage of global deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and other kinds of damage to our environment. Reusing paper grocery bags is one way you can help reduce the paper industry’s negative impact on our world. Here is how you reuse those brown bags the easy way

Saving the planet is a little like finding your soul -- it takes some work and creativity, but the outcome is a gift that will last generations. One day I was digging thorough the busy home of well-traveled inhabitants, and wondered how I could simplify my life, and at the same time prevent some of my embarrassing clutter from becoming a future archeological find. Separating trash is one thing but what if I took it to a new level, using what I know as a designer and a Mom?

There are many practical reasons for going green. Not only can you help to protect the Earth's environment, but you can also do your part to conserve energy. Going green is also a sensible economic move. By building an eco-friendly home, you can improve the quality of the indoor air you breathe, as well as save energy dollars on the green investments that you make. In addition, there are tax credits available to help defray the costs of going green.

It's not enough anymore for us to simply compare prices, quality and performance when buying. Growing environmental pollution and toxic waste makes it necessary to consider how every aspect of consumerism will impact the environment. Responsible consumers work on finding ways to reduce waste and save energy, but sometimes we need help knowing which products are the safest and most eco-friendly choices.

Eco-friendly living is on the rise, ranging from recycling and reusing to making better food choices and building green structures. Even small changes can make a big difference in not only reducing your impact on the environment but also making your home a healthier place. Between work, personal and family obligations, making time to live a greener life can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be impossible or even time consuming.

Green homes strike a balance between functionality and environmental responsibility. Green building practices in new homes create an environmentally friendly structure. For those who live in an older home, simple tactics can increase the green factor of the house. As an added bonus, many green practices save you money. Assess your current living practices to identify areas for improvement. Make changes that fit within your budget to gradually transition your house to a green environment.

Separating glass and paper into recycling bins represents only a small fraction of the possible recycling options for the average household. Tactics that keep trash or household items out of the landfills fall under the recycling umbrella. Before throwing old items into the trash can, consider possible alternative purposes for the items. Challenge yourself to reduce the amount of waste that fills your garbage bin each week.

No matter how much we do to protect the environment around us, we all have a carbon footprint. Most closely associated with the increase in greenhouse gases and global warming, a carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide we create every day in our life. This carbon dioxide can be attributed to us both directly and indirectly: directly when you drive your car to work or cook your food, and indirectly when you take a plane on vacation or buy a product from a company. But there are ways to reduce the size of your carbon footprint on a daily basis.

Anyone can learn to conserve energy. If you already take action to preserve our resources, review this list for other "green" strategies to incorporate into your life. Try a couple of ideas first, then expand to others. If you need motivation, research your personal carbon footprint and think of ways to reduce it.

In all areas of our modern lives, we're going green whenever we can---including our household and office furnishings. Furniture makers are now producing bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom furniture made of renewable or recycled materials with an eye to environmental friendliness. With eco-friendly furniture getting easier to find, more varied in style and more affordable, greater numbers of people are opting for the natural, the recycled, the organic and the sustainable.