How to Become a Green Family

Global warming and environmental change is hard to quantify unless you have some stark statistics in front of you. Consider this:

* By 2030, Glacier National Park will have no glaciers left, according to U.S. Geological Survey predictions.

* Fifteen to 37 percent of plant and animal species could be wiped out by 2050 from global warming.

* The world supply of seafood could collapse by 2048.

* Expect a continued increase of storms such as tornadoes and hurricanes. According to a study completed by researchers and scientists at MIT, there has been a 100 percent increase in the intensity and duration of severe storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes since the 1970s.

Although these are just a few statistics, they illustrate the point that steps must be taken to help reverse the damage of climate change. All it really takes is a few small changes from individuals all across the world to equate to big results.

With this in mind, many families are interested in adopting green lifestyles. It's something every member of the household can take part in. Here are some ideas to incorporate into your family plan.

Work Commute

Whether or not both Mom and Dad go to work everyday, explore the possibilities of taking mass transit. If you don't have a transit system in your area, carpooling is an effective means to reducing greenhouse gases. Opt for the most fuel-efficient vehicle in your household, and ask others in the carpool to do the same.

Involve the Kids

Children, if not taught properly, can be very wasteful. However, with a little instruction, you can corral the wastefulness and show them how to conserve. For example, big families often use several dishes, silverware and drinking cups throughout the day. That can add up to a lot of energy to run the dishwasher or for hand-washing. Have kids choose one set of eating and drinking utensils each day. They simply get washed quickly after each use, reducing the pile-up of dirty dishes.

Youngsters can also be more mindful of their grooming habits, reducing time spent in the shower to conserve water and turning off the faucet when brushing teeth.

When it comes to toys, which seem to be a hot commodity one day and yesterday's news the next, have kids sort through toys they don't want and donate them to a childcare center or consignment shop rather than tossing them in the trash.

Reduce at Home

Stop to think about the energy you're using that often goes unnoticed. For example, how many times a day do you deploy the automatic garage door opener? That can use up a lot of electricity. Instead, take the car out in the morning, and put it back into the garage at night.

You've probably heard the suggestion to turn off lights when not in use. However, many people fail to heed this advice. Open up the curtains and blinds, and let natural light in. This will reduce your dependance on electric lights.

When it's a nice day, consider grilling rather than turning on the gas or electric oven. You'll save energy and have a nice meal in the process. Or young couples or retirees can cook food in a toaster oven. Heat up chops, cutlets and even slices of pizza without having to turn on the larger, energy-hogging oven.

Explore Solar Options

Once you start researching you may be amazed at all the solar-powered products you can find, from outdoor lights to charging hubs for your cell phone. You can also teach kids to harness the power of the sun. That tried and true science fair project of building a sunbox to cook a small piece of food can impart powerful lessons on the sun's power.

All it takes is a little energy and forethought to come up with a plan for your family to go green.