We all want to green up our lives, the lives of our children, and the lives of our pets. There is a lot information available on the Internet, but sorting the fact from the fiction can be a daunting task. Information ranges from personal opinion to evidence backed standards. The following green resources round up will help you get started on the right foot with information from the most credible sources available on green living and related topics. Enjoy our guide to green resources for recycling, green living, green foods, green pets, green buildings and remodeling, and green transportation.
Recycling
Unless you have been living in a cave for the past 20 years, you know the importance and the basics of recycling. The US EPA (http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr) has one of the most complete sites on recycling that provides many of the answers to questions that you might have on how the process works. Earth911 (http://earth911.com/) is an excellent source for finding recycling centers near you and getting the latest news on recycling and sustainability. To find out more about recycling in your area, contact the solid waste division of your city or county. They are often more than willing to help you learn more.
Green Living
Green living is a broad term that means many things to many people. To some, it means recycling and purchasing organic foods. To others green living is much more complicated. It can mean country living at its finest and producing as much as possible. Whether you are a green urbanite or a homesteader, everyone can use some good green living tips. Here is a list of some of the better ones across the net.

National Geographic Green Guide for Everyday Living
http://www.thegreenguide.com/

Green Living Tips

Welcome to Green Living Tips

Green Living Love to Know
http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Main_Page

-From Wind Power to Chicken Coops, you have it

The Daily Green
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green

Boston.com. Green Living: Environmental News and Resources
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/
Green Foods
A list of links on green foods could quickly get lengthy. No links are included that lead to recipes. These are some of the best of the best in terms of finding out what is really in your food and the products that you consume. It includes links to some of the more common certifying agencies and their requirements. This information will help you to sift through the labels and understand what is behind the certification on the label.

USDA National Agricultural Library
http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=2&tax_level=1

USDA Alternative Farming Information Center
http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=2&tax_level=1&tax_subject=296

US EPA Organic Farming
http://www.epa.gov/oecaagct/torg.html

Federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/organic/complianceguide/national6.pdf

USDA National Organic Program
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ORGANIC_CERTIFICATIO&navtype=RT&parentnav=AGRICULTURE

CCOF
http://www.ccof.org/certification

Eden Organic
http://www.edenfoods.com/mediacenter/certification.php

OCIA
http://www.ocia.org/

Local Harvest
http://www.localharvest.org/

Certified Natural International
http://www.certified-natural.net/
Green Pets
Finding information on green pet supplies and foods is one of the most confusing areas of green living. Standards differ as to what is considered green and what is not. Much of the information comes from companies trying to sell green pet products. As of yet, there are no government sources or standards available for green pet keeping. Here the best sources of green pet information available on the net.

The Green Pet Community
http://www.thegreenpetcommunity.com/

Petfinder.com
http://www.petfinder.com/greenyourpet

Planet Green
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-pets/green-pets-tips.html
Green Buildings and Remodeling
Green buildings and green remodeling are hot topics in the industry. Government standards and trade organizations provide excellent information on green building and green building products. Some product sellers also have good information on their websites.

US Green Building Council
http://www.usgbc.org/

US EPA Green Building
http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/

HGTV Pro.com
http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/green_building/

USGBC LEED Certification
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222

Building Green
http://www.buildinggreen.com/menus/
Green Transportation
We all know that transportation is one of the most difficult areas to achieve the green seal of approval. There is much information available on green transportation. Take a browse through these sites and take a look at your own situation. You might find that there are more options than you first thought.

Mother Earth News : Green Transportation
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Transportation.aspx

Planet Green: Go Green Public Transportation
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/public-transportation/

Mother Nature Network
http://www.mnn.com/transportation

This list is by no means a complete list of the wealth of green information available on the internet, but it will give you a place to start with some of the most informative, non-biased sources available. Many of these sites will lead you to other great sites. Enjoy your trip into a greener world.

Recently my third grader came home from school and told me that there was a garbage dump in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that was larger than the state of Texas. I found that awfully hard to believe, I mean, we know there‰Ûªs trash, but really? Is it in the ocean? Is there really that much trash? So I‰Ûªve looked into it a bit and she‰Ûªs right.

Apparently, there‰Ûªs a spot that exists referred to as the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of currents created by a high-pressure system of air currents (source: Howstuffworks.com). This area is known as an oceanic desert, never traveled by boats nor frequented by big fish or mammals. But the area is filled with something besides plankton: trash, millions of pounds of it, most of it plastic. It’s the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean.

Known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it consists of two large masses of ever-accumulating trash, known as the Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches. Each swirling mass of refuse is massive and collects trash from all over the world. The patches are connected by a thin 6,000-mile long current called the Subtropical Convergence Zone, where significant amounts of trash also accumulate.

So what does all this mean to you? It‰Ûªs time to start recycling, reusing and conserving. We only have one planet Earth and it won‰Ûªt be here forever.

Just one family recycling can make an impact larger than you‰Ûªd expect.

‰ÛÏThere is a ripple effect, kids talk, if they go to a friend‰Ûªs house they will ask why they don‰Ûªt recycle. Kids have their own culture and can spread the word themselves,‰Û said Rebecca Clarke, naturalist, Maywood Environmental Park, Sheboygan, Wis. ‰ÛÏOne family can make a huge impact.‰Û

By teaching children about making good choices for the environment, there‰Ûªs a better chance of those habits being carried on into adulthood and ultimately, hopefully, helping our planet last just a little bit longer.

Even recycling plastic bottles can make a huge difference. ‰ÛÏAmericans buy almost 30 billion plastic water bottles every year and 8 out of 10 will wind up in a landfill. Recycling just one of those conserves enough energy to light a 60 watt light bulb for up to six hours; it‰Ûªs like throwing away petroleum, it‰Ûªs just insane,‰Û Rebecca said.

Below are some ways you can make a positive impact on the world.

Some easy ways to make a difference

Combine errands
Don‰Ûªt buy new books, utilize the library, or digital books
Install a programmable thermostat
Pay bills online
Plant trees in your yard
Purchase fair trade items
Purchase from local farms and farmer markets
Purchase paints, carpets, etc. with either no, or low VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
Purchase products at garage sales instead of buying new
Recycle plastics and paper
Replace light switches with motion sensors
Request paperless statements
Try not to buy toys that have an abundance of packaging and plastic ties
Turn off lights when not in use
Turn your engine off when waiting in your car
Use energy-efficient bulbs
Use less soap
Utilize environmentally-friendly cleaning products
Use rechargeable batteries
Utilize water filters instead of bottled water
Walk/ride your bike whenever feasible
When doing laundry or running the dishwasher, make sure it‰Ûªs full
Want to do more?

Call places that send you ‰ÛÏjunk‰Û mail and ask them to remove you from the mailing list
Collect rainwater for outdoor plants (if your state allows it)
Compost table scraps
Consider a personal wind turbine (depends on regulations)
Eliminate the use of pesticides
Hang the clothes out to dry
Install low-flow faucets, toilets and shower heads
Purchase eggs, meat, etc., from local farm
Purchase Energy Star appliances
Purchase flooring and clothing that are energy efficient
Purchase milk in glass that is recycled at the place of purchase
Upgrade windows and doors to be energy efficient
Use a non-motorized lawnmower
Use a steam mop instead of harsh cleansers on the kitchen floor
Use the water from your dehumidifier to water house plants