Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

 Of late, who hasn’t come across one of those numerous – and lightly terrifying- articles about global warming, lack of vital resources, endangered animal species or deforestation? Whether they provide an answer to the problem or just relate actual facts, most of them contain the underlying message that we all need to go green to protect our planet.

Is there a solution? What does being “green” really mean? More importantly, how can you actually make a difference by engaging yourself and those around you in a greener way of life? Well, through the deep reservoir of content on Answers, we hope to demonstrate some simple, costless and near hassle-free steps.

We understand this is not an easy task and some of you might think that certain solutions or advice are just part of a big hoax. Well, you might be right, however, we don’t think you should give up. Because for us the big question is: what if you don’t do it? You might also be concerned about the goodwill of recycling and energy saving actions. Dee27 asks if a recycling reward system should be implemented. That might be a good idea Dee27. As mentioned by jillionsing, “the profits from recycling should benefit he community”.

You may not be aware of all the great things you can do to help the environment. This is where Answers comes in. Not only is green the main colour for Answers, but we also think eco-friendly solutions don’t have to be expensive or tedious. Many questions and answers tell you tips that will help make your life greener as well as cheaper, easier or healthier for you and your family. Since we like to make things easy, we’ve compiled a checklist of things you can start doing right now because every small action can help. Ready? We certainly hope so.

Tips on being ‘greener’:

• Recycle
• Unplug appliances when not in use
• Re-use shopping bags
• Where possible, travel by foot
• Compost your food waste
• Turn the lights off when leaving a room
• Buy products that are lightly packaged
• Try to avoid buying disposable items
• Shop at your local farmer’s market