I've completely switched from buying bottles of water to using a reusable water bottle every day. Not only does it save money, but less plastic is ending up in the trash!

I've often heard that going green begins with recycling. As a resident of Suffolk, it is tough to recycle because Suffolk doesn't have a doorstep service like some other cities (I'm thinking Virginia Beach). If you elect to recycle on your own, then when you get to a recycling location you have to take your products, like boxes and cans and insert them through tiny holes and slots. The whole process takes a lot of effort.

I'm hopeful that Suffolk will gain a recycling program soon. I've shown my interest and I hope others have too.

http://www.tfcrecycling.com/

I have switched almost all the lighting in my home to CFL, saving energy. But I've found that the CFL bulbs mostly do not last like the stickers say they will. I end up spending a lot more money. I also wonder whether using these mercury ridden bulbs is really "green" in the first place. They need to be disposed of carefully, and I bet many (sometimes me!) do not dispose of them properly.

Maybe we should be moving to incandescent bulbs with 1/2 the wattage, or LED over time?

Recycle, recycle, recycle. And find ways to reduce water consumption and A/C-this is tough this year because it seems like the longest heat spell in many years.