St. Patrick’s day is this week, which means green is everywhere—green clothes, green decorations, even green food. But the biggest question is: are you going green? Now more than ever, our Earth is under stress from the pollution, waste and harmful chemicals humans release into the environment. 

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by taking simple steps to go green in your home and community. By going green, we create a better environment for ourselves and future generations. Check out these easy ways you can live an altruistic—and green—lifestyle.

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle. 

We’ve all heard this phrase, but how many of us actually put it into consistent use? Recycling materials is a simple step towards building a healthier, happier planet. Before you throw out your garbage, check to see if it’s recyclable. If you haven’t already, get in contact with a recycling company in your community to work with. Of course, if you’re ever confused or unsure about whether or not a product is recyclable, check online or call the recycling service.

If you want to be even more efficient, check products before you buy them to see if they’re recyclable. By making a conscious effort to buy recyclable products and restore them afterwards, we can all come together to create a greener world.  

2. Chuck the bottled water.

For water drinkers, one easy step towards a green lifestyle is simply chucking the bottled water. According to Sustainable Baby Steps, nearly 30 billion plastic water bottles are sold in the U.S. annually, with less than 20% of them actually being recycled. You can help break the cycle by drinking from a reusable water bottle. The water bottle can even save you money by drinking from your home tap or filtration system. 

3. Turn it off (and save money).

If you want to save even more money while going green, get into the habit of turning off any and all electronics which are not in use. Turn off the lights when not in a room, unplug electronics—e.g. the toaster, fan or curling iron—when you leave the house or even take shorter showers. By practicing these simple, everyday steps, you can potentially cut your energy bills in half (Sustainable Baby Steps). 

4. Try new transportation.

Going green on your commute can sometimes be easier than expected. Bicycling, walking, carpooling or public transportation are all great ways to save money and help save the Earth. When you do have to drive somewhere, combine multiple trips into one, drive slower and make sure your car tires are inflated to save gas money and gas emissions. Green transportation can be pretty easy to do when we take the initial steps and follow through.

5. Buy local and organic.

One of the most important ways to go green is through the food you eat. When food travels in from around the world, its transportation emits negative chemicals into the air and can have a harsh environmental impact. Buying local, organic food ensures that your food is healthier than products commercially grown, and is brought in from a shorter distance, reducing the environmental effect. Organic and locally grown food is better for your health, better for the community and better for our planet.

6. Educate others in the community.

Finally, you can help improve the Earth by educating others in your community and those around you. Through gentle education and encouragement, together we can positively influence those around us and build a more altruistic society.

This St. Patrick’s Day, make an impact by truly going green. Put these steps into practice and see how you can do your part to make the Earth a happy and healthy place for everyone.