Green Natives Sighted in the Concrete Jungle

By Tania Asnes

Living in not-so-city-like Studio City, Ed and Rachelle have plenty of eco-minded neighbors like Bill Nye and Jay Leno. In contrast, when you reside in the middle of a big city, you may not have green neighbors with whom to share eco-tips or even know your neighbors' names, for that matter. Life in the city can seem positively un-green-literally-with gray sidewalks and black asphalt dominating the color scheme. Luckily for us city dwellers, our habits need not match the apparent un-greenness of our environment.

Here are ten ways to green your big-city lifestyle:

• If you live in a cramped apartment, congratulations! You've taken one step towards reducing your ecological footprint. Using less space means having less of an opportunity to collect wasteful piles of belongings. You can do more for the planet, and yourself, by making the most of the space you have. To start, have a stoop sale to get rid of your unused stuff and invest in some space-saving furniture.
• If you can, the next time you move choose a green building constructed from sustainable materials and with built-in energy efficiency. You can check a building's greenness by inquiring about its LEED certification.
• Use public transportation. It is often cheaper and faster, and while riding you can people-watch or catch up on your reading.
• Recycle, but first review your city's recycling laws. The internet is a great resource for doing this. For example, in NYC cardboard boxes are recyclable while soiled paper bags are not (no pizza grease in the recycling bin, please!). Bring your recyclables home when there is no bin available. It's worth it to keep that water bottle in your bag until you can recycle it instead of just tossing it.
• You may not be able to choose Ed's favorite Energy Star appliances in a rented apartment, but you can save energy by unplugging devices like toasters and phone chargers when they are not in use.
• You can use reclaimed furnishings like Paul and Hollis do in their eco-renovated home. The curb, Craigslist, and flea markets are great places to locate unique furnishings. If you are going the curb route, check carefully for bedbugs, roaches, or other pests before bringing your trash treasures home.
• Speaking of roaches, you can get rid of them but keep your conscience by choosing eco-friendly pest control. Eschew harsh chemical sprays, poisonous baits, and inhumane sticky traps in favor of humane mousetraps and ultrasonic pest-control devices that emit harmless, high frequency sounds to annoy critters away.
• Invest in some canvas bags for grocery shopping; if you're crafty, you can even make your own. Organize the plastic bags you have in a space-saving storage container or even a tissue box. They'll come in handy when you need to pack a lunch or return a forgotten item to a friend.
• Takeout is a big part of many city lives, but it creates potential for massive waste with everything being packaged in disposable containers. Try making your own takeout or, when your craving can't wait, choose paper, aluminum, and other more eco-friendly packaging over Styrofoam and plastic.
• Pick up a book on green city living for more tips and tricks. One for NYC is The Big Green Apple: Your Guide to Eco-Friendly Living in New York City.

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