Green building principles are being adopted by an increasing number of architects and contractors, fueled by the demands of more environmentally conscious consumers. One primary focus of green building principles is the choice of the raw materials used in the construction of new houses. Timber harvested by selective cutting from sustainable forests, the use of woods salvaged during the demolition of old homes and outbuildings, and other materials from easily renewable resources are hallmarks of an ecologically sound building.

Materials used in finishing work can meet the standards of ecological housing design while adding a sense of aesthetics to the home. Flooring and cabinetry made from exotic materials including bamboo and palm wood add a unique design element while meeting the requirement of renewable materials.

Long before I even knew about living an organic lifestyle, I learned about the benefits and power of 3 very simple household items. These 3 all natural cleaning solutions have passed the “test”, time and time again, for this mom of 3 very active boys!

Vinegar. A natural product that poses no chemical or toxic harm to your family, vinegar is a natural cleaning solution that can be used as an all-purpose cleaner for most any household cleaning jobs.

(NOTE: Always test a small area if you have any doubt or concern about the surface you plan to apply vinegar/water to.)

With an equal mix of vinegar to water, it’s a great cleaner for floors, kitchen cabinets, countertops, sinks, appliances and the inside of your refrigerator.

Increasingly we find ourselves beset by problems that seem beyond our control; global warming, GM Foods, animal testing, the spread of factory farming, the arms trade and human rights abuses, to list but a few. Shoppers are often left feeling helpless, the typical response being theres nothing I can do.

But you can by shopping in an Ethical way. Put simply, this is buying things that are made ethically by companies that act ethically. Buying ethically means buying a brand or from a company which doesn’t exploit labour, animals or the environment. The way in which you can act as an ethical consumer can also take on a different form and that is avoiding products (also known as boycotting) you disapprove of such as battery eggs.

Everyone needs to go shopping in one way or another. As an ethical consumer, every time you buy something you can make a difference by choosing an ethical product or by buying from an ethical business.

Living a greener lifestyle feels complicated. But you can start with the easy steps and make a real difference, even if it’s a small one at first.

Let’s start with your light fixtures. As your light bulbs die, replace them with compact fluorescent light bulbs. These cost more at the store but use less energy and last up to 10 times longer, so they can be well worth the money. These are much better than the old fluorescent bulbs which had an awkward greenish cast and slight flicker at times.

Do you drink a lot of bottled water? Stop buying the little bottles and buy a reusable one. A good water bottle is easily washable and you can use tap water, filtered water or buy larger bottles if you just have to have the bottled water taste. But I find just having tap water ice cold helps the flavor tremendously.