involve your family

Grow a garden
"Mucking about in the garden is a great way for kids to interact with nature in a meaningful and rewarding way from an early age," says Yarrow. Even urban kids will enjoy planting seeds in flowerpots for a windowsill garden.

Use your voice
If you or your child is concerned about an environmental issue, sit down and write a letter together. "One letter sent the old-fashioned way, as opposed to e-mail, can greatly influence your congressperson or senator," says Moore. You can find contact information for your elected congressional representatives and senators online.

On the road

Pump up tires
"If you'd properly inflate your tires, you could reduce global warming and have cleaner air to breath," says Savannah Waters, who founded Pump 'Em Up at age 9. She makes a good point. If all American drivers kept their tires at the recommended pressure, we'd save about 4 million gallons of gas a day (and our tires would last longer, too).

Drive smart
When waiting to pick up kids after school or soccer practice, you'll spare the air — and the lungs of the children waiting for their rides — if you don't let your car idle. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends turning off your engine if you're going to be in one place for more than 30 seconds.

Also, be a steady driver. By avoiding sudden braking and acceleration, you'll increase fuel efficiency by as much as 40 percent. And if you set your highway cruising speed to 55 to 60 miles per hour, you'll save even more gas.

"Driving the speed limit and at a steady speed, without sudden stops and starts, is safer for you and your children anyway," Jennifer Hattam points out.

Plan your trip (or just walk)
Given that roughly a quarter of daily car trips are one mile or less, there's a health-friendly alternative way to get to the local market or park. "Get out of your car," says Rachelle Carson-Begley. "Walk a little and get your exercise." And when you do climb into your car, plan your trip so you hit all your stops along the most efficient route — you'll save time, money, and gas.

Optimism on Environmental Issues

The poll also found noticeable optimism on environmental issues among the American public. Seventy-two percent of the poll’s 2,605 respondents believe their personal actions are significant to the health of the environment.

And although only 42 percent of U.S. adults were initially familiar with the phrase “environmental sustainability,” two-thirds believe that it is possible to live in an environmentally sustainable way.

The phrase "environmental sustainability" was more familiar to younger poll respondents than older ones. More than 45 percent of those age 18-43 understood the term's meaning, while only 30 percent of those aged 63 and older knew the term.

Recycling and Paying Bills Online, But Not Changing Light Bulbs

While recycling is widespread in the United States and 73 percent of those polled are paying their bills online to save paper, other often-recommended ways to green your life are going largely ignored:

• 5 percent are driving less by combining errands, walking more, etc.
• 4 percent have reduced their utility use.
• 3 percent have purchased hybrid cars.
• 3 percent have changed out incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent ones.

Yet if every American home switched out just one incandescent light bulb for a compact fluorescent one, the United States would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for an entire year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

There are a whole lot of reasons for going green. You don’t have to worry about taking in chemicals. These vegetables taste much better. It is higher in vitamin content. No harm is done to the environment as no pesticides are used.

Clear out a patch of soil for gardening. Be picky in choosing vegetable varieties with resistance to your area’s pests. Plant your vegetables in a diverse pattern to distract insects that chew leaves and carry diseases to similar plants. Space each plant so that air circulates around it, and be sure water soaks in and then drains away. These organic strategies help prevent leaf and root diseases. Use black plastic mulches to warm the soil in early spring, or let the soil warm naturally with a blanket of organic mulch. This helps prevent the inevitable weeds on unplanted soil. A little fertilizer and water at frequent intervals will lead to a steady growth of the plants.

10 Simple Things You Can Do To Go Green Your Home

1. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
2. Change your light bulbs – use compact fluorescent bulbs
3. Adjust your thermostat – down, 2° in winter up 2° in summer
4. Check your water heater – set it no higher than 120 degrees and insulate it
5. Buy "Energy Star" Appliances
6. Unplug unused electronics
7. Turn off your computer
8. Avoid extra packaging
9. Compost
10. Buy locally produced goods

• 10 Simple Things You Can Do To Go Green the Annual Meeting

1. Register on-line
2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
3. Create your personal on line program
4. Make double-sided copies
5. Walk to and from meeting venues
6. Participate in your hotels' towel and linen reuse program
7. Bring your own reusable water bottle
8. Turn off lights, television and unplug personal electronics when not in use
9. Take a shorter shower
10. Turn off the air-conditioning when you are not in your hotel room