Green Daily

The claim: I'm just one person, I can't make a difference. My individual actions don't matter in the long run, and won't have any sort of lasting effect on the environment.

What you might hear this person say: "What can I do about it?" "One person can't accomplish anything." "My actions are insignificant." (Amusingly, right after I wrote this blog post, I stumbled upon a Kansas City Star article about a local couple trying to live green, in which the wife was quoted as saying, "It's overwhelming...It's easy to think that what I'm doing isn't going to help at all.")

Is there any legitimacy to this claim? One person will not single-handedly stop Big Agribusiness or reverse the effects of global warming. But one person's effects can be greater than many people think. For instance, if you set your thermostat (when you're out of the house) to 85 in the summer and 50 in the winter, you can save about $100 every year (and give the environment a break). Recycling newspapers can save 50 pounds of carbon per year. Every ten glass bottles recycled saves three pounds of carbon.

Take the first step: First, calculate your carbon footprint to see just how much your actions are affecting the Earth. Then, make quantifiable changes in your lifestyle, so that you can see the results. For instance, take these steps to save water, and then watch as your monthly water bill decreases. Do the same for your gas and electric bills (turn off lights when you leave the room, replace bulbs with CFLs, adjust your thermostat) and watch the bills decrease. When your bills are lighter on your wallet, you'll know that the impact on the environment is lighter, too.

You can also participate in community clean-ups, or bring your family's recycling over to the recycling plant yourself. Seeing the fruits of your labor is a great way to spurn further activism.