<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"  This being Earth Week, a lot of people (our bloggers included) are talking about the importance of being kinder to our planet. The environmental problems that plague the earth may seem daunting to address, but here are four eco-friendly habit changes I&amp;#039;ve made that required very little extra effort ... and even save me some time, trouble \u2014 or both. Paper-free banking Managing my finances digitally is actually more convenient than the old-fashioned way. Having my paycheck directly deposited means no checks to put in the bank (or lines to wait in to do so) and no worry that I might get hit with balance-related fees on my checking account. Paying bills online means no stamps and envelopes to fuss with. And all of this means no unnecessary paper waste.  Recycling OK, so this one I have to do; recycling household trash is required by law in New York City. I bought a cheap divided bin (one side for paper, one side for plastic and metal), and along with my flip-top trashcan, it&amp;#039;s no sweat to put disposables in the right spot. And, because my garbage is divided by three, it takes that much longer before the bins are full \u2014 and I make that many fewer trips to lug it outside. Reusable grocery bags These nylon sacks roll up small for easy stashing in my purse so I (usually) have one with me, and they&amp;#039;re much stronger and more comfortable to carry than the filmy plastic ones they usually double at the grocery store. And on those days when I somehow don&amp;#039;t have my reusable ones with me, I save the store shopping bags \u2014 they make great liners for my garbage can and recycling bins. At-work lunches I pack my lunch pretty much daily, and now that it&amp;#039;s getting a bit warm for my winter slow-cooker stews, I&amp;#039;m changing my routine. Instead of making and packing my midday meal at home and bringing it in, I go to the supermarket near the office and stash cold cuts and bread in the fridge at work. I can quickly make my sandwich come noontime, and don&amp;#039;t have to use baggies or wraps or wash out storage containers later. What habit changes have you made that prove to you it is easy being green? "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a23752/green-habits-made-easy/>