You may be asking yourself the question, why go green? Green living, renewable energy sources, and sustainable materials are all the newest and most exciting buzz words of recent years, for good reason.

The health benefits you can enjoy from making greener choices are amazing. You can impact the health of the environment in your local area and ultimately, the world by simply making a few crucial changes to your lifestyle.

Environmental and Health Benefits of Going Green

1) Foot power - ride your bicycle, walk, or run to your destination rather than driving your vehicle. You'll save money on gas and you'll enjoy excellent cardiovascular health as a result of using your own energy to arrive where you want to go. Do some sightseeing on the way too! Fly or take a train for traveling to destinations outside of your local area.

2) Enjoy hot water for free - solar water heating systems are built to last for a minimum of 15 years, but can last up to 40 years. The best part is that you'll enjoy free heated water after about 4-8 years. It's an energy efficient way to go green at home. Tax credits and incentives are also available to homeowners who opt for solar powered appliances over conventional models.

3) Fewer landfills - How many times have you been driving down the road and noticed furniture and other odds and ends out for the garbage? Many times those items are still in perfectly beautiful condition and could be repurposed into something new and different.

The point is this - consider recycling or repurposing household items like furniture into something new with a coat of paint or new hardware instead of putting it out on the curb where it will ultimately end up in the landfill. Less stuff in the landfill means a healthier environment for everyone, especially future generations.

4) Beautifully illuminated landscaping - solar powered lights are an excellent way to dress up your landscape while positively impacting the environment. You'll use less electricity, save money, and cut back on the amount of fossil fuels your family uses to light up the outside of your house, garden, or pool area.

5) Healthier bodies - eating fresh whole organic foods provides the fuel our bodies need to function optimally. The benefits of making greener food choices are increased longevity, better tasting foods, and feeling good about supporting your local growers.

Are you beginning to understand the answers to the question, "why go green?" It's much easier to incorporate a greener lifestyle than most people think, so keep reading for more excellent ideas.

6) Support the local economy - grow your own vegetables or purchase produce and meats locally from farmers markets and food cooperatives. You're automatically helping the environment because the amount of fossil fuels required to ship or truck in fresh food to the grocery store is cut considerably.

7) Free power - solar battery chargers enable you to have electricity anywhere you go; that has sunlight of course. Power your cell phone, laptop, lights, RV's, boats, and hand-held devices without the concern of the location of an electrical outlet. You'll help save the environment at the same time you're enjoying free electricity!

8) Green household cleaners - make your own household cleaners or choose all-natural products to make your home sparkle. Synthetic and harmful chemicals are found in nearly every conventional cleaning product on the market. These chemicals could potentially do long-term damage to our bodies and definitely to the environment as they flow down drains and seep into the ground. Why go green with cleaners? No more worrying about harsh smells or chemical reactions - you'll simply enjoy a cleaner healthier home environment, naturally.

Now if someone asks you, "why go green?" you have plenty of answers for them!

M.S. Rochell is the owner of http://www.Go-Green-Solar-Energy.com which offers new ideas for practical and affordable solar energy solutions at home. Please visit for our free Affordable Solar eBooks, and for more tips on why go green and green living.