10 tips to live a greener life now

"We are doing a much better job of understanding the consequences of our actions," says longtime recycling expert Peter Muscanelli, president of Waste Management & Recycling Products, Inc. For example, no one would think of pouring used motor oil into the Hudson or venting industrial gases directly into the sky today.

But with just about every day bringing news of ever-larger environmental problems — the melting polar ice caps, the depleting ozone layer, the crazy weather — it can feel just a little overwhelming. What can one person do? The answer, happily, is a lot. Even small actions can have a positive impact on the environment of our children — and our children's children. Here are some easy ways to go green now:

1. Recycle — really. This is the granddaddy of green activities. The City of Troy strongly encourages recycling, while residents of Albany and Schenectady are legally required to recycle, although enforcement is admittedly difficult. The point is that doing the right thing is really up to you. Recycling keeps potentially reusable materials out of the waste stream, saving precious landfill space. Nearly half of all the trash collected in Albany last year — more than 21,000 tons — was recyclable, according to Frank Zeoli, director of recycling for the city. Contact your municipality for recycling guidelines and those blue and green bins.

2. But first, reuse. "The best option in the recycling tool kit is to reuse whenever you can," says Muscanelli. Reusing an item extends its life and prevents the need for fresh resources to create something new. Try this with plastic containers, glass jars, metal coffee cans and wrapping paper. The seriously creative (or those with children) might even try reusing newspaper or glossy magazines for craft projects and cut down on art supplies.

3. Stop phantom loss. In the average U.S. home, 5 percent of energy use is related to standby or "phantom" power consumed even when devices are switched off. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, this wasted power sends more than 87 billion pounds of planet-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Unplug power adaptors directly from the wall or plug multiple items into a power strip or surge protector that switches off with a single click.

4. Game over. A 2008 study by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Ecos Consulting shows that electronic home gaming equipment uses about 16 billion kilowatt-hours of energy per year — more electricity than the entire city of Albany. According to the researchers, a Sony PlayStation 3 or Microsoft Xbox 360 left on around the clock consumes as much electricity as two refrigerators. Feel better about on-screen fun by teaching your kids to shut down video games when not in use.

5. Choose CFLs wisely. Energy efficient light bulbs, also known as compact fluorescent light bulbs, have improved dramatically in the time they've been on the market. But not all green bulbs shed the same quality light. To get the most satisfaction from CFLs, consider the "color temperature," says Rodney Wiltshire, owner of Empire Solar Store in Troy. For warmer light closer to old-style incandescent bulbs, choose CFLs with a lower "kilowatt number" of about 2700. Higher K numbers (around 5000K) cast brighter white daylight rays. "If you don't see a K number on the package you may have to look on the base of the bulb itself," says Wiltshire.

6. Go for a line dry. Clothes dryers are one of your home's most energy-draining appliances. Using a clothesline or an indoor drying rack (or hangers over your shower bar) is a simple and inexpensive way to reduce your carbon footprint and get that "sunshine" smell without dryer sheets. Beyond the real energy saving benefits, line-drying keeps clothing in better shape and can prevent wrinkles, making ironing unnecessary.

7. Prevent nature deficit disorder. The No Child Left Inside Act (H.R. 3036) was passed by the House in September 2008 and, if approved this year, would provide funds for environmental education. The goal is to get schoolchildren outdoors and understanding the environment as a natural resource at a young age. Be sure your kids know about nature by encouraging outdoor play and making the environment a part of their world — literally.