Did you ever notice when the subject of "Green" living comes up, no one ever jumps up and says, "Nah, I'm not gonna do that stuff. I'm just going to keep trashing the planet--I like it that way." Most of the time everyone nods, agrees we need to conserve, agrees we need to pollute less, and we need to clean up the environment. Does anyone ever ask, "What's in it for me"?

Guess what--there is plenty in it for you. The savings and rebates for a green lifestyle are amazing. And right now who wouldn't like to trim the budget a bit more?

Reduce: Cutting back on the resources we use is the first and most important way to live greener. It may seem to be the hardest one to achieve; but maybe not. What about making better choices in the things we consume? Buying locally saves in several ways: the transportation cost on the product, your energy cost to acquire the product and, most likely, a cost savings to you as well. Especially at this time of year, local farmers' markets and farm stands yield a wealth of nutrition and savings. Shop for recycled products, and don't forget to bring your own cloth bags to tote things home.

Kitchen: Roughly 25% of all the food bought by Americans goes to waste. For the average household that is $6000 a year. If you eliminate this waste by preparing smaller portions, eating leftovers and storing foods more efficiently, just think of the savings to your food budget.

Water Use: Wow! How much do you waste running the shower to heat up the water before you hop in? Do you leave the water running while you brush your teeth? Give these two some thought, especially if your water bill has been through the roof this past year.

Electricity: You would be surprised how many appliances continue to suck energy even when they aren't being used. Anything with a built-in clock, a sleep mode or a tiny indicator lamp. Turn them completely off when not in use, or better yet, pull the plug--especially when you are going on vacation. Also, check out a meter called "Kill-a-Watt". It measures the electric consumption of your appliances, and could be a very good investment. Online link: Kill A Watt.

Natural Gas: Lower your water heater to 120 degrees, if it isn't already; and turn it down lower when you will be away for extended periods. Programmable thermostats are also one of the best ways to trim down your energy bill. Don't forget to change your furnace filter every month. Plus, if you have an older gas stove, you really don't need to have your pilot light going all the time. You can re-light it before you use the stove--especially in the summer months when it is fighting with your air conditioner!

Reuse: Find some thrifty and creative ways to stretch the value of what you already have. Compost your food scraps instead of buying costly, and sometimes toxic, fertilizer. That sweet soft shirt you loved and wore until it was so faded you didn't dare wear it out anywhere makes a great PJ top. In fact, it would cost you fortune at Vic Secret to buy anything that soft and comfy. Ratty and stained towels become cleaning rags, saving you a bundle on Swiffer and paper towels. Use the back side of printer pages whenever you can.

Recycle: Paper, plastic, metal and glass are not the only items to recycle. Look to your community, or communities around you, for places to donate computers, printers and cell phones to be refurbished and used again. Even motor vehicles can be donated and recycled. Donate clothes, household items, canned goods--anything that may be used again by someone. Be creative! One of my friends has a sign on her trash can that says "Landfill". It reminds her of the impact of everything that gets thrown away on our environment. Try typing "recycle" into your search engine. You will come up with an enormous list of places where you can dispose of or donate items for others to use. You may also find things you need free or very reasonably.

If you are considering some changes to your make your home more energy efficient check ENERGY STAR: ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2008 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 29 million cars--all while saving $19 billion on their utility bills.

So now you know, "What's in it for you," when you live Green.