Read the Guide: It Actually Helps

Every day I am more and more aware of the impact my lifestyle has on the environment. Thankfully, more and more resources are making my decision to be more eco-friendly a little easier. Living green has become undeniably necessary and trendy. Green is the hot new color. And it should be, because anyone who doesn’t know what global warming is must be living under a rock.

National Geographic created a user-friendly and convenient Web site for the eco-friendly citizen that is based on its magazine, The Green Guide. On the top tool bar the user finds clearly-marked navigation tools: Home, Current Issue, Tips & Tools, Green Home, Archives, Subscriber Services and Search. Oddly enough, the site is green.

I found the July/August issue to be both helpful for the concerned housewife and exciting for the trailblazing hipster. The Green Guide provides articles on “How To Talk To Your Children About Global Warming” and “Grass Roots: Easy Organic Lawn Care,” which are useful for families. For the younger audience, there was a great article on rock music’s support for the green movement. The Green Home is an entire section that teaches homeowners how to become eco-friendly.

The Green Guide’s Tips & Tools provides advice I use daily: the correct organic brands to buy, an A-Z list of eco-friendly consumer products, product reports, weekly tips, and a question-and-answer section. If all guidebooks were as helpful as this one, I’d never skip reading the instructions.