Guide to going greener

Megan Strasser (left) and Julia Davenport operate their business, Kitchenette, out of Strasser's Whirly Girl Coffee cart. They sell organic baked goods and pastries at various events around the area. Strasser says she likes knowing where her food comes from - hence her interest in gardening and growing her own. (Credit: Amie Dworecki | Metromix)

Cincinnati green guide

Eco-friendly living, planet-friendly tips and some Earth Day...

Living a more environmentally conscious life doesn't mean you have to give up the green. (See what we did there?) There are plenty of cheap - even free - ways to lessen your destruction of the planet.

Bonus: A few of these tips will save you money.

Unplug/turn off/turn down stuff. This seems obvious, but there's more you can do than flip a switch when you leave the house. Anything that has a clock or is powered by a remote control sucks away energy, so start pulling plugs and turning off power strips. Forget screen savers and put your computer to sleep when you're not using it. Oh, and ease up on the air conditioning. You can always take your clothes off.

BYO_. You fill in the blank. When shopping, bring your own recyclable bags, which you can buy for a buck at most grocery stores. When you go for coffee, bring your own mug. Pass on bottled water and get a reusable cup. Apply this to as many parts of your life as you can.

Watch the water. To start, stop ignoring your leaky faucets. That's an easy one. A few more water ideas, from the Environmental Protection Agency: Don't pre-rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher -- you'll save as much as 20 gallons of water per load. Don't run a washing machine, which uses some 40 gallons of water per load, until it's completely full.

And shower instead of taking a bath - this move can save as many as 60 gallons of water. (Remember, too, that showering with a friend is always good in the environment's eyes.)

Mind your ride. That means inflate your vehicle's tires and stop racing that bad boy.

According to National Geographic's Green Guide, dropping your speed by 10 mph - from 65 to 55 - may increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 15 percent. If you can, leave the car at home on occasion, too. The EPA says leaving a car parked twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds per year.

And finally, a Green Guide recommendation: If you're on a trip that requires flying, or a lot of driving, rent a hybrid.

Get dirty. Plant that garden you're always talking about and grow your own herbs, fruits and vegetables - saving the money you'd spend in the organic aisle at the grocery store. Even the city dwellers can get in on this action with the right pots and plants.

Enrich your soil by composting kitchen scraps - which in turn cuts down on the amount of trash you're producing. Go to www.epa.gov for a complete composting guide.