Do you work in an office park? Sit in a cubicle all day long? These "parks" are often filled with offices, and not much else. If you want to go out to lunch instead of eating in the deli downstairs, you probably need to get in your car & drive. Or do you?

Form a walking club with your co-workers and see what you can encounter on foot. You might just find that you can walk to that burrito place up the road. You'll not only get exercise and a chance to unwind (or gossip, perhaps?) with your office buddies - you'll have a carbon neutral trip!

We love finding ways that we can be green and hopefully inspire others to do so as well - without being preachy.

Rebecca says: When I worked in San Rafael, CA, it seemed that there was nothing nearby the office. Everything was one highway exit away, or on the other side of the highway. Which, in theory, is not that far, but it also didn't seem pedestrian friendly. Then, we formed a walking club and someone led us through some back roads in the nearby suburban neighborhood. Low and behold: the Jamba Juice. It was a beautiful (and safe) walk - with no highway involved whatsoever. Plus, there was a smoothie at the end as a reward.

By checking out Skin Deep, the cosmetics database, it's obvious that there are a lot of lipsticks out there that are full of very questionable ingredients. Revlon's Moon Drops & Super Lustrous lines are among the worst offenders. But no one uses them, right? In fact, Revlon says the Super Lustrous is America's #1 lipstick according to AC Nielsen data.

We have options, however. Of course you can decide to go without makeup, but that's certainly not the only choice. There are many lipsticks available from companies like Canary, Jane Iredale, CARGO, and Peacekeeper that have ingredients that we wouldn't mind eating as much. Okay, okay, so shea butter with a side of castor oil isn't our first for dinner…but it certainly beats propylene glycol ricinoleate.

Rebecca says: I'm very excited to have found Peacekeeper Cause-metics who don't use nasty ingredients and donate all profits after taxes to women's health advocacy & human rights issues. My husband will be happy, too. I haven't worn nail polish in a very long time!

Related post: Are "Small" Environmental Issues Worth the Worry?

Though many of us in the younger generations may think that this is a Counting Crows song, it was actually originally written and performed by Joni Mitchell in 1970. The song covers such topics as development & urban sprawl:

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot.

It talks about deforestation and botanical gardens:

They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum. And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them.

And of course, as shown in the first line of this tip, Mitchell wrote about pesticides & chemicals: still an issue today, though not with DDT specifically.

Finally, the chorus brings it all home:

Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til it's gone.

Rebecca says: Ever since I learned the words to this song, I appreciate it so much more. I first wrote about it almost a year ago on my blog, greenerMIAMI. Watch the video to see and hear the Counting Crows version.

It's true. And it relates to more than just tea! Boiling water for pasta or potatoes? Why fill that pot all the way up? It's only going to take longer to boil, and you'll probably have your bowties floating around in way too much water. The longer it takes, the more energy you use!

Also make sure that when you put a pot on the stove to put a lid on it! It will help the water heat even faster. Finally, you never want to sit and watch the pot - for if you do, it will never boil!

Rebecca says: When I used to live in Monterrey, Mexico, I don't know if the gas stove wasn't set up right (the flame didn't even get close to the pot), or if the altitude also affected it, but it took me over 30 minutes to get water to boil. The only cure was to zap it in the microwave first. I guess I should have had someone come and fix it…what a waste!

This is one of those win-win-win tips. Many people have the kind of hair that just looks and feels better when it's not washed everyday. (Win #1) By skipping a day, you are saving water, product packaging, and energy. (Win #2) And, as usual, it will also save you money. (Win #3)

Now, if you're looking for an eco-friendly product to put in that hair when you DO wash it, check out the Cosmetics Database for ideas. We like the looks of Terressentials Pure Earth Hair Wash - this company only uses ingredients in their products that the USDA allows in certified organic food. Additionally, Korres Aloe & Soapwort Shampoo scores well in the database, using naturally occurring detergents and conditioning agents found in wheat, potato starch, and sunflower.

Rebecca says: I have friends that have the best hair - but if they were to wash it everyday it would getsstripped of all of its glory. Heck, one of my best friends only washes her hair once a week (which is a good thing considering the amount of it and how long it takes to dry it.) I'm not that way, however and do require a daily washaroo. If you've never tried it, it's definitely worth a shot. Do you think it will work for you?

Buy your kids clothes and toys at garage sales. We've been doing this for months for our newborn. Kids outgrow clothes and toys so fast that you can get almost-new items for next to nothing. We pay on average fifty cents for each piece of clothing. Not only do we save money, but we are also contributing to buying less, which will hopefully encourage manufacturers to make less. And if you walk, you save gas and get exercise!

Thanks for the tip, John! You've just offset two months of your life! You've also pointed out something that we've been noticing lately, too. Babies get lots of presents. And since they are, well, babies and all, they tend to receive a lot of clothing. It's tough to lay the blame on this one - those clothes are so gosh-darned cute.

But it's true - babies grow fast, and they really don't need to put on a new outfit every day. In fact, most days they'd probably prefer a simple organic onesie. Many babies we know have so many clothes that they only get to wear an outfit once before they grow out of it.

Plus, garage sale shopping is a bit of a sport and can be pretty fun! Thanks for the tip, John!

Rebecca says: I don't have kids yet, but I'm planning on trying a little experiment. I bet (if I wanted, I'm sure I'll break down at some point) that I could go the whole first year of my baby's life without buying him clothes. Between gifts from the grandparents and aunts & uncles (both official and unofficial), and hand me downs from the rest, I'm pretty sure we'll be in the clear. And maybe I'll take John's advice and hit up garage sales for the rest.

Suggest a tip that gets posted and you could win 2 months of wind offsets, too!

The funds go to support wind power projects across the country, from Minnesota to Wyoming.

Going green in your life is simple. First reduce your carbon footprint as much as you possibly can. Then, offset the rest. Or, let us help you! Suggest a tip - and if we publish it, we'll help you offset the equivalent of 2 months of carbon emissions. Just for typing up your idea and clicking Submit.

Rebecca says: Plus, who doesn't want to see their name in the glitzy lights of GreenOptions.com? It's a no-brainer!

Well you check them on Skin Deep, the cosmetics database, of course! This database created by the Environmental Working Group claims to hold information of 1/4 of all cosmetics - over 22,000 items across almost 1,000 companies. They rank each product from 0 - 10, the higher numbers meaning more "concern" you should have about using the product.

They'll also tell you each ingredient in the item, which of those are on the sketchy side, and why (linked to cancer, reproductive issues, etc). Additionally, they let you know if that manufacturer has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and if they conduct animal testing.

So, for example, we'll look at white Dove bar soap. It's got a score of 5 (so, middle ground). Unilever has not signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and DO test on animals. The fragrance seems to be the scariest ingredient of the bunch with an individual score of 8. And apparently, 67% of bar soaps are of "less concern". Four bar soaps wound up with a score of 0 - meaning whew! very little concern. They include Kiss My Face's Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap ($3.50), Lilie De Vallee Castile Unscented ($3.99), and two soaps from NeemAura.

Take a look through your bathroom and see how your products rate. You just might decide to make a change!

Rebecca says: This is something I've had growing concern about and will definitely be looking into our products at home. I'm a little nervous to find out the answers, but I guess ignorance is not bliss…

The most important thing is to let your voice be heard. You can start a conversation within your community by giving your opinion in a popular piece of media. People will naturally show their opinions. Who knows, you might even create new talk around the water cooler that day!

Submitting your comments is now easier than ever - and paper-free. Once you have figured out which publication you would like to write to, search on their website for "letters to the editor" or the Opinion section.

They will most likely impose rules for your piece. The NY Times limits letters to 150 words that are in reference to an article written within the last week, and the letter must be sent only to the Times, and no other publication. Open letters are not permitted. They must also include your mailing address and phone number. Oh, and they might edit it as they choose. A lot of rules, yes, but a great forum nonetheless.

Save Our Environment Action Center agrees - they encourage people to write letters to the editor because politicians often monitor these letters as if they represent the voice of the people. They've even set up an interesting format: you pick your topic and zip code, and they will provide you a template from which you can write your letter. Check it out.

This Tip o' the Day was recommended to me by my rockin' peer here at Green Options, Megan Prusynski.

Editor's note: For more details on writing a good letter to the editor, check out this previous post, too… 

So what can we do about it? The easiest first step would be to encourage people to send things to you via email, instead of fax. Use an email address that is as simple as possible, since you will be spelling it to someone over the phone. When sending information, ask them if there is an email address you can use, instead of a fax.

If people really want to use a fax on their end, there are solutions so that at least your half of the process can be paperless. Try out a service like eFax or Send2Fax, which allow you to send and receive faxes via email.

For a paid plan, you'll be able to send & receive faxes electronically. Prices start from $11.95 and up. eFax does offer a free plan that allows you to receive up to 20 pages a month. Your fax number won't be local and you won't be able to send outgoing messages, but hey - it's free!

So try to go fax-free and paperless. Extra benefit: no filing required.

Rebecca says: I used to use eFax over 5 years ago. This is not new technology, but so many people still aren't aware of it. Sure, the good plans cost money, but so does a fax machine and a dedicated phone line for the fax.

Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Chloe probably only has to deal with bugs in the summer, but for those of us in tropical climates, this is a great year round tip! (The City of Jacksonville, FL agrees with Chloe, by the way.)

Want to start composting, but you don't know where to start? Green Options has lots of resources to get you started. Try our Composting wiki or Build Your Own Worm Composting Bin. Or try How to Start a Compost Pile from our friends at Groovy Green.

Rebecca says: Living in Florida and having only one trash pick up a week, our family has long been in the habit of "freezing our trash". Composting down here has it's extra challenges, but it can be done! Though I would love to try out an indoor composter.

Want your name in bright lights like Chloe? Suggest a tip!

Please humor me as I format today's tip into more of a story. Let me set the scene: Orlando, Florida. Hot as heck. Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. I went up to see a friend who was there with her husband and two small children, a 2 year old boy and an almost 5 year old girl. This was the first time we had really met the kids and you never know what to expect. They were the sweetest things.

After lunch, we swung by the bathroom to change a diaper and well, use the facilities. I washed my hands and helped the little girl wash hers as well. Another girl was in the bathroom, maybe around 10 years old; she pulled the lever for the paper towels a couple of times and tore off a piece. Then she handed it to me. It was such a sweet act. I then tried to hand it to my friend's daughter, so that she could dry her hands, which were currently being dried on her pink dress. She wouldn't take it. And here it comes, the six little words that made a huge impact on my day, and really, on my way of thinking.

"We don't need to waste trees."

You have to understand, this was said in the littlest, softest, little girl voice you can imagine. She's not even 5 years old and she really made my jaw drop. Of course, she didn't come up with that by herself - that's her parents' doing. You see? If you start young enough, and with the right lessons, it just becomes second nature to these kids.

How else can we teach our children well?

We couldn't help think of Dana Carvey & Chopping Broccoli on this tip. He could have delivered it so much better! The times when it makes absolute sense to implement this is when you are preparing something that will eventually be pureed.

For vegetables that you will actually eat, you'll have to figure out what size works best for you. Size and shape somehow affect our taste buds. If they didn't, there would be only one kind of pasta! It will save you time on the cooking end, however, if you take a few extra moments to chop your veggies smaller in the first place.

Rebecca says: In order to make sure that you chop as fast and as efficient as possible, use a good knife. Until I had decent knives, I had no idea how much time I was wasting in the kitchen. A good knife can slice a tomato and a carrot with ease.

When cooking on your stove, use lids as much as possible. It will help you boil water faster, cook foods quicker, and save energy. Of course, you'll want to use the lid that matches with your pot or pan whenever possible. If the lid fits, it's much less likely that you'll be letting out precious steam.

You'll probably even find that something that you cooked on high heat without a lid can cook on medium heat with a lid, and in less time! Now that's what we call efficient. This site tells us that a "saucepan covered with a well fitting lid uses a quarter less energy when boiling than a saucepan without a lid." Plus, they make another great point: steam in the pot = steam not in the kitchen.

So don't forget, next time you cook, and especially boil - don't forget to put a lid on it!

Rebecca says: The quickest win on this is when boiling water - what time you save!

No, we're not going to ask you to start doing a whole bunch of manual labor…just to adjust how you use your washing machine. The US Department of Energy starts out their page on laundry with this, "About 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes—use less water and use cooler water."

If that doesn't get your attention, we're not sure what will! One more time. Around 90% of the energy for washing clothes is for heating the water. So let's not heat the water! The thing is, the clothes come out clean anyway. You don't even need a "cold water" detergent - they all do the same job. So if you normally wash with hot water, switch over to warm. If warm has been your thing, give cold a try. You won't be able to tell the difference. Of course, super dirty & oily clothes are potentially a different story, but for the most of us, daily wear clothes can be washed cold.

The second part of the Department of Energy's tip was to use less water. Wash in full loads whenever possible. If you mush wash a smaller load, adjust the water level appropriately. Like so many eco-tips, when we give you energy saving advice, it's great for your wallet and the planet.

Rebecca says: I've been washing on cold for around 2 years now and haven't noticed a difference - except in my electric bill! Living in Florida, the "cold" water is never all that cold - you'll just have to play around and see what works for you. But give it a shot, I think you'll like it.

Green Options Related:

Clothes Washers

Cut Your Energy Bills in Half

Don't forget, you can suggest tips to us here. Even if you don't have a tip, let us know what topics you'd like to hear more about!

Instead of giving the little ones brand new pieces of paper, start saving scrap paper for them. This includes any paper that is blank on one side, junk mail, magazines & catalogs, and greeting cards. Smaller children will appreciate the blank slate to draw on. Once they get old enough for scissors, they can start using the cards and magazines for collages.

Take the opportunity to not just teach your kids arts & crafts, but about conserving resources. You don't have to just stop at paper products, either. There are many materials that you could save from your trash can that are great for kid's projects. Check out KinderArt's recycled section and make anything from plastic cutlery wind chimes to colorful coasters.

Rebecca says: The sky is the limit on this sort of thing. At our local EarthFest this weekend, our grand entrance was made of shoes - it was a fun project for the kids, looked incredible, and really stretched everyone's imagination! Check it out!

The truth is, catalogs are obsolete. Everything we could ever want to see and more is online, and trees are getting chopped down so that we can flip through a couple of pages before pitching it in the trash.

It's easy to get off the list for catalogs. Each catalog has an (800) number listed on it for customer service. Just give that number a call and request to be removed from the mailing list. You'll want to make sure to have the catalog in front of you, because it may contain some codes that will make the process go even faster.

This doesn't just have to be at home, either. If you visit your parents' house and they've got catalogs piling up, offer to get them off of the lists. If your office receives tons of catalogs for exciting things like fax machines and toner cartridges, offer to get them off of those lists, as well. It's fast, it's simple, and it will make your life a lot less cluttered! I can hear the trees breathing sighs of relief as I type.

Rebecca says: I'm currently helping some friends get removed from some catalog mailing lists. I've done over 80 removals in the last week. I'm helping them, and I feel great about helping the environment!

You might have seen it already on the email signature of one of your contacts. It's a tree with a winding road, and a message: "Please consider the environment before printing this email." We believe this ever so subtle guilt-trip has saved at least several reams of paper so far.

If your email program can handle rich text or html, then you can have the complete signature. The picture of the tree that is being used in this case is actually the letter P using the Webdings font. Then, simply write the message and make the whole thing green. Now you are all set!

Rebecca says: It seems that Gmail isn't letting me use the rich text in the signature. I might have to go without color and tree and simply write the message. Gmail should know better! Did anyone catch their April Fool's joke? It's very appropriate for today's topic: Introducing Gmail Paper.

Atlanta: Arms Around Atlanta sounds like a blast. It's all going down at Grant Park on Saturday & Sunday.

Boston: Clean Up the Charles on Saturday, April 21!

Chicago: Check out Green Festival happening all weekend long! Green vendors & organizations galore!

Dallas: Run, don't walk to downtown today for EarthFest from 10am - 2pm.

Denver: Visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and enjoy yourself at their Earth Day Renewable Energy Expo April 21-22.

Houston: The Houston Zoo is celebrating Earth Day all weekend - family fun.

Los Angeles: Lots to choose from. Clean Rivers, go to a Conscious Living Fair, or Let Worms Eat Your Garbage!

Miami: Check out EarthFest:WaterFest Gone Green a full day of music, eco-village, food, and fun. (Organized by yours truly.)

New York: Choose from a variety of events, and don't forget the slideshow in Grand Central!

San Francisco: Get on over to East Bay on Saturday and have fun at the Berkeley Earth Day Festival.

Seattle: Do a little Earth Day tour and check out several events this weekend in Seattle.

Washington, D.C.: Go to GreenDC Week Earth Day Celebration or check out some other events.

I didn't mention your city? Search for local events at Earth Day Network or EnviroLink.

Rather not party it up? Do something green like a beach clean-up or planting a tree.

That doesn't mean, however, that the jobs aren't tiresome. It doesn't mean that people can go non-stop without some sort of support. We often underestimate how powerful those two little words are. A person that is about to make a big (and positive) impact on our environment might be one minute away from throwing in the towel. Let's hope they receive their thank you in time.

So go on, give a thank you to someone in your local community, or someone tackling a specific issue you think is so important. Even encourage a new green business to keep hanging in there. Your words are more powerful than you think.

Not sure how to go about it? Try using this guy's 3 best "thank you's".

Rebecca says: This tip comes from the heart as I know how good it feels to be on the receiving end of these thanks. Don't cheat and thank us, however. Really think about who you should thank. Maybe it should be community members who have worked tirelessly to create an incredible Earth Day celebration for you. Maybe it is the retiree who teaches organic gardening classes. Or maybe it's that lady that takes her daily walk with a bag in hand to pick up litter. Don't delay, thank today!