The economy, diplomatic relations, and just about everything else seems to be going to shit, so we should at least try and preserve something we can all control: the planet. Very little steps can be taken that go a long way. Try to implement these tips into your life as soon as possible and breathe guilt-free knowing you’re doing your part to ensure your grandkids have a planet as beautiful as you did as a kid.

- Switch out just one bulb. If every American household switched just one light bulb to an Energy Star bulb, each year our country would save $600M in energy costs – enough to light 3 million homes – and avoid the amount of greenhouse gases from the emissions of about 800,000 cars. If you’re feeling especially hippie, change all your bulbs out. They’re cheap, last a long time, and actually give off a more favorable soft glow than standard bulbs.

- You might not think about it, but running water uses power. Running a faucet for only 5 minutes uses the same amount of energy as a 60-watt bulb running for 14 hours! Turn off running water whenever it is unused, every little second helps.

- Buy Energy Star products. They’re a voluntary EPA program started in 1992 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Look for their logo on appliances and other household goods.

- Fix leaks! Leaky faucets that drip one drop a second can waste 3,000 gallons of water each year.

- Switch over to cloth napkins. They’re cheaper, classier, and produce obviously less waste.

- Bring Your Own Bag! Wegmans and other retailers now have reusable bags available. They’re inexpensive, trendy, and more importantly keep plastic bags out of the landfill. San Francisco has already banned them, and China plans to ban them all together.

- If you haven’t already, make the switch to eBilling. Paper bills (and letters and whatnot) generate millions of tons of waste and carbon dioxide. Grow up, it’s 2008.

- Try and buy a bagless vacuum cleaner next time you need one.

- Think before you print! Does this really need to be printed? Or am I just going to end up throwing it away?

- Recylce. One ton of aluminum cans recycled equals 36 barrels of oil or 1,655 gallons of gasoline.

- eCycle. Properly take care of old electronics by bringing them to your local recycling center.

- Use rechargeable batteries.

- Consider bamboo as an alternative to anything wood. Bamboo regenerates so quickly.