HAS TRYING TO BE GREEN GOT YOU BLUE?

If going green is so damn good, why – so often - does it seem like such a drag?

Sure, I get that keeping my home a little cooler in the winter is the responsible things to do, but that doesn’t make shivering in my bed during long February nights any more enjoyable.

And – yes – I get that owning a Prius will grab me a coveted spot on Al Gore’s Christmas card list, it’s just that I long for a slightly more sporty driving experience.

I could go on, but I think you get my point. In any case, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to conserve and NOT live like a monk (no angry responses from disgruntled monks, please). So, I gathered up a couple ideas that probably won’t get you nominated to serve as president of the local chapter of the Sierra Club, but might actually reduce your carbon footprint just a bit:

• Buy a Honda Civic SI – Any number of hybrids will reward you with better fuel economy, but at just under 30 mpg, the Civic SI ain’t bad and it’s a hell of a lot of fun to drive. Other fun-to-drive gas-misers include the Mazda 3i (32 MPG) and the VW GTI (29 MPG).

• Go to the movies - Yup, that’s right, go to the movies. And on your way out the door, turn down the air conditioner and switch off the lights.

I’ve got a few more I’m saving for future posts. In the meantime, I’d be interested to hear some other ideas from out there on the Blogosphere.