Want to save the environment and stop global warming? Unless you have a magic wand, you probably can't fix everything on your own, but by taking small steps and keeping the environment in mind every day, you can make a difference. This list will help you get started.

1. Think Green. Challenge yourself to think about the environment as you live your life. If you shut off lights when you leave the room, turn off your TV when you're not watching it, and unplug your cell phone charger when you’re not charging anything, you’ll save energy. If you take shorter showers, you’ll save water. These are small ways to help, but over time, they add up.

2. Shop Green. Shopping is fun, but buying stuff you don't need is wasteful and bad for the earth. Before you buy something, ask yourself how much you’ll really use it. (If you’ll only need it once or twice, maybe you could borrow that thing from a friend instead?) Avoid buying products with unnecessary packaging, and whenever possible, buy things that were locally made instead of shipped from far away. Don't forget to bring a reusable shopping bag with you. That way, if anyone asks, "Paper or plastic?" you can answer, "Neither!"

3. Dress Green. Wear olive green pants and forest green T-shirts if you want, but what really matters isn’t the color; it’s how the clothes were made. If you want to help the environment, the best place to find clothes is at a vintage store, but you might not want to buy everything used. (Used socks? No thanks!) No matter where you shop, keep an eye out for products made from environmentally-friendly materials like organic cotton, which is grown without the use of pesticides. When you’re getting rid of old clothes, don’t throw them away. Somebody will want them, whether it's a friend, a younger sibling or a local charity.

4. Eat and Drink Green.Choose organic foods, eat less meat and buy locally-grown food whenever possible. (An added benefit: Local food usually tastes better because it’s fresher than stuff that’s been shipped across the country.) If you drink a lot of bottled water, try to avoid plastic bottles. A reusable stainless steel water bottle costs more money up front, but if you carry it around with you every day, you’ll never have to buy bottled water again.

5. Study Green. What’s better than learning about the environment? Protecting it while you learn. It can be as simple as using both sides of a sheet of paper before you recycle it or reusing an old textbook instead of buying a new one. If you're inspired to do more, join an environmental group at your school, and encourage your friends to sign up, too. (If no club exists, ask a faculty member how you can start one.)

6. Travel Green. Driving might be the quickest way to get around town, but it’s not the best way to help the environment. If you're staying close to home, bike or walk instead. If you’re going too far to walk or bike, or if the weather’s too messy to be outdoors, check if you can take public transportation to your destination. If not, try carpooling!

7. Clean Green. No matter what you’re cleaning— your hair, your clothes, your room— there’s an environmentally-friendly product that will help you get the job done. Choose products made with natural ingredients, and you’ll keep toxic chemicals out of the environment and away from your skin.

8. Party Green. Got something to celebrate? Before you stock up on paper plates, plastic forks and piles of napkins, think about the earth. The greenest option is to stick with actual dishware, but if you can’t handle that post-party pile of dirty dishes, there is an alternative. Look for cups and plates made from corn or bamboo (they’re biodegradable!), utensils made from recycled plastic and napkins made from recycled paper.

9. Grow Green Things. Take time to appreciate the green places in your community, your yard (if you have one) and your home. If you live in a city, visit local parks and community gardens. They’re perfect for relaxing in the shade or volunteering to help plant flowers and trees. If you don’t have space to plant things outdoors, get a flower pot and plant something inside. Houseplants bring a little nature right into your room, and they also help keep the air clean.

10. Talk Green. Tell other people why you care about the environment, and why you’re doing your best to protect it. Share your green ideas and your favorite natural places with your friends, and you might inspire them to get involved, too. If you see something hurting the environment in your town, speak up! Contact community leaders or write a letter to the editor of a local paper. Share your concerns and your suggestions for how to fix the problem. You might have a solution that nobody’s thought of before. None of us can save the planet alone, but by speaking out, you’ll encourage other people to take action.

Looking for more ways to get involved? Check out these resources:

The Big Green Help - http://www.biggreenhelp.com

National Resources Defense Council's Simple Steps - http://www.simplesteps.org/

It's Your Nature - http://www.itsyournature.org/

Alex Kennaugh is the driving force behind green living initiatives for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which is the nation's most effective environmental organization working to protect people, the places they live, and the natural resources upon which they depend. Her initiatives aim to provide useful everyday information to those seeking easy, achievable ways to live a greener, healthier life. As a green living spokesperson, Kennaugh’s goal is to not only make sure people are aware of the dangers they may be bringing into their home, feeding their children, and putting on their pets, but also to provide simple solutions to these not-so-simple issues.