It's Earth Day, and it seems everywhere you turn, someone's talking about switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, planting a tree or saving water and energy. In the April issue of Austin Monthly, we declared that it's easy to be green, and talked to four eco leaders in the city to find out simple, easy ways to make small changes that will make a big impact on your overall carbon footprint. While working with my writers on the story, I found out a few facts about energy consumption and green living that I didn't know before.

+ Personal cars and trucks produce 20 percent of our nation's carbon emissions.
+ Air conditioning and heating account for more than half of all electricity use in the average American home. Opening windows to cool a home on a breezy day or closing shades and curtains on a hot day to do a lot to regulate temperature without ever turning on the A/C or heat.
+ The United States contains only 5 percent of the world's population yet contributes 22 percent of the world's carbon emissions.
+ You can save 100 pounds of carbon during a light bulb's lifetime for each incandescent bulb replaced with a compact fluorescent one.

We should each do our own part to help save the planet; if you live in Austin, pick up a copy of Austin Monthly and use "The Green Scene" story as a guide to better, greener living.

And if you want to spend your green on green, check out these boutiques or companies in Austin that marry sustainability and fashion.

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