Green living may start a fresh way of thinking for you, and many aspects of it are simple to follow and can save you a little of your hard-earned money. The small steps count — they’re the ones that will make the planet a better place to live for years to come. Here are five things you can do today to get started:

1. Pay your bills online. You not only save paper by not writing checks and mailing envelopes, but you also reduce fuel consumption by the trucks and planes that transport the checks.
2. Adjust your thermostats. This applies to heating and air conditioning units as well as water heaters.
3. Change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use one-quarter the electricity of regular light bulbs and last several years longer.
4. Buy locally grown food. Whenever possible, reduce the amount of fossil fuels it takes to get your food from the farm to your table.
5. Start a carpool. Cut down on fuel emissions and save yourself and a few other people a lot of money on gas.

Ready for more? See Tips for Greener Living.