"Green" means making environmentally friendly choices that use our natural resources for present needs without depleting them for the generations to come. A healthy community depends on clean air, fresh water, fertile land and access to a transportation system. Our daily needs are met by these resources that come from the environment, so if we are to survive, nature must as well.
Terms like "going green" and "eco-friendly" have become buzz words and have many definitions and are used for different products and practices. Eco-friendly means earth-friendly. This term most commonly refers to products that contribute to green living or practices that help conserve resources like water and energy. Eco-friendly products prevent contributions to air, water and land pollution. An eco-friendly product must have human safety and the environment in mind. The product must be non-toxic and created from sustainably grown ingredients such that the ecosystem does not get depleted. Products should be made from recycled materials and biodegradable.
Developing eco-friendly habits will help you use less and make the most of what you have. Some examples include, turning off lights in empty rooms and useing a programmable thermostat so you're only heating or cooling your home when it's occupied. Businesses can also institute such practices, by using a company-wide recycling program that conserves natural resources or by initiating a telecommuting advantage for employees, to decreases air pollution and fuel consumption by eliminating daily travel to work.With a deeper understanding of the flow of energy throughout our lives we can look at exactly what it means to be green as well as what our responsibilities are to ourselves and our community. (Holtzer, "What Does Eco-friendly Mean?" http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com)