We hear about it all the time - green products, organic food, energy-efficient vehicles and recycling- it’s ubiquitous. It’s the new cool thing to care about. Honestly, if you’re not in with it, you’re out.

Being mindful of your presence on this earth is so important and selfless – why wouldn’t you want to join the movement? Well, it’s not difficult. You don’t have to start a planet-saving revolution, but you can take notice of things you do and use in your own home. Here are some simple ways that you can start being ecologically aware without drastically changing your current lifestyle.

*Reduce the use of paper towels - Washable viscose cloths are far more absorbent than paper; they can soak up 10 times their weight in liquid

*Stock the fridge - Use bags of ice to fill the voids, and your freezer won’t have to use as much energy to stay cold

*Rethink grocery shopping – Use re-usable grocery bags instead of throwing away plastic bags

*Use glass containers for leftovers – Microwaving plastic containers can leech chemicals into your food

*Draw the curtains - The average person can save 25 percent on heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer just by using the added insulation of window shades

*Get electrically smart – A Smart Strip power strip turns off when it senses idle appliances

*File digitally – Save paper by keeping important records electronically

*Be counter-intuitive – Purchase recycled glass countertops over quarried stone

*Use a push-mower - No fuel, no emissions, no blaring roar — and today’s models are way better than they were in the past

*Go gearless – Purchase a gearless home elevator that uses less energy than traditional elevators. At ThyssenKrupp Access, our home elevator line carries two gearless elevators.

These easy steps can help transition you from simply being aware of your environment to eventually following a green path. Here at ThyssenKrupp Access, we encourage you to do your part and take a step in the green direction.