What kinds of resources are available for someone trying to become more environmentally responsible?

This is a topic that has been gaining in popularity over the years, and there are a lot of sources out there. A good place to start is the State Library Resource Center’s Green Living How-to Guide. This guide provides links to sites dealing with saving energy at home or in your car, where to find locally grown food or the closest e-cycling location, or how to be a responsible shopper.

For example, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Economy site allows you to look up specific car models to see what their carbon footprint is, and you can also compare and contrast several models at once. Energy Savers offers links to energy efficiency tips, ENERGY STAR rated appliances, and energy use calculators.

Recycling Maryland is a nonprofit site that lists recyclers and organizations that take donations of items for reuse, including computers, computer parts, copy machines, electronics, and many others.

For print materials, you can look at several Pratt Recommends booklists, including Green Homes, Renewable Energy, or Selected Current Green Living Magazines.