B.Y.O.B.
Thanks to the designer-water trend, Americans pay up to 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than for regular tap. "Maybe we've given in to the hype that it comes from pristine springs and lakes," muses Wendy Gordon, 50, publisher of "The Green Guide," a bimonthly newsletter that provides eco-savvy info on food, clothing, and more. "But sometimes it's just bottled tap water." Aquafina, for instance, contains water from 16 different municipal water supplies, Gordon explains, "including ones in Detroit, Fresno, and other cities. So why not bring your own?" Gordon chooses to sip from her favorite reusable bottle, a sleek stainless-steel container from Klean Kanteen ($13.50, greenfeet.com). "My bottled water habit is one I am determined to break," she says.

Buy Shade-Grown Coffee
Every time we make a purchase, we're confronted with a choice: protect the environment or contribute to its destruction. It all starts with the morning pick-me-up. "If the coffee you drink was grown on clear-cut land, you're contributing to deforestation," says Chris Flavin, 51, of the Worldwatch Institute, an independent environmental research organization. Most commercial coffee beans fall into this category, requiring greater use of pesticides and fertilizers. Beans grown under the rain-forest canopy, on the other hand, preserve trees and, thanks to pest-eating insects and birds, need fewer pesticides. As it turns out, making the right decision is often more convenient than you'd expect. You'll find shade-grown beans at the grocery store or the nearest Starbucks.

Spread the Word
It's true: Governments and big businesses do have enormous power to make decisions that affect the environment. But never underestimate the tremendous potential of one voice. "Talking with your family and friends about the environment is one of the more effective ways to raise national consciousness, and it's something everyone can do," says L. Hunter Lovins, 57, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, a nonprofit that educates communities, companies, and countries on issues of sustainability. "After all, people tend to listen more to those they know than to experts and news media." Sharing your concerns sparks communication -- and reminds us that we're all in this effort together. (Plus, you never know when you might speak with someone who's in a position to make a decision with wide-ranging impact.)