Editor's note: We're sorry to announce that today's Tip o' the Day will be the last from Rebecca. As one of our founding writers, Rebecca's work for GO has been integral to building the blog. We wish her well as focuses her attention on Ecorazzi and Greener Miami. We'll miss you, Rebecca!

Do you work in an office park? Sit in a cubicle all day long? These "parks" are often filled with offices, and not much else. If you want to go out to lunch instead of eating in the deli downstairs, you probably need to get in your car & drive. Or do you?

Form a walking club with your co-workers and see what you can encounter on foot. You might just find that you can walk to that burrito place up the road. You'll not only get exercise and a chance to unwind (or gossip, perhaps?) with your office buddies - you'll have a carbon neutral trip!

We love finding ways that we can be green and hopefully inspire others to do so as well - without being preachy.

Rebecca says: When I worked in San Rafael, CA, it seemed that there was nothing nearby the office. Everything was one highway exit away, or on the other side of the highway. Which, in theory, is not that far, but it also didn't seem pedestrian friendly. Then, we formed a walking club and someone led us through some back roads in the nearby suburban neighborhood. Low and behold: the Jamba Juice. It was a beautiful (and safe) walk - with no highway involved whatsoever. Plus, there was a smoothie at the end as a reward.

Hungry? It's said that women "eat" or ingest 6 pounds of lipstick over their lifetime. If that's the case, then we want to make sure that we are eating the best lipstick possible!

By checking out Skin Deep, the cosmetics database, it's obvious that there are a lot of lipsticks out there that are full of very questionable ingredients. Revlon's Moon Drops & Super Lustrous lines are among the worst offenders. But no one uses them, right? In fact, Revlon says the Super Lustrous is America's #1 lipstick according to AC Nielsen data.

We have options, however. Of course you can decide to go without makeup, but that's certainly not the only choice. There are many lipsticks available from companies like Canary, Jane Iredale, CARGO, and Peacekeeper that have ingredients that we wouldn't mind eating as much. Okay, okay, so shea butter with a side of castor oil isn't our first for dinner…but it certainly beats propylene glycol ricinoleate.

Rebecca says: I'm very excited to have found Peacekeeper Cause-metics who don't use nasty ingredients and donate all profits after taxes to women's health advocacy & human rights issues. My husband will be happy, too. I haven't worn nail polish in a very long time!

Related post: Are "Small" Environmental Issues Worth the Worry?

Farmer, farmer, put away your DDT. I don't care about spots on my apples, just leave me the birds and the bees, please. Sometimes we listen to the songs, and we can even sing along with them, but we don't actually hear the words. "Big Yellow Taxi" just might be one of those songs. It's worth your time to learn the words (and if you have children, teach them).

Though many of us in the younger generations may think that this is a Counting Crows song, it was actually originally written and performed by Joni Mitchell in 1970. The song covers such topics as development & urban sprawl:

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot.

It talks about deforestation and botanical gardens:

They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum. And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them.

And of course, as shown in the first line of this tip, Mitchell wrote about pesticides & chemicals: still an issue today, though not with DDT specifically.

Finally, the chorus brings it all home:

Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til it's gone.

Rebecca says: Ever since I learned the words to this song, I appreciate it so much more. I first wrote about it almost a year ago on my blog, greenerMIAMI. Watch the video to see and hear the Counting Crows version.

Today's tip is pulled from an amazing organization across the pond called We Are What We Do. In the land of the tea-drinkers, kettles are electric, and they say: "Only fill your kettle with the water you need. If everybody did we could save enough electricity to run all the street lighting in the whole country."

It's true. And it relates to more than just tea! Boiling water for pasta or potatoes? Why fill that pot all the way up? It's only going to take longer to boil, and you'll probably have your bowties floating around in way too much water. The longer it takes, the more energy you use!

Also make sure that when you put a pot on the stove to put a lid on it! It will help the water heat even faster. Finally, you never want to sit and watch the pot - for if you do, it will never boil!

Rebecca says: When I used to live in Monterrey, Mexico, I don't know if the gas stove wasn't set up right (the flame didn't even get close to the pot), or if the altitude also affected it, but it took me over 30 minutes to get water to boil. The only cure was to zap it in the microwave first. I guess I should have had someone come and fix it…what a waste!

Sometimes the best way to cut down on your consumption is just to use less stuff. Green Options writer Maria Surma Manka gave me a tip suggestion recently that will help you do just that: "Wash your hair every other day. I started doing this about 1 1/2 years ago and besides spending less time in the shower using up water, I buy shampoo and conditioner much less (half as much, actually). Plus, I get compliments nearly every time I get my hair cut about how soft it is, so it's really gotten healthier from not running it through products every day."

This is one of those win-win-win tips. Many people have the kind of hair that just looks and feels better when it's not washed everyday. (Win #1) By skipping a day, you are saving water, product packaging, and energy. (Win #2) And, as usual, it will also save you money. (Win #3)

Now, if you're looking for an eco-friendly product to put in that hair when you DO wash it, check out the Cosmetics Database for ideas. We like the looks of Terressentials Pure Earth Hair Wash - this company only uses ingredients in their products that the USDA allows in certified organic food. Additionally, Korres Aloe & Soapwort Shampoo scores well in the database, using naturally occurring detergents and conditioning agents found in wheat, potato starch, and sunflower.

Rebecca says: I have friends that have the best hair - but if they were to wash it everyday it would getsstripped of all of its glory. Heck, one of my best friends only washes her hair once a week (which is a good thing considering the amount of it and how long it takes to dry it.) I'm not that way, however and do require a daily washaroo. If you've never tried it, it's definitely worth a shot. Do you think it will work for you?

Since we announced free wind credits for tip suggestions last week, the tips have been rolling in. Today we'd like to focus on a tip suggested by John of Santa Barbara:

Buy your kids clothes and toys at garage sales. We've been doing this for months for our newborn. Kids outgrow clothes and toys so fast that you can get almost-new items for next to nothing. We pay on average fifty cents for each piece of clothing. Not only do we save money, but we are also contributing to buying less, which will hopefully encourage manufacturers to make less. And if you walk, you save gas and get exercise!

Thanks for the tip, John! You've just offset two months of your life! You've also pointed out something that we've been noticing lately, too. Babies get lots of presents. And since they are, well, babies and all, they tend to receive a lot of clothing. It's tough to lay the blame on this one - those clothes are so gosh-darned cute.

But it's true - babies grow fast, and they really don't need to put on a new outfit every day. In fact, most days they'd probably prefer a simple organic onesie. Many babies we know have so many clothes that they only get to wear an outfit once before they grow out of it.

Plus, garage sale shopping is a bit of a sport and can be pretty fun! Thanks for the tip, John!

Rebecca says: I don't have kids yet, but I'm planning on trying a little experiment. I bet (if I wanted, I'm sure I'll break down at some point) that I could go the whole first year of my baby's life without buying him clothes. Between gifts from the grandparents and aunts & uncles (both official and unofficial), and hand me downs from the rest, I'm pretty sure we'll be in the clear. And maybe I'll take John's advice and hit up garage sales for the rest.

Suggest a tip that gets posted and you could win 2 months of wind offsets, too!

Green Options is pleased to announce an extra incentive for suggesting a Tip o' the Day to Amy & Rebecca. If you suggest a tip that is later published, you'll receive two $5 Wind Power Cards from Renewable Choice Energy. That means you not only get to pass on the good word to our readers, but you can also offset your carbon emissions for one month, plus that of a friend or family member!

The funds go to support wind power projects across the country, from Minnesota to Wyoming.

Going green in your life is simple. First reduce your carbon footprint as much as you possibly can. Then, offset the rest. Or, let us help you! Suggest a tip - and if we publish it, we'll help you offset the equivalent of 2 months of carbon emissions. Just for typing up your idea and clicking Submit.

Rebecca says: Plus, who doesn't want to see their name in the glitzy lights of GreenOptions.com? It's a no-brainer!

So many times once our concern about the environment is peaked, we become aware of so much more - our connection with the earth as well as what we put into our bodies. So how do we know "what's in" the stuff that we wash, slather, and spray our bodies with everyday? Cosmetics are not regulated by the FDA, so how do we know what's really in these things?

Well you check them on Skin Deep, the cosmetics database, of course! This database created by the Environmental Working Group claims to hold information of 1/4 of all cosmetics - over 22,000 items across almost 1,000 companies. They rank each product from 0 - 10, the higher numbers meaning more "concern" you should have about using the product.

They'll also tell you each ingredient in the item, which of those are on the sketchy side, and why (linked to cancer, reproductive issues, etc). Additionally, they let you know if that manufacturer has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and if they conduct animal testing.

So, for example, we'll look at white Dove bar soap. It's got a score of 5 (so, middle ground). Unilever has not signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and DO test on animals. The fragrance seems to be the scariest ingredient of the bunch with an individual score of 8. And apparently, 67% of bar soaps are of "less concern". Four bar soaps wound up with a score of 0 - meaning whew! very little concern. They include Kiss My Face's Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap ($3.50), Lilie De Vallee Castile Unscented ($3.99), and two soaps from NeemAura.

Take a look through your bathroom and see how your products rate. You just might decide to make a change!

Rebecca says: This is something I've had growing concern about and will definitely be looking into our products at home. I'm a little nervous to find out the answers, but I guess ignorance is not bliss…

You don't have to start a blog to let your voice be heard! Use an existing form of media, like your local newspaper or favorite magazine and write a letter to the editor! Respond to an article that was recently written, or comment on something going on locally.

The most important thing is to let your voice be heard. You can start a conversation within your community by giving your opinion in a popular piece of media. People will naturally show their opinions. Who knows, you might even create new talk around the water cooler that day!

Submitting your comments is now easier than ever - and paper-free. Once you have figured out which publication you would like to write to, search on their website for "letters to the editor" or the Opinion section.

They will most likely impose rules for your piece. The NY Times limits letters to 150 words that are in reference to an article written within the last week, and the letter must be sent only to the Times, and no other publication. Open letters are not permitted. They must also include your mailing address and phone number. Oh, and they might edit it as they choose. A lot of rules, yes, but a great forum nonetheless.

Save Our Environment Action Center agrees - they encourage people to write letters to the editor because politicians often monitor these letters as if they represent the voice of the people. They've even set up an interesting format: you pick your topic and zip code, and they will provide you a template from which you can write your letter. Check it out.

This Tip o' the Day was recommended to me by my rockin' peer here at Green Options, Megan Prusynski.

Editor's note: For more details on writing a good letter to the editor, check out this previous post, too… 

Faxes - you would think that they are outdated, but we still use a ton of them. Instead of sending something electronically from one person to another via email, we print it, fax it, and then it comes out as another piece of paper on the other end. One document, twice the paper, instead of no paper at all.

So what can we do about it? The easiest first step would be to encourage people to send things to you via email, instead of fax. Use an email address that is as simple as possible, since you will be spelling it to someone over the phone. When sending information, ask them if there is an email address you can use, instead of a fax.

If people really want to use a fax on their end, there are solutions so that at least your half of the process can be paperless. Try out a service like eFax or Send2Fax, which allow you to send and receive faxes via email.

For a paid plan, you'll be able to send & receive faxes electronically. Prices start from $11.95 and up. eFax does offer a free plan that allows you to receive up to 20 pages a month. Your fax number won't be local and you won't be able to send outgoing messages, but hey - it's free!

So try to go fax-free and paperless. Extra benefit: no filing required.

Rebecca says: I used to use eFax over 5 years ago. This is not new technology, but so many people still aren't aware of it. Sure, the good plans cost money, but so does a fax machine and a dedicated phone line for the fax.