If you start to think that the small green consumer choices you’re making don’t add up, think again.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

“Industry — including oil, steel, chemicals and cement — produces 23% of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, according to the McKinsey study. But a handful of other emission sources more directly controlled by consumers far outweigh industry when those sources are pooled together.

Passenger cars account for 17% of U.S. emissions — something consumers could affect by driving more-efficient cars or by driving less. Residential buildings and appliances contribute another 17% of emissions, underscoring the impact consumers could have if they lived in smaller buildings, or added more insulation, or bought a more energy-efficient model next time they replaced their washing machine.”

What we do as individuals does make a difference.

If WSJ says so, in this case I’m actually kind of inclined to believe it!

Apartment Therapy introduced me to Modern Fabrics and I couldn’t be more excited.

We reclaim and collect new fabrics from the finest luxury furniture companies throughout the United States and offer them to you at 50-75% off list price. Our customers are eco-conscious consumers who intend to reduce demand for virgin materials and to reduce waste.

They specifically have an eco-friendly section. Looks like it might finally be time to upholster our dining room chairs!

Kelly at Almost Frugal lists 13 ways you can save money in under 5 minutes, and guess what? They’re pretty green ideas, too.

Christine at Living Cheap and Green gave me an “Aha!” moment when she suggested reusing old hand soap pumps for shampoo. I love my huge Aveda pump bottle of conditioner, so why not do this for everything? I bet it will inspire the preschooler to wash his own hair, too.

Treehugger lists the resource MeetWays, a mapping program that will find a middle meeting point like a coffeeshop for you and friends. Very cool!