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!

Another book I’m adding to the library list, featured at Mama Speaks: Table for Eight — Raising a Large Family in a Small-Family World. Going from a family of 3 to a family of 6 in the course of one ultrasound was a shock we’re still recovering from. I know we could use some tips from been there, done that families. (Should I put my library list up here? Maybe with the links at the top of the page? Let me know what you think in the comments.)

Not Martha guest posts at shelterrific about how to choose a sewing machine. Timely, since I’ve owed myself a new one for nearly a year.

Eco Childs Play discusses gluttony in children:

The common thread with families who conserve is that they’re part of a community and their children have a sense of obligation. Children are born narcissists and can evolve into selfish beings or amazing, giving and inspired members of our society.

How do we grow them up green?

At 3.5, we’re just at the age where our older son understands that anything at the store could, at least in theory, come home with us. Time to start imparting these important values!

Ohdeeoh shows us how to convert a train table into a construction zone. My husband, when I IMed the link to him, was quick to point out that the materials are not especially green. I love the concept, though, for our little-used train table, so I’m going to think about alternate materials this weekend and see what we can come up with.