'Gorgeously Green'

Sophie Uliano, author of " Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life," was online Wednesday, April 23 at 1 p.m. ET to help you purge your life of unsustainable products and practices and live more healthily.

The transcript follows.

Uliano has spent the past ten years teaching women about yoga, meditation and the environment. She also has developed a skincare line called Gorgeously Green, hand-crafted from organic plant extracts and formulated without toxic chemicals.

Find more discussions from this series.

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Sophie Uliano: Hi everyone - looking forward to answering your questions

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Washington, D.C.: What are the most important things you can do to reduce central AC and heating bills, other than adjusting your thermostat and using a programmable thermostat, which we already do? Our bills have skyrocketing!

Sophie Uliano: There are quite a few things that you can do to reduce your energy costs: I strongly advise making sure that you have a ceiling fan in all your large rooms - I was surprised after getting mine installed, how I really didn't need to switch on the A/C. In the hot months, I close all the drapes before the leaving the house and as soon as I come in, I put on the fans, which use a minimal amount of electricity in comparison. I also installed a solar attic fan, which seems to take a lot of heat out of the attic.

I think insulation is the way to go as far as reducing heating bills. I did a huge insulation makeover in my home (attic, floor space, window and door seals etc) and I found I could turn my heating on for a very short period of time and then my house would hold the heat. I've also gotten into the habit of wearing thermal underwear in the winter - it really saves on heating costs!!

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Kensington, Md.: We just moved from an apartment to a single family house and are dismayed at our increased energy consumption, even though we are doing all the right things (lower thermostat in winter, turn off lights, use CFLs, etc.) We have a limited budget, but would like to make some changes to further reduce our footprint. How do we figure out which changes will have the most impact and bang for the buck? For example, to reduce cooling bills, is it more important to get a ridge vent, an attic fan, or a more efficient CAC unit (even though our existing one is old but still works).

Sophie Uliano: An attic fan is probably the way to go. Remember there are so many small things you can do that wind up making a big difference. Try to create meals that you can cook just on your stove top so you don't need to turn on the actual oven. Get a large steamer with a few layers and then you can cook multiple foods at once: I cook pasta in the bottom and steam veggies in the top.

If you can quit using your dryer and air dry your clothes instead - that would be great - its made a huge difference to my bills. A good clothes line is an important investment. Make sure your fridge is working efficiently - that the seals are tight and you regularly clean the coils.

There are so many things you can do so don't lose hope. If you get hold of a copy of my book - there are tons more energy-saving tips that you can start on. Good luck and thanks for your great question.

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Burbank, Calif.: What cleaning products should be avoided and which cleaning products are both effective and safer to use?

Sophie Uliano: This is one of my favorite topics as its astonishing to realize that often our indoor air quality is 7 -10 times worse than our outdoor air quality.

You want to look for cleaning products that are bleach/phosphate-free and are biodegradable; also don't go for anything that says "anti-bacterial"

I love to make my own sprays. It's so very easy and saves a lot of money. I make an all purpose cleaning spray (water, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and essential oils), which is fantastic because it kills germs better than any cleaner i could buy and is totally safe, smells great and costs next to nothing (recipe in my book).

As far as store-bought brands go, I like Mrs Meyers (smells great), Method, Seventh Generation and Shaklee.

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Arlington, Va.: What does Green Beauty really mean? I get so confused by all of these products that say they are natural or chemical free etc.

Sophie Uliano: Green Beauty means products that are not toxic to you or the environment and yes - it's really confusing when you are out there shopping. Be wary of labels that say "pure" or "natural" or "made with botanicals". These terms mean nothing. Instead look out for products that say "paraben-free" and also be wary of the term "Fragrance" as this is used to mask 100's of particularly harmful chemicals.

When I say "toxic" - I mean chemicals that can disrupt your hormone system, leading to serious problems eventually, skin irritation, and worse case scenario, carcinogenic.

If in doubt about a product, go to the skindeep database and enter the product you are considering buying.

Whole Foods store is a pretty safe bet and any of the beauty products listed in my book are tried and tested.

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Bethesda, Md.: Do you have any examples of how people have successfully integrated green living into their lifestyle? Beyond just recycling their newspapers or whatever? I have a friend who has started using flushable, biodegradable diapers for her baby (well, the liners are flushable). That just seems like too much of a hassle to me.

Sophie Uliano: Yes - I am #1 example of a busy mom, wife and working girl who has managed to integrate green living into my life in a hassle-free manner. I agree, some of the eco-actions that people take can seem like too much trouble, however, think about the things that work for you and your lifestyle. Many women that I work with (Julia Roberts included), have found a way to integrate the things that they really care about: for some it is adding one organic food item into your cart this week- perhaps milk, for others it will be putting up a clothes line in their yard to air-dry. For many of my friends, the first move will be to stop buying plastic water bottles and simply use a water filter jug with a reusable water bottle everyday. The reason I wrote my book was that I wanted to make Green Living doable for every woman regardless of her circumstances.

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Green eating: Hi Sophie! I have been trying to "eat locally" but that seems to be harder than it first appeared. So many products - from produce to meat - seem to be shipped in from all over the world. Do you eat locally? And if so, how do you go about doing that?

Sophie Uliano: It's really important to me to eat locally and as you point out, harder than I would have imagined. My first port of call is the Farmer's Market - any farmer's market I can find! I try to do 50% of my shopping there. As far as meat and dairy are concerned, it's tough. You could look into finding a CSA (community supported agriculture) in your area - very cool because you basically pay a nominal monthly or annual fee and become a shareholder in the farm - they will deliver produce/meat to you or you pick up.

Just continue to be aware of everything you buy and ask your grocery store manager to carry locally grown foods or you will take your custom elsewhere!

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Rockville, Md.: Fitness is one of the areas you list on the cover of your book. How does fitness fit into a green lifestyle? (Please don't tell me to go buy the book! I hope to get to it eventually but for now would just love some insight...)

Sophie Uliano: Great question - fitness is important because part of taking care of our environment, includes us (our bodies!). I found that a lot of women drove everywhere - including to the gym! I have found that walking and cycling has made me ten times fitter and as a result I've cancelled my gym membership.

I now walk to the store whenever I can or cycle and I practice a very short, easy yoga routine almost daily and occasionally work with some small weights - all in the comfort of my own home - so no fossil fuel used to get fit!

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CSAs: I agree that CSAs are awesome, but if you are someone who lives alone, like me, the volume of produce that you get in a week can be overwhelming! Any other ideas on how to capitalize on the eating locally movement?

Sophie Uliano: Yes - call up 3 or 4 friends who live near you and ask them to share. This is what I have done and it works like a charm. We also have come together as a community more.

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Houston, Texas: I keep hearing about the CFL light bulbs. Most if the lights in my house are small bulbs, or three way lights. Are there CFL bulbs for these types of lights? If so, where could I find them?

Sophie Uliano: I hear you - same with me, I have a lot of tiny bulbs and 3-way as well. I do the best I can. I've managed to find some tiny CFL's for my little lamps. I just make sure that all the lights that I use a lot are CFL (all outside lights, kitchen, bathrooms etc).

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Los Angeles: There are so many levels of green, is anything "green" good or do we all have to go "crunchy"?

Sophie Uliano: There are different Shades for sure and it doesn't matter which shade you are. I am somewhere in the middle (call me bright apple green!). There are plenty of dark green types who may be into the whole crunchy thing, but that's not for me and doesn't have to be for you either.

This really was my main reason for writing my book - I wanted women to understand that they can still maintain a perfectly normal (possibly better) way of life, without compromising and still be green. It's small baby steps at first.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi Sophie! I live in a tiny condo that gets lots of light but doesn't have a balcony or anything like that. Despite my lack of access to the outdoors, I'm dying to grow herbs this summer. Any thoughts on which ones do best in pots? Do some grow better in the same pots? Are there any that should be separated from the others (I know mint can take over everything). Help!!

Sophie Uliano: You can grow so much in pots and window boxes. This summer, try cherry tomatoes and basil (buy some mozzarella and you're set!). I grow Arugula in pots, baby spring mix (salad) too. Keep mint separate as it goes crazy but works well in a pot, as does rosemary and thyme. Happy growing!

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Falls Church, Va.: What constitutes green travel? I have to admit that I think carbon offsets are a rip-off -- I simply cannot believe that cutting a check for $15 to some carbon offset organization is going to do a thing other than put me out of $15. And I don't want to not travel. Thoughts?

Sophie Uliano: I know what you mean. The carbon-offsetting thing can be scary! I try to vacation nearer to home. This summer my family and I are going to make the effort to find somewhere cool within a 200 mile radius! If I am traveling abroad, I make sure that I check out the hotel/resort ahead of time: are they green? how? do they recycle? cook organic food? - in short what are they doing to help protect the environment. There are so many choices that you will have a greener option almost everywhere you go.

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Virginia: Just wanted to share... Yesterday when I picked up my son from preschool I asked him what they did. He said, "Today we saved the Earth" -- they picked up litter outside the school, turned off the lights for 1 hour and talking about recycling. I just thought that was neat! my question is: We live in a small townhouse and really have no easy way to store recyclables. Is there a storage method or box that works well? I usually put stuff in 3 different canvas bags but they do not hold much.

Sophie Uliano: There is this really cool bin called the "EcoPod" look it up on the internet. It's pricey but it crushes the cans and has separate places for glass and bags etc.

I use a large kitchen trash can (in my laundry room) and make sure that I crush all the boxes flat so I can fit more in. More importantly I try to reduce the amount of packaging and paper that has a nasty way of creeping into my home on a daily basis!

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Condo gardener again: Sorry, me again. Any advice on size of pots or types of soil? I have had a brown thumb in the past and would like to turn it around. Also, I love rosemary, so glad to know that it grows well indoors!

Sophie Uliano: Get as big a pot as you can manage and obviously it needs to be in full-sun for at least part of the day. Bigger is better so the roots can spread.

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Green living: How did you get interested in living green? What were the first changes you made yourself?

Sophie Uliano: I have always been interested in the effect that my actions have on those around me and the environment. Having a baby almost 7 years ago really spurred me into action because I became super-aware of the toxins in and around our home and it freaked me out.

The first changes I made were weeding out toxic cleaners, skin-care products and making sure that at least some of our food was organic. The health of my family was a big motivator in the beginning.

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Annandale, VA: Can you please recommend a good and effective indoor compost system that can be used in a limited amount of space (and hopefully does not have any noticeable smell)? We live in a condo but would like to begin reaping the benefits of composting (as well as helping the environment). Thanks!

Sophie Uliano: yes - there is a great indoor composter made my Nature's Mill. It is quite brilliant, but you do need to add a little more baking soda than they recommend to deal with odor.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi Sophie. I know this is bad but... I don't recycle. At all. I live in a place that's so small that I can't even fit my trash can directly in my kitchen (it has to sit just outside the kitchen which is annoying). So I really just cannot find an easy way to keep any sort of recycling station in place. As a result, I find myself tossing everything, and then feeling guilty. Do you know if there's a company that makes some sort of vertical, yet skinny, recycling/trash receptacle? At this point I think the only thing I can do is go up from my trash can, since I just don't have any more floor space to spare. (Current trash can is a rectangle and holds a 30 gallon bag). Thanks!

Sophie Uliano: yes - as I mentioned before the "ecopod" (look on internet) is a great option but it is pricey.

If you have any outside area at all or can share with a neighbor, that could work.

You may want to contact your local bureau of sanitation and find out where your nearest recycling station is too.

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Kensington, Md.: Good afternoon! I understand a great way to conserve water is to install a rain barrel -- any suggestions on where to buy one in the DC area? Many thanks.

Sophie Uliano: I suggest going to www.realgoods.com I believe they have a good selection.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Sophie, I want to put up a clothesline in my backyard but am not sure how to do it. Any suggestions of inexpensive ways to get one going? My husband is resistant because he thinks that clotheslines look junky.

Sophie Uliano: My husband too - it's been quite an issue! I'm actually getting one from a company called Hills (they have a number of designs to work with different yards) and they look cool. Even my husband is convinced. If you go to my website, we are giving some away this month, so you may be lucky!

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Rockville, Md.: What natural products would make my dirty-blond hair look like the hair of the woman on the cover of your book?

Sophie Uliano: Ha! I wish I could have her hair too! Dye-wise you need to go for TOTALLY NON-TOXIC as hair dye can be a horror. In terms of styling, I love John Masters organics and I also like Avalon Organics shampoo and conditioner.

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Rockville, Md.: Hi Sophie! You're British, right? Would you say that England is ahead of the US as far as green living goes, or behind us? Any innovations from your side of the pond that we ought to know about/be doing over here?

Sophie Uliano: Britain is ahead of the game. Green has become a way of life for many over that side of the pond. I think we will follow shortly. For example, all the major grocery stores have a massive organic selection so you don't have to blow half your pay check on foods like you do here!

The biggest difference is that people drive tiny cars - they are horrified by SUV's

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Sophie, we have our first baby on the way. We are sorting through the cloth vs. disposable diaper debate...what are your thoughts? Cost is definitely a concern, but we'd pay a little more for something eco-friendly and won't take too much time to use (two parents working full-time). After 6 months, we'll be using a daycare that won't do cloth diapers, so among disposable options, which do you see as the best?

Sophie Uliano: Go to Target. They have a new line called Nature' s Best and it won't cost you too much more. I also like G-Diapers (disposable lining).

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Wipes: Hi Sophie! I am addicted to wipes. Every sort of wipe. I use makeup removal wipes to clean my face, I use Clorax wipes to clean my kitchen, I use Swiffer wipes (dry ones) to dust my furniture. How bad is this for the environment? I feel like measuring tossing the wipes against the energy used washing and reusing rags is sort of a draw. But every now and again I feel guilty about my reliance on tossable wipes. Thoughts?

Sophie Uliano: I would do away with wipes. Its a hard habit to break but rags are the way to go for the green girl. If you can't let go of them, at least buy biodegradable ones. Method at Target has some fantastic ones.

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Silver Spring clothesline: Hi Sophie, I went to your website for the clothesline giveaway and didn't see it there...can you tell us where to go? Thanks!

Sophie Uliano: join the Girl's Club and you will get an email telling you about giveaways tomorrow.

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Alexandria, Va.: I'm curious to know what the single most positively impactful environmental change that I could make would be. I have so many choices of so many different products, I need some help in focusing on the major and not worrying about the minors!

Sophie Uliano: overall - think about how you can reduce the amount you drive - the biggest concern for us all. As far as your home is concerned, start with cleaning products and buying organic food.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi there, I am wondering what kind of beauty products you recommend and if there are any ingredients to particular products that we should steer clear of?

Sophie Uliano: Steer clear of parabens, fragrance, phtalates. There are hundreds of great alternatives which I haven't got time to list (all in book).

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Alexandria: Alexandria has a lot of places to drop of recycles. I just keep a bag on a handle and toss the cans in there and then it makes a trip to my car for when I can drive past one. I also haven't used a dryer in years as I bought a rather large drying rack that can hold up to two loads of laundry and slides under my bed when I don't need it. It is great in the summer as I am not heating up my house while running the dryer and thus my AC doesn't need to run more either.

Sophie Uliano: way to go!

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New York, N.Y.: I'm a bit confused about recycling. When I recycle plastic bottles and glasses, do I need to remove the paper wrapping first? Also, can you recycle batteries or old DVD/CDs?

Sophie Uliano: you don't need to remove paper (labels) first. Batteries are classed as Hazardous waste so should be dealt with accordingly. Some Radio Shacks take your old batteries.

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Saw you on Oprah!: Hi Sophie! I saw you on Oprah yesterday. What was she like? And do you think you were able to convince her to go green? She has such a lavish lifestyle - it seems like it would be hard to switch to a simpler life!

Sophie Uliano: She is lovely- so real and unpretentious and humble - she is trying her hardest to go green as we all are within the constraints of our lifestyles.

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West Lake, Calif.: I like the idea of the steps in your book and hope that can keep me on track. The girls club seems to be the way. Have you done these with any success?

Sophie Uliano: HUGE SUCCESS. I have done and am about to do a ton of these clubs. There is great power in getting a group of women together to brain storm as we are all doing. More fun than a regular book club too!

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Alexandria, Va.: I'm trying to get organized - my house is kind of a disaster. I'm planning to invest in plastic bins to store things. But that seems pretty ungreen. Any advice on how else to store stuff like extra clothing and extra stuff in general?

Sophie Uliano: Really good question - I use old pillowcases and old cardboard boxes - anything I can find that will not necessitate me using more plastic bags. It could be a better idea to buy some large plastic boxes as you can keep on reusing them for years and stack them under beds on in garage/attic etc.

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Sophie Uliano: Thank you so much for your fantastic questions everyone. I wish I could carry on doing this all day! You are all on the right track and I applaud you for making a start.

love Sophie

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washingtonpost.com: Thanks for joining us! Green Week continues now with Nancy H. Taylor, an expert on green building and remodeling. Join her discussion, which just started, here.

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