According to FoxBusiness.com, going green is a lot like losing weight. Many of us talk about doing it but when it comes right down to it we come up with myriad excuses. And the attidutes of the American public are no different than those of cleaning professionals.

Surveys show most Americans recognize the environmental crises and they're concerned about global warming. But to actually do something about it? Excuses abound.

Following are the five most prevalent excuses for not going green, why they're cop outs and simple steps for shedding them.

Excuse No. 1: 'It's too expensive.'
Seeing the potential savings in the long run is a way to get beyond this excuse, says Edwin Stafford, associate professor of marketing at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, who studies green marketing. Look for products with the Energy Star seal because they are more energy-efficient and will result in savings on your electric bill.

Thomas Kostigen, co-author of The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time, notes that even turning down the thermostat a degree lower for the heat and a degree higher for air conditioning can save approximately $100 a year on your utility bill.

Excuse No. 2: 'My individual effort won't make a difference.'
Just look at the statistics. Americans saved enough energy in 2006 to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars, according to Energy Star data. These efforts also saved $14 billion on their utility bills.

Excuse No. 3: 'It doesn't fit into my lifestyle.'
It's a misconception to think you have to live out in the country to be eco-friendly. Urban living can be great for the environment, if you take steps such as using public transit or shopping at local farmer's markets. Suburbanites can use a rail system instead of driving to work. Tech-savvy folks can use eco-friendly gadgets, such as those with solar-powered features or batteries that can be recharged.

Excuse No. 4: 'Green products don't work as well.'
Green products often carry negative baggage, Stafford admits. When they started being sold in the 1970s, people believed they were using "some mix of twigs and things to unclog their sinks."

"That, I think, has changed," he says. "You have a lot of green products that I think actually work better than non-green products."

Excuse No. 5: "I don't know where to start."
You may already be environmentally friendly, but just don't know it. For instance, purchasing in bulk saves on packaging or shutting down and unplugging computers at the end of the day will save on energy.

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