Taking a long-term approach to reducing your environmental impact is the key to greening your lifestyle successfully.

Richard Daly and Todd Singer advise homebuilders, realtors, and homeowners on green construction, renovation and design in their Phoenix, Arizona design-build firm, REDesign-Green. In their experience, homeowners know that sustainability is good for their families and the environment, but they are often discouraged by previous false starts.

"People want to do the right thing," says Richard Daly, "but making changes haphazardly will cause frustration, guilt -- or worse -- apathy."

Daly and Singer recommend that people approach sustainability incrementally by planning and then adopting new habits. They offer these tips for going -- and staying -- green at home.

• Know what you want. Daly and Singer recommend sitting down and articulating specific outcomes that you hope to achieve by going green.
• Know your limits. Going green does not mean giving up comfort or aesthetics. Think in terms of alternatives versus sacrifices.
• Get a plan. Contact your utility company and schedule an energy audit. The audit will provide a handy list to jump start your sustainability plan.
• Go! Slowly. Give yourself time to adjust to your new habits and give yourself enough wiggle room to make mistakes.
• Move on. When one change has taken root and feels normal, move on to the next item on your list.

"The conventional wisdom is that it takes six weeks to develop a habit," says Daly. "It's worth it to take your time."