Wasi Ahmed Yousaf is a green Muslim.

Environmentally-sustainable living, more popularly known as "going green," means being a conscious consumer in all aspects of daily life, including transportation, energy, food and shelter.

Yousaf, a practicing Muslim, embraced the green lifestyle after watching several solutions-focused messages during the Live Earth series of worldwide concerts on July 7. Live Earth started a multi-year campaign to fight climate change and promote environmentally-sustainable living.

"I realized that global warming, pollution and other environmental issues are something that everyone has to pitch in [and do something about], and it’s a serious issue, but we can still resolve it," Yousaf said.

His choice to ride a bike to work not only serves as his daily exercise, but also cuts gasoline and potential parking bills, and contributes to reducing smog and exhaust fumes in his city.

He now only fills up gas once a month and, as a result, saves $50-60 a month.

LINE is a UK based environmental organization run by Muslims.

Yousaf has also made many other changes in his life.

This includes no longer using those little, white, seemingly harmless Styrofoam cups to drink coffee or water at work.

"Styrofoam is one of those materials that doesn’t get decomposed even if you leave it in the ground for 50 years," Yousaf said. "It is a non-biodegradable product.

So, why are we simply wasting it? I stopped wasting it and took a ceramic cup from home."

He’s also stopped drinking bottled water. Bottled water wastes fossil fuels and water in production and transport, and when bottled water is used, its disposal becomes a major source of waste, according to Food and Water Watch.

The group said it requires more than 47 million gallons of oil to produce plastic water bottles for Americans each year.

Instead, Yousaf has switched to Nalgene bottles, and even his kids are using them. Nalgene bottles are inexpensive and can be used over and over, and are recyclable. Yousaf has also switched to energy-efficient light bulbs and is more energy conscious in general. For example, he won’t do half loads of laundry or run a half-filled dishwasher. And standing by the faucet as the water runs in the sink or taking long showers is a no-no in the Yousaf household.

"I’m trying to teach my kids. I am trying to influence them to take responsibility. The big question is what type of a world are we going to leave for our kids? I want to teach them so they can have an example."

Going Green = Islam

Caring about the environment is a large part of the Islamic faith. Sadullah Khan, director of the Islamic Center of Irvine, said there are more than 500 verses in the Qur’an dealing directly with nature, the environment and natural phenomena.

Many "surahs" or Qur’anic chapters are titled after animals or natural phenomena.

"These references to the natural world around us aim at making us conscious of the Creator of creations, making us cognizant of our inextricable relationship with, and instilling in us a sense of respect for, Allah’s creation, nature," Khan said.

"Do you not observe that God sends down rain from the sky, so that in the morning the earth becomes green?" [Surah 22:63].

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is reported to have said, "Whoever plants trees, God will give him reward to the extent of their fruit." (Musnad)

"The Prophet is quoted as saying, ‘When doomsday comes, if someone has a plant seed in his hand, he should plant it,’ suggesting that even when all hope is lost for mankind, one should sustain nature’s growth," Khan said. "He believed nature remains a good in itself, even if man does not benefit from it."

Muzammal Hussain, founder of the London Islamic Network for the Environment (LINE), described creation as existing as "one interlocking system, with human beings a part of it." He said the concept of creation reflects the principle of oneness or tawhid, which is at the center of the Islamic faith.

"By ‘going green’ and living in harmony with the wider creation, we are honoring this principle, whereas if we live as though we are separate from the rest of creation, we would be going against what Islam teaches us," Hussain said. "Being ‘green’ is thus at the very heart of Islam. Effort is, however, needed for it to be in the heart of many more Muslims, as well as more Muslim organizations."

Greening American Muslims

Though there are Muslim-run environmental organizations in the UK such as LINE and the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES), the green movement has been slow to form in the American Muslim community.

Dr. Richard Foltz, author of "Islam and Ecology", however, believes there are signs that a rise in green Islamic consciousness is on the horizon.

"The Qur’an is said to prohibit over-consumption and waste, and to call for humans to act as responsible stewards of Allah’s creation," Foltz said. "Many environmentally-sensitive Muslims feel that these teachings are being disregarded today, not just by non-Muslims, but by Muslims as well."

Foltz said the United States is one of the world’s most over-consuming societies, taking in 35 percent of the world’s resources with only 4 percent of the world’s population. These rich nations, including Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf nations, do not distribute their wealth and access to resources equitably, he said.

"Muslims who see in Islamic teaching a call for social justice are highly critical of these realities. For those sensitive to such issues, environmental degradation and social justice are inextricably linked, since the poor are more immediately and dramatically affected by environmental degradation than are the rich," Foltz said. "Unfortunately, thus far, the number of American Muslims who have made this link remains low, but it is growing."

It is easy being green

Yousaf believes every little step counts. He also recycles soda cans and tries to reduce waste in general.

Paper or plastic? Yousaf carries his own canvas bag for his grocery shopping. For produce, he steers clear of supermarkets.

"I routinely go to the Farmer’s Market," Yousaf said. "I’m getting produce fresh from the field, and, somehow, I feel satisfied helping those smaller guys who are not chain stores."

By choosing local and organic products, World Watch’s spokesperson Chafe said, fewer chemicals and pesticides will be consumed and kept from entering the ecosystems, local economies will be supported, and the carbon emissions associated with the transport of food minimized.

Hussain cites the Prophet as an example to follow. The Prophet did not eat much meat, which is contrary to today’s Muslims.

Daily consumption of meat "encourages intensive and cruel factory farming to meet the high demand," he said.

He advised that Muslims not eat meat daily and opt for local and organic food, which is better for the environment. Hussain also emphasized going outside of the consumer-culture.

"This places pressure on the Earth’s resources and contributes to waste and pollution," Hussain said. "We can be more creative with what we already have and appreciate that, ultimately, happiness comes not by buying what advertisers throw at us, but through finding stillness. Finding God in each moment."

Chafe said "going green" can take many forms, and each person should consider what is appropriate for his or her life and interests.

"The great news is that these decisions often have positive impacts that ripple far wider than our immediate communities and local environment," Chafe said.

For Yousaf, living green has not required making drastic changes to his lifestyle. He now feels healthier and has a more positive outlook because he knows that for every small change he has made, he is contributing to the greater good of saving the planet.

"I believe this is exactly what my religion wants me to do, to take care of everybody, myself, my surroundings. This world, that Allah created so beautiful, how can we mess it up?"