Siel Ju has achieved what many are striving for in today’s realities of global pollution and sky-high gas prices: an eco-focused lifestyle. Though it’s not always easy being green, the 29-year-old L.A. dweller has become a tireless advocate for simple changes as a speaker and environmental blogger for the Los Angeles Times. Her personal website, green LA girl (www.greenLAgirl.com), covers numerous bases for creating a more sustainable society, such as eco-travel, fair trade and even alcohol production. Organic tequila, anyone?

Why did you launch green LA girl?
Often, when people get advice on environmental issues, they aren’t really given local tools to make those changes easy. Instead, they’re given generic advice that’s difficult to implement. So I wanted to show that individuals can do it because someone they can personally relate to has been doing it.

What keeps you going with the green thing?
Things snowballed once I started to blog. When you do one thing, it opens doors to others. I keep learning more. There’s always new information out there.

You live in the sprawling metropolis that is L.A., yet you don’t own a car. How do you deal?
It’s not like I’m draconian in living my life. Sometimes I’ll rent a car or borrow one from a friend when I have to get somewhere far. I live in a great neighborhood where I can walk or bike to most places, so it would more cumbersome to have a car than not have one.

What’s your advice for living a greener lifestyle?
For most people, I would say start with things like changing the light bulbs, driving less, growing herbs on your windowsill and making sure you call the city to get your recycling bins. During the summertime, get out of the house and go to a library or coffee shop where there’s free AC. While AC isn’t great, it’s better for a lot of people to be enjoying it in one place.