I was thinking back to childhood and how whenever we were looking to purchase an appliance or similar, we would flit from store to store and mall to mall to find the best product at the best price - burning up gas and cranking out all sorts of nasty stuff from the car exhaust as we went. It was just what we did back then as we didn't have a great deal of easy access to information on products.

These days, with the advent of the Internet, all the products you need are just a click away - you can buy just about anything online.

During the recent gas price spike, many major stores have reported losses in their "bricks and mortar" outlets (they physical ones), yet their online sales have blossomed.

I've been involved with ecommerce and online marketing for many years now, so I guess I'm somewhat biased - but I really believe that shopping online instead of via bricks and mortar stores is not only cheaper, but a more earth friendly option.

Saving gas and emissions

For example, recently we just about ran out of a natural athritis treatment for one of our dogs. It's winter over here at present and this treatment really worked in alleviating pain for Niki the Wonderdog.

We could have jumped in our 1.6 ton car and made the special trip to the place that stocked the stuff we needed, but I found it on eBay - and it was $20 cheaper even with delivery! It was sent to our post box (which we have to check regularly anyway). So we saved twenty bucks, time, gas, plus the associated emissions.

There's been so many instances in the last 6 months where I've needed something rather obscure that would have taken me ages and many miles of travel to obtain - instead, I just buy it all online.

The freight and packaging issue

Some would say that the shipping of goods directly to purchasers isn't exactly environmentally friendly, and that's true; but back to the example above, what would you think would be the most efficient and greener of these two options:

a) 1 person jumping into a 1.6 ton vehicle to make a special trip
b) A parcel weighing 2 pounds being added to a delivery truck that's headed for the post office or to the general area anyway.

One downside of buying online can be extra packaging; but I have noticed that many eBay sellers and smaller online businesses send their goods out in boxes they've recycled.

You may also be able to actually reduce shipping miles by purchasing online. For example, Product X at your supermarket may come from across the country or from the other side of the world. By searching online, you may find the same product being made closer to home at a comparable price.

Buying direct from warehouses

Bricks and mortar stores are usually incredibly energy and resource hungry. All the lighting, air conditioning, elaborate stands to catch your eye. When you shop online, often your order will be fulfilled via a warehouse that doesn't have all the glitzy gimmicks and fixtures.

Greener products, more choices

While many supermarkets are now stocking more environmentally friendly lines, some products just don't seem to be carried yet  - you can usually find these online. The online world also gives you wider access to smaller businesses run by very environmentally conscious people who are genuinely striving to make a difference - it's great to support these folks.

Product research

Even if you don't like the idea of purchasing something sight unseen; the Internet can save you a great deal of time, money and resources by doing your initial research online. For example, looking to buy an energy efficient washing machine? You can read bundles of reviews posted online by people who have purchased the brands and models you're interested in. The Internet helps you to make a more informed purchase decision on green products; rather than just relying on an in-store sales person's knowledge.

Online shopping safety

I've been buying stuff online for so long, it's second nature to me; but I do realize that a lot of people are still very apprehensive about ecommerce; and it's understandable given some of the stories you read in the press about credit card numbers being stolen and identity theft.

However, the sad fact is that even if you only use your credit card offline; your credit card numbers are in the systems of the stores where you use it and those systems are connected to the Internet - and more often than not that's how hackers get the details.

Still, it does always pay to be cautious when shopping online - here's some quick tips

- Don't be dazzled by low prices; some sites are merely fronts and will grab your money and run. Check into the company, see what others have been saying about them. Look for a physical address and phone number.

- Check for a privacy policy so you know what the merchant will do with your details

- Read any terms of service carefully before proceeding with a transaction

- Using credit cards is actually one of the safest forms of payment as in most countries,  your liability for an unauthorized charge is limited to $50 - $100. If a merchant doesn't deliver the goods, or the goods are defective or misrepresented, you can also issue a chargeback via your bank - and the chargeback process is heavily weighted in the consumer's favor.

- Before providing your credit card details, ensure the page the form is on is SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protected. SSL encrypts data during transmission, to thwart anyone from intercepting it. You can tell if a page has SSL protection as the web address of the checkout form page will start with https:// instead of http:// and check to see if a small locked padlock appears at the bottom right of your web browser.

- If you need to create an account with the online store, ensure you use a strong password; one with at least 8 characters and not a common word or name.

Online shopping is fun, there's nothing like the thrill of hunting for (and finding) a bargain. While hyperconsumption is never a good thing, responsible shopping can often be made a tad more greener by making your purchases via the web.