"Tree hugger" used to conjure up images of Birkenstocks, scruffy beards and beaten-up Volkswagen Beetles. The new age eco-hipster has changed that. From earth-friendly fashion and furnishings to sleek hybrid cars and biodegradable beauty products, living lightly no longer means having to sacrifice heavy style.

Kate Macaulay and Michael Johnson are two of Dallas' chief eco-chic campaigners. The couple of five years owns Green Living in Lakewood, a haven for hip fair-trade frills and everyday items with a conscience. Educating shoppers about living green is as important to the pair as selling chemical-free paints, embroidered hemp linens and mod Marmoleum floors.

"We think that the solution to protecting the environment is awareness. That's what we are trying to do with our store," says Michael. "As people become aware of the problems and what they can do themselves, that's when we begin to improve."

Just how much do they practice what they preach?

If the aqua Toyota Prius parked in front of the couple's 1963 Oak Cliff one-story wasn't a hint, the three heaping piles of compost cooking near the front door quickly spilled the organic beans: Kate and Michael are as green as their push-mowered grass.

The funky couple bought the mid-century not only for its designer bones, but also for its sloping roof (perfect for rainwater harvesting), large overhangs (cooling shade), '60s-style fluorescent fixtures (they waste less energy) and the natural light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Since moving in last year, they've slowly been giving the digs the green light. In the master bedroom, Kate used a chemical-free, moss-colored paint dubbed Hiking Path to lift the low-slung walls. Low-flow showerheads and energy-efficient light bulbs were added throughout.

Although the couple has big projects in the works – cork floors in the entry, lime- and-orange Marmoleum in the kitchen – they currently live lightly by using products and decor with a crunch.

"We try to use things that are organic, vintage, used or very durable," Kate says. "If we buy new things, we make sure they are from responsible or fair-trade manufacturers."

Most of their furniture, decor and housewares are durable hand-me-downs or vintage finds. Kate says that longevity is key when sourcing secondhand items; she particularly looks for Pyrex pieces and solid-wood designs. Trendy knockoff furnishings are out of the question; particleboard gets a black mark for its short lifespan and toxins.

Relatives donated most of their furniture, including an overstuffed leather chair and ottoman in Michael's study that helps prop up his bike, a regular mode of transportation. The rest are vintage rescues such as the retro tweed sofa, mid-century chest of drawers and dining room hutch, which Kate outfits with pottery hand-me-downs and garage-sale scores.

Stylish, earth-sensitive accessories dress up the natural furnishings. In the bedroom, a fair trade appliqué pillow and ethnic block-print add give color. Purple organic-cotton sheets from Green Living offer a pop, as does the handmade quilt from a Lakewood charity shop that Kate repurposed as a wall hanging.

To the untrained eye, the home's hemp towels, jute rugs and retro dishes might just look groovy, not green. But the all-natural cleaners, soaps, lotions, detergents and even kitty litter packed inside their cupboards would convince any amateur that Kate and Michael go green all the way.

A peek in the fridge provides further clues, where cage-free eggs sit next to Newman's Own dressing and organic veggies. Even their beer has a conscience. They only buy Fat Tire, because the brewing company is wind-powered.

"It's the little things that everybody does every day that's going to make the big impact in the end," Michael says. "Six billion human beings are making a huge footprint on our planet. We're just trying to do our part."

Recycling cans and riding bikes aren't the only ways to save the planet. Everyday items from paints to beer are giving back these days.

American Pride chemical-free paint in Hiking Path and Little Lilac ($30 a gallon) at Green Living

Eco-suds? Yep, the Fat Tire brewing facility is wind-powered. $7.49 per six-pack at Whole Foods Market