12 Ecofriendly Projects for Each Month of the New Year

Going green is more than just a word - it's a lifestyle. But changing everything you do to help reduce your impact on the environment is a lot tougher than it sounds. You can go green in the year 2012 by changing a few minor things in your life, one step at a time. Use one of these twelve ecofriendly projects each month and you'll be sure to have an ecofriendly new year.

January: Change your conventional incandescent light bulbs to more energy efficient CFL's. This can help reduce your carbon footprint as well as save money on your electrical bill.

February: Get an energy audit from your local energy company. Usually it's free and it can provide you with the right advice for making your home more energy efficient.

March: Seal air leaks. After your home energy audit, it's a good idea to seal any air leaks around doors and windows, replacing any old caulk or damaged weatherstripping to improve energy efficiency.

April: Create a rainwater harvesting system. Even if it's just a simple rain barrel, using your rainwater to irrigate your plants can help save tons of water annually.

May: Xeriscaping. The process of xeriscaping is using plantings that are drought tolerant and natural to the native environment. This helps prevent over-fertilization and over-watering when using non-native species.

June: Install ceiling fans. When summer months start to heat up, install a few ceiling fans to help alleviate the heat instead of turning up the air conditioning. Ceiling fans will also help keep your air conditioning work more efficiently.

July: Install a programmable thermostat. Programing the air conditioning to turn off when you're not home can help you to reduce your carbon footprint and save big bucks on expensive summer cooling costs.

August: Consolidate your trips. By creating a schedule for your driving habits, you can eliminate unnecessary trips that waste gas and resources.

September: Add exterior shutters. Instead of replacing energy inefficient windows with expensive new units, install exterior shutters for instant energy savings at a bargain price.

October: Opt for homemade sweets. Prepackaged candies waste tons of plastic each Halloween. Make your own or buy candy with a wax paper wrapper to cut down on waste.

November: Insulate your hot water pipes. Before it gets too cold, insulate your hot water pipes for superior energy savings with a minimal investment.

December: Use 100 percent recycled wrapping paper. Post-consumer recycled paper products help to cut down on wasteful tree harvesting practices and allow your holiday gifts to be wrapped with ecofriendly style.