5 Simple Ways to Go Green in Your Home

Now more then ever it is vital that we help our planet, but where do you start? You want to do your part, but all of the information on green living available today can be daunting. Especially if you are new to the environmental challenge. Start with the basics and adopt these simple steps for greening your home.

1. Reduce your power use. Almost everyone uses more electricity then they need thanks to the abundance in electronic devices the average home now carries. This is bad for the environment as well as your pocket book. You can cut down for free by simply making an effort to turn off the lights, TV, stereos and other equipment when you leave the room.

For a moderate fee you can go a step further and purchase CFL light bulbs. According to Energy Star, each CFL light bulb uses up to 75% less energy then the standard bulb. These bulbs have seen improvement both in pricing and functionality recently.

As an added bonus, you can purchase Smart Strips for your electronic devices. These handy strips cut the vampire power (read: Power a device constantly sucks when not in use.) They may seem a little pricey at first, but they will pay for themselves in electric bill savings over time.

2. Reduce your water use. Like electricity, we're all guilty of water over-consumption, and the solution is simple. Turn the water off. Take shorter showers. Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth. You can even take your new conservative nature outside and reduce the time spent watering your lawn. Water early in the morning to cut down on evaporation; and only water when your lawn actually needs it.

Go a step further and purchase water conservation items for your home, like low-flow showerheads. These shower heads reduce the water output during your shower. They may take some getting used to but the planet will thank you.

3. Give the hard ingredients in household cleaners and laundry detergents a break and opt for less-harmful organic cleaners. The majority of the ingredients found in cleaners and detergents are damaging to the environment. When you wash them down the drain you are risking damage to our water supplies and the fish that dwell in them. They're not so great inside your home either. Several of the chemicals in these cleaners can cause health problems; such as Asthma flair-ups, bronchitis and allergies.

Vow for a safer spring cleaning and ditch the toxins. A quick Google search will net you hundreds of home-made cleaning recipes, or you can purchase a few pre-made ones. Just be sure what you are getting is actually organic. Unfortunately an "All Natural" label doesn't always equal green friendly. Check the labels before purchasing.

4. Cut down on the waste. As a society, we love to toss things in the garbage. This is partly due to the abundance of readily available disposable products we have; paper dishes and silverware, one-time use water bottles, and cardboard coffee cups to name a few. But the one time convenience of tossing out the dishes instead of loading the dishwasher does not a happy Mother Nature make. Focus your efforts on reusable instead of easy.

One of the biggest steps I made was to purchase reusable containers. Tupperware instead of plastic baggies. A lunchbox instead of a paper sack. Machine Washable Travel mugs instead of paper cups. This easily cut back on my trash heap at least 30%.

There is also a thrifty way, reclaim what you already own. In the past people tried to conserve and save what they already had, largely because they couldn't afford to keep replacing it. Today we live in a world of $7.99 mass produced pants and individually packaged everything. Try to revert back to your grandmother's way of life and hold on to your belongings. If the button falls off, sew on a new one.

5. If you must replace something, buy sustainable. The best way to cut back on your planetary harm is to reduce your consumerism. More buying only leads to more used resources. However, it is not practical for the average person to live in a self-built tree hut, eating berries, and wearing leaves for pants. If something breaks and you can't fix it (or reuse it!), then you're going to need to replace it.

If you are in the market for clothes, shoes or other accessories look for organic cotton, bamboo or better still, used. These products are far less harmful then those $7.99 pants. You can also find excellent home goods made from sustainable material, and cool retro styles in flea markets. If you're looking for electronics, try and buy the best rated product you can afford. It may cost a little more initially, but you will save money (and the planet) by buying quality. Typically, quality products have a longer shelf life, so you wont be heading out again in four months to re-buy at $30 DVD player.

We all know it is time to step up and meet the environmental crisis head on. By cutting down on your resources, preserving what you own, and buying responsible you are well on your way to a greener lifestyle. Not to mention a happier pocket book.