Ten Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Want to reduce your carbon footprint and possibly save some money? Here are some easy changes you can make to become a more eco-friendly household without breaking your budget and in most cases, you'll actually put money in your pocket.

1. Recycle - If you don't already recycle or even if you do, make sure that you are recycling household items properly instead of throwing them in the trash. For certain household items that require special recycling measures, such as electronics, batteries, computers and printer cartridges, check with your local waste management department to see how you can dispose of these items. You also can recycle other items by donating them to charity or give them away to others through Freecycle.org.

2. Buy in Bulk - Buy in bulk to reduce packaging that would need to be recycled or thrown away. Buying in bulk often will save you money as well.

3. Use canvas shopping bags - Resources are needed to make plastic and paper shopping bags but you can reduce your carbon footprint by bringing along canvas bags instead. Leave some in your car for unexpected shopping trips or if you buy one or two things in boxes, simply refuse a bag (the store will usually apply a "paid" sticker to the item). Some supermarkets will give you a few cents for every reusable bag you use for a little monetary incentive. If you do forget the canvas bags and must use paper or plastic, find a new use for them.

4. Reuse - Try to find a new use for things. Plastic shopping bags can be reused as packing material for shipping or waste basket liners. Paper bags and the inside of cereal boxes can be a great canvas for a child's doodles that might not be worthy of long-term display. Egg cartons can be used for paints, planting seedlings, storing craft supplies or the main component of a craft. For parents, coffee or baby formula canisters can become play drums and toilet paper rolls can be transformed into binoculars for pretend play.

5. Reduce paper products - Using cloth napkins instead of paper napkins or paper towels is environmentally friendly and will significantly reduce the amount of paper products you'll purchase without much additional laundering. Just add the cloth napkins to a regular load of laundry Cloth napkins or old hand towels also can be used for dusting and general cleaning.

6. Buy locally and grow your own - Buying local produce reduces the amount of resources needed to bring them to your area. Even if you don't buy local, know the resources it takes to make the products you are purchasing. Creating your own fruit or vegetable garden, even a small one, shrinks your carbon footprint and can save you some money in the long run. If you don't have a green thumb, start small with one or two plants or even a small herb garden.

7. Keep household plants - Having certain plants in your home will decrease the air pollutants in your home, which would reduce or eliminate the need for an air purifier that requires electricity to operate. With air purifying plants, your environment will be healthier, you'll save money on air purifier filters and electricity and you'll have some nice plants to enjoy. If you have cats or dogs, be sure to find plants that are safe around pets.

8. Weather-proof your home - You don't have to make huge changes or monetary investments to make a difference. Start with your light bulbs. As they burn out, replace them with energy-efficient bulbs that will outlast incandescent bulbs and use less energy. Ensure that your doors and windows are sealed so you're not losing warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer; less leakage means less heating and cooling needs and costs.

9. Be water conscious - There's really no good reason to continuously run the tap water while you're brushing your teeth. Turn off the tap while brushing and then turn it back on when it's time to rinse. If you must water your lawn or plants, do it in the late morning or early evening when your plants will get the most water and use a hose instead of a sprinkler. Even better, try to choose plants that don't require as much watering. Using less water is more environmentally friendly and you should see your water bill drop.

10. Think energy efficiency when buying appliances, replacing windows or heating/cooling systems- When your washing machine breaks and you need to buy a new one, try replacing it with the best energy-efficient model you can find. If you need to replace or upgrade your heating cooling system, investigate those that require less energy to operate. These energy-efficient systems and appliances can save you money on electricity and gas and in some cases you could be eligible for a tax credit.