How to easy steps, simple ways to make your home more ecologically and environmentally friendly.

Want to make your home more eco-friendly but don't know where to begin? Here are simple steps to help you begin and get you on your way. Everyone can do their part for the environment. Every little bit helps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Conserve energy and electricity use in your home. Lower the thermostat during winter by a few degrees than normal. Raise the thermostat during summer by a few dgrees than normal. Your body will acclimate to new temperatures in time.

2. 

   Be sure to turn lights off when you leave a room. Don't leave lights on in an unoccupied room in the house.

3. 

   Conserve water. Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth. Turn water off in the shower while you are lathering up and/or shaving legs.

4. 

   Use low energy, long lasting fluorescent light bulbs around the house. When they need to be replaced, do not throw away old fluorescent light bulbs in the trash. These light bulbs contain mercury and should not end up in the landfill. Take them to your local recycling center: http://www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling/

5. 

   Use rechargeable batteries.

6. 

   Recycle plastics, paper products and glass products.

7. 

   Conserve paper products. Make use of cloth napkins (instead of paper napkins), cotton/kitchen towels and sponges (instead of paper towels) and lunch box/bag (instead of paper lunch bags). Try to avoid "disposable" type paper items.

8. 

   Take your own reusable grocery bags to the store instead of taking the store's disposable paper/plastic bags. Or take old, previously used disposable paper/plastic bags from home and use them over....and use them again....and again........

[vikki9]

on 6/21/2008 These are helpful and practical suggestions - five stars - thank you. You might enjoy reading my article about Helping to Green the Earth.