From recycling to using alternative cleaning materials, minor changes at home can add up to real benefits for the planet, not to mention your own health and happiness

Here are 10 more easy ways to green your home:

1. Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Reducing your waste is one of the most important things. The first step is to reduce the consumption of goods. How?

  • Maybe it is time to rethink about what you really need, save both the planet and you wallet….
  • Reuse items and develop your creativity
  • Recycle plastics, cans, paper, batteries, old appliances…

2. Green up your appliances.

If any of your appliances is more than 10 years old, the EPA suggests replacing them with energy-efficient models that bear their "Energy Star" logo. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard models. According to the Energy Star site, if just one in 10 homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.

3. Be energy-efficient light.

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Turn off the light!!

4. Eat local, organic and fair trade:

Consider what you put in your “energy-efficient” refrigerator. Pesticides, transportation and packaging are all things to consider when stocking up. Buying local cuts down on the fossil fuels burned to get the food to you while organic foods are produced without potentially harmful pesticides and fertilizers.

5. Watch the temperature.

Almost half a home's energy consumption is due to heating and cooling.

  • Clean your filter monthly during heavy usage.
  • To keep your cool in warmer weather, shade your east and west windows and delay heat-generating activities such as dishwashing until evening.
  • Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioners.

 

6. Save water.

http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/

  • Put an aerator on all household faucets and cut your annual water consumption by 50%.
  • Install a low-flow toilet.They use only 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to 3.5 gallons per flush for pre-1994 models. If you have an older model, adjust your float valve to admit less water into the toilet's tank.

    Behavioral changes:

  • Take quick shower instead of bath
  • Turning the water off when you brush your teeth will save 4.5 gallons each time
  • Harvest grey water from you dishes and shower and reuse it to water your plant.

4. Clean green.

Stop buying household cleaners that are potentially toxic to both you and the environment.

Use simple ingredients such as plain soap, water, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), vinegar, washing soda (sodium carbonate), lemon juice and borax and save money at the same time.

5. Use less paper, save a tree

  • You can buy "tree-free" 100% post-consumer recycled paper for everything from greeting cards to toilet paper.
  • Remove yourself from junk mail
  • Print only when necessary and on both side
  • Buy unbleached paper. Many paper products, including some made from recycled fibers, are bleached with chlorine. The bleaching process can create harmful byproducts, including dioxins, which accumulate in our air, water and soil over time.

7. Reduce plastics, reduce global warming.

  • Carry you own containers when possible and avoid good with excessive packaging.
  • Use a cloth bag for shopping
  • Recycle

8. Use healthier paint (low VOC):

Conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause smog, ozone pollution and indoor air quality problems with negative health effects, according to the EPA. These unhealthy ingredients are released into the air while you’re painting, while the paint dries and even after the paints are completely dry. Opt instead for zero- or low-VOC paint, made by most major paint manufacturers today.

9. Design Green and use sustainable materials

  • Design your home to be energy efficient: insulation is the key
  • Use sustainable materials such as FSC certified Bamboo, recycled products…

10. Greener your garden

  • Use compost instead of synthetic fertilizers. Compost provides a full complement of soil organisms and the balance of nutrients needed to maintain the soil’s well-being without the chemicals of synthetic fertilizers. And healthy soil minimizes weeds and is key to producing healthy plants, which in turn can prevent many pest problems from developing to begin with.
  • Use native plants as much as possible. Native plants have adapted over time to the local environment and support native animals. They also use less water and require less of your attention.
  • Focus on perennials. Gardening with plants that live for more than one year means you don't have to pay for new plants every year; it also saves the resources used commercially to grow annuals.
  • Stop using chemical pesticides. These toxic chemicals escape gardens and concentrate in the environment, posing threats to animals and people, especially children. A better alternative is to try a variety of organic and physical pest control methods, such as using diatomaceous earth to kill insects, pouring boiling water on weeds or using beer to bait slugs.

Going beyond

http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden

Books

“Clean and Green” and “Better basics for the Home” by Annie Bertold-Bond for cleaning recipes
“Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings” by Alex Wilson.