A individual can take steps on their own to live a greener life.  At home, one can produce less waste by recycling.  Most cities have a recycling program in place.  They provide the bins for homeowners, and for the emptying of the containers.  The homeowner usually pays a small fee which is added onto the water bill every month.

Another green tip to use at home is to replace old light bulbs and appliances with a more energy efficient option.  A wide variety of energy efficient appliances are available today, among these are water heaters, dryers, microwaves, and refrigerators.   Most of these energy efficient washing machines and dishwashers not only conserve water, but energy as well. 

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Replacing doors and windows will conserve energy and will save you money on your monthly heating and cooling costs.  In 2008, the IRS introduced deductions for homeowners who have invested in more energy efficient upgrades to enhance their home.  That’s a win-win-win situation!

Using organic or natural cleaners is another way to live greener.  You can make your own natural cleaners at home using white vinegar, baking soda, or household borax.   Be sure to follow all instructions when mixing chemicals.  A simple mixture of white vinegar and water can be used as an antibacterial cleaner to wipe down counters or floors.  White vinegar will also clean soap scum in your washing machine.  Household borax works wonders to shine stainless steel sinks and also works well for cleaning in the bathroom.  Lemon juice will cut soap scum and limescale in the tub or sink.  Baking soda is a wonderful deodorizer for carpets, mattresses, refrigerators, shoes, garbage cans and disposals.  The list goes on and on.  These everyday items do not have a harsh odor and are completely safe to be used around children and pets.

Using white rags to clean is also helpful to reduce waste.  Paper towels are good for cleaning toilets because they are disposable, but use a cleaning rag for other chores.  Let rags hang to dry completely then Wash on the sanitary cycle.   This will prevent the spreading of germs, as well as, reduce the amount of paper waste dscarded.  

Other things you can do at home to be more “eco-friendly”:

*Mow early in the morning,

*Do not run washing machine or dishwasher until the load is full,

*Turn off lights when leaving a room,

*Open windows instead of running the air conditioner,

*Follow proper procedures for disposal of chemicals and waste that could be hazardous (batteries, oil, chemicals, etc.),

*If remodeling, research eco-friendly options (energy efficient heating/cooling, windows/doors, appliances, flooring, etc.),

*Unplug appliances that are not in use.

1. Use reuseable shopping bags.

   Many supermarkets and department stores now sell fabric bags to take your shopping home in. This saves you using plastic bags which take forever to disintegrate in the landfill. Some cities do recycle paper bags but it takes extra resources to do this. Many people do re-use plastic shopping bags but eventually they get too dirty to use. The benefit of using fabric bags is that they can be washed easily.

2. Use natural cleaners.

   There are many natural items that can help you clean; vinegar, baking soda, etc. White vinegar mixed with water is excellent for washing your windows. Baking soda is a good replacement for sink cleaners. A little baking soda mixed with a little water makes a paste that provides the roughness you need to get out stubborn stains like tea or coffee, and it does not scratch the finish. You can use salt to help scour pots and pans. Mixing white vinegar with vegetable oil helps you to clean a wood floor. You can also mix vegetable oil with lemon to make an all-natural furniture polish.

3. Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth.

   Brush your teeth first and then turn on the water to rinse. This can save gallons of water a year. You can also make a totally natural toothpaste; use 3 parts baking soda and one part table salt, then add a few drops of glycerine. You mix it with water to make a paste and there you have a natural toothpaste.

4. Don’t run your vehicle engine more than you need to.

   When you are waiting to pick someone up (even for as little as 3 minutes), turn off your engine. It will not only save you gasoline but it will help to cut down on poisons in our environment. Many cities now have laws that do not allow you to idle your vehicle for more than three minutes.

5. Instead of driving everywhere take a bus, or walk, or ride your bicycle.

   Most cities have good public transportation systems or bike paths. If you are planning on moving, try and move closer to work or school.

6. Use your air conditioning sparingly.

   You can get by with a fan on many days during the summer. If you must use air conditioning, don’t turn it up so high that you have to wear a sweater in the house. Lowering the air conditioning by a degree can save you at least 5% on energy costs.

7. Turn your heat down.

   Many people turn their heat up too high. It’s winter, you don’t need to walk around in shorts. 68 degrees is usually recommended for comfort and to save you money on your heating bill.

The following ways will not only help to save the environment, they will also save you money.