5 Simple Ways to Green Your Home Now!

Doing your part to help the environment doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are five simple actions you can take to help reduce your impact on the planet — and feel good about the effort!

1. Take your home’s temperature. Did you know that almost half of a home’s energy consumption comes from heating and cooling? You can save energy and money by adding a layer of clothing (or taking one off) and keeping your thermostat set a bit lower in winter and higher in summer — for example, 78° F in warmer months and 65° F in colder weather. If you’re willing to add just one more layer of clothing in winter, each degree below 68° F will save three to five percent of your heating energy!

2. Use less water. Here are three simple changes you can make to cut down on the amount of water your family uses. First of all, install an aerator on all your faucets. This simple act will cut your annual water consumption by 50 percent. Second, consider replacing your pre-1994 toilet with a newer, low-flow model. A low-flow toilet uses only 1.6 gallons per flush compared with older models' 3.5 gallons. Third, turn off the water while you brush your teeth to save 4.5 gallons each time you brush. Encourage everyone in your home to do the same and this will really add up.

3. Switch to energy-efficient lighting. Replace a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb and you’ll save about $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. That’s because CFL bulbs use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. But don’t worry; you needn’t live beneath an ugly fluorescent glow. Premium fluorescents cast a buttery-golden or pure-white light and are only slightly more expensive than low-end fluorescent bulbs.

4. Get good at recycling. When recycling plastic items, look on the bottom for a number 1 or 2, and put only those in your recycling bin. Most areas do not take items with numbers higher than 1 or 2. Refrain from putting broken glass, lightbulbs or food in your bin. The environment — and your waste professional — will appreciate your efforts.

5. Reduce and reuse plastics. Americans toss about 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags (grocery bags, trash bags, sandwich bags … you get the picture) into the trash each year. Make every effort to reduce the number of plastics you consume. Try reusable containers with lids for storing foods. Pack school lunches in reusable containers. Forgo plastic shopping bags at the store (instead, get in the habit of taking your own cloth bags to the store). Every little change adds up.