How to make your home go green

Making your home environment friendly can begin with just a few small steps that will not cost much at all to some major changes that can cost. However, start with the smaller items and work on a different area as you can to make your home go green.

Some Easy ideas:

•  Purchase items at garage sales, thrift stores, or even online auctions. This will not only save you money but will save resources as well.

•  Change the light bulbs you normally use. Purchase energy efficient light bulbs. Today you can find them in a variety of shapes and sizes.

•  Instead of peeling potatoes and throwing the peeling in the trash, create a compost bin for all of your uncooked vegetable and fruit peelings. The compost can be used for your flower garden.

•  Collect rainwater for watering your garden or lawn.

•  Add self-adhesive flexible stripping to gaps around your doors and windows. This will not only help with keeping your home the perfect temperature but will also help with your heating and cooling bill.

•  Purchase only natural, non-toxic detergents, cleaning supplies, and toiletries.

•  Add a plastic bottle filled with water to our toilet cistern; however, make sure that you use one that does not make you flush the toilet twice.

•  In winter, turn the thermostat down one degree and put on a sweater.

•  In summer, turn the thermostat up one degree.

•  Recycle everything you can such as glass, paper, metal, and plastics.

•  Take a shopping bag with you to the grocery store and reuse it over and over again.

•  Use organic products in your garden

•  Dry your clothing without the use of a tumbler dryer. Hang them out to dry.

A few more things you can do that might cost you a bit include:

•  Insulate your home better.

•  Add aerators to your faucets. If you unscrew the tap, you can easily install an aerator tap instead.

•  Only purchase appliances that have an A+ or A++ rating. These have been proven to be energy savers.

Remember; do not try to overhaul your home in a short amount of time. Take it a step at a time. If you change just one thing per month before long, you will have a green home.