There are many things you can at home to help protect and preserve the planet. Here are some easy eco-friendly tips for making your home more environmentally friendly.

• Insulate your home
  
• Buy energy efficient appliances
  
• Caulk and weather-strip
  
• Install storm windows
  
• Wear warm clothing and turn down your thermostat
  
• Close off unused areas in your home
  
• Buy low wattage or compact fluorescent light bulbs
  
• Turn off lights that don't need to be on
  
• Use cold water instead of hot
  
• Use small ovens or stove-top cooking methods instead of your oven
  
• Don't burn wood during periods of high pollution
  
• Convert your fireplace to natural gas logs
  
• Don't let your fire smolder
  
• Use hard, dry wood when you do burn
  
• Buy a new, low polluting wood stove
  
• Put your fire completely out before you go to bed
  
• Clean your chimney
  
• Set your refrigerator to 38 degrees, no colder
  
• Insulate your water heater
  
• Substitute lemon oil or beeswax for wood cleaners, polishes and waxes
  
• Recycle aluminum and glass
  
• Recycle newspapers
  
• Reuse glass containers
  
• Buy a house plant
  
• Plant a tree
  
• Plant evergreen trees on the north side of your house
  
• Plant deciduous trees on the south
  
• Do all ironing at one time
  
• Snuggle with a friend and turn down the thermostat
  
• Run dishwashers only when fully loaded
  
• Run clothes washers only when fully loaded, but don't overload
  
• Hang your laundry to dry
  
• Clean the lint screen on your dryer
  
• Take quick showers instead of baths
  
• Install water-efficient showerheads and faucets
  
• Turn down your water heater to 121 degrees
  
• Start a recycling program in your neighborhood
  
• Defrost your freezer
  
• Buy recycled paper
  
• Cook with quick-heating, copper-bottom pans to conserve energy
  
• Teach your children about these ideas
  
• Use your microwave instead of the oven
  
• Limit or eliminate using disposable items
  
• Bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store
  
• Reuse your paper and plastic bags
  
• Write companies urging them to use paper rather than plastics
  
• Request paper instead of styrofoam whenever possible
  
• Use water-based paints whenever possible
  
• Buy products that will last
  
• Don't buy fire extinguishers containing halon