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