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Simple Tips for the Home You Can Use Today

Making a few small changes in your home and yard can lead to big reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and save money. Explore our list of nine simple steps you can take around the house and yard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

1. Change 5 lights
Change a light, and you help change the world. Replace the conventional bulbs in your 5 most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have the ENERGY STAR and you will help the environment while saving money on energy bills. If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action we would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars.

2. Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products
When buying new products, such as appliances for your home, get the features and performance you want AND help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products in more than 50 product categories, including lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances.

3. Heat and cool smartly
Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly and having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.

4. Seal and insulate your home
Sealing air leaks and adding more insulation to your home is a great do-it-yourself project. The biggest leaks are usually found in the attic and basement. If you are planning to replace windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows for better performance. Forced air ducts that run through unconditioned spaces are often big energy wasters. Seal and insulate any ducts in attics and crawlspaces to improve the efficiency of your home. Not sure where to begin? A home energy auditor can also help you find air leaks, areas with poor insulation, and evaluate the over-all energy efficiency of your home. By taking these steps, you can eliminate drafts, keep your home more comfortable year round, save energy that would otherwise be wasted, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

5. Use green power
Green power is environmentally friendly electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun. There are two ways to use green power: you can buy green power or you can modify your house to generate your own green power. Buying green power is easy, it offers a number of environmental and economic benefits over conventional electricity, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, and it helps increase clean energy supply. If you are interested, there are a number of steps you can take to create a greener home , including installing solar panels and researching incentives for renewable energy in your state .

6. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
If there is a recycling program in your community, recycle your newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods. Use products in containers that can be recycled and items that can be repaired or reused. In addition, support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home helps conserve energy and reduces pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal.

7. Be green in your yard
Use a push mower, which, unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. If you do use a power mower, make sure it is a mulching mower to reduce grass clippings (PDF, 8 pp., 1.59 MB, About PDF). Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. See EPA’s GreenScapes program for tips on how to improve your lawn or garden while also benefiting the environment. Smart Landscaping can save energy, save you money and reduce your household’s greenhouse gas emissions.

8. Use water efficiently
Saving water around the home is simple. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water to households, and saving water, especially hot water, can lower greenhouse gas emissions. Look for products with EPA's WaterSense label; these products save water and perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts. There are also simple actions you can take to save water: Be smart when irrigating your lawn or landscape; only water when needed and do it during the coolest part of the day, early morning is best. Turn the water off while shaving or brushing teeth. Do not use your toilet as a waste basket - water is wasted with each flush. And did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Repair all toilet and faucet leaks right away.

9. Spread the Word
Tell family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their homes and good for the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Tell 5 people and together we can help our homes help us all.

Please visit http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/index.html for more information.

Here are some more links to articles that you may find helpful.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/03/ten_tips_for_a.php

http://www.thegreenguide.com/green_home/

http://www.greenhomehints.com/about/

• Replacing a pre-1990 refrigerator with a new Energy Star one saves enough energy to light an average house for nearly four months.

• Reduce energy demands at your home by insulating your water heater, caulking or replacing your windows and upgrading to energy star appliances.

• Conserve water by installing a low-flow faucet aerator which can reduce water flow up to 50%.

• Flushing the toilet only when necessary and you could save up to 6 gallons of water.

• Get in the habit of turning off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth or lathering your hands and face. It will make a big difference.

• Only use dishwasher and washing machine if you have a full load. Use the cycle with the least number of washes and rinses. Buy eco friendly dish and clothes cleaning products.

• Consider buying a front loading washing machine to save water and energy, they not only use less water, it will take less time to dry as well.

• Garbage disposals use a great deal of water. They also add grease or solids to sewage and septic systems.

• Recycle empty printer cartridges at your local office supply store such as Staples and receive $3 credit towards your next purchase or use the postpaid envelopes available at the local post office.

• When you are ready to dispose of a product containing mercury, store it in an unbreakable plastic container. Call your local health department for a list of places in your community where you can drop the product off for safe and proper handling.

• 33% of your homes heating and cooling energy is lost via windows. Blackout curtains are a great way to keep the cool in your house in the summer and the cold out of your house in the winter. You&rsquoll notice a big difference in your energy bill.

• Unplugging your electronic devices that you don&rsquot use regularly can save you a lot of money in the long run. Even though they aren&rsquot on, they use phantom power that wastes energy and money.

• Using your microwave more is a great way to save energy. It doesn&rsquot use a much electricity as your stove. So, zap it when possible.

• If your dryer is used a great deal, try and co-ordinate the timing so that loads quickly follow each other - this is a bit like warm starting a car and takes advantage of left over heat in the dryer.

• Use a rain barrel to collect rain and use it to water your garden.

• Ask if you can telecommute one day a week. More and more workplaces are letting their employees work from home to save on energy and fuel. You might be surprised at the answer.

• Need a fabulous new dress but don&rsquot want break the bank. Go to a high end consignment shop and save a bundle. You&rsquoll also be saving the planet in the process.

• Baking soda tip #1: Sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of rubbish bags will help to control odors as you add trash and say goodbye to that aerosol can.

• Baking soda tip #2: To give your dishwasher a good clean, run it through a cycle and use baking soda instead of a harmful detergent.

• Baking soda tip #3: Wash chemicals and pesticides off fruits and vegetables in a pot filled with water and 3 - 4 tablespoons of baking soda added.

• Baking soda tip #4: Avoid using harmful chemicals to unclog a drain, simply throw a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a couple of jugs of boiling water.

• Baking soda tip #5: Forget harmful chemical pesticides, something as simple as Baking soda can deter ants - pour a solid line in areas of activity and they won't cross it.

• Baking soda tip #6: Forget harmful chemical pesticides, something as simple as a tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of (earth friendly) dish detergent and a gallon of water can make a spray for treating roses against black spot fungus.

• Baking soda tip #7: Baking soda, the ultimate stain master. Simply work a baking soda and water paste onto stains prior to washing to help remove them from the fabric or a half a cup of baking soda added to a full load of washing will help brighten your wash and remove odors.

• Baking soda tip #8: Baking soda lightly sprinkled and mixed into cat litter will help control odor.

• Baking soda tip #9: You can even REUSE baking soda. For example, once it has served its purpose as a fridge deodorizer you can put it down your sink to help keep your drains clear.

• Baking soda tip #10: A thick paste of baking soda and water applied to bug bites can provide relief.

• Baking soda tip #11: Sprinkle your Christmas tree with baking soda to mimic snow - a much more environmentally friendly alternative to some of those chemical snow sprays!

• All Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup pure soap, 1 gallon hot water and ¼ cup lemon juice

• This solution is safe for all surfaces, should be rinsed with water, and is effective for most jobs. For a stronger cleaner, double the amounts of soap and juice. From greenpeace.org

• Scouring Powder: Use a firm bristle brush and scrub with pure soap combined with either table salt or baking powder. From greenpeace.org

• Scouring Powder: Baking Soda alone on a damp sponge is also effective on most surfaces. You can personalize your scouring power by adding an aromatic herb or flower. Put the ingredients in a blender and blend until the fragrance has infused the powder. From greenpeace.org

• For oven spills, scrub using straight baking soda or combine with the stronger version of all purpose cleaner. Remember to wear gloves when scrubbing. From greenpeace.org

• Air Freshener: Mix 4 oz. distilled water, 2 oz. rubbing alcohol and 30 drops of essential oil. Combine in a spray bottle and enjoy!From greenpeace.org

• To clean Mirrors, Glass, and Windows: Wash with pure soap and water, rinse with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Use washable, reusable cheese cloths instead of paper towels. From greenpeace.org

• Liquid Dish Soap: Artificial scents and cleaners can be harmful for the environment. Try this recipe instead. Grate a bar of pure soap into a saucepan. Cover with water and simmer over low heat until they melt together. Add some vinegar to the water for tough grease and to remove spots. Pour into a container and use as you would any liquid dish soap. From greenpeace.org

• Drain Cleaner Agent: Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda in and around the drain opening. Follow with 1 cup of white vinegar. Repeat if necessary and flush with hot water. From greenpeace.org

• Wood Floor Polish; Mix ½ cup vegetable oil. Rub on floor and buff with a clean, dry cloth. From greenpeace.org

• Carpet Freshener: In a container with a tight-fitting lid, combine 1 cup crushed dried herbs (such as lavender or rosemary) with 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Shake well to blend. Sprinkle the mixture on carper and let sit for one hour. Vacuum. From greenpeace.org