Ten Easy Ways to Go Green

First, Happy Earth Day!

It seems like everyone is getting involved these days, or at least trying to get everyone involved. But let's admit it...some of the advice can seem a little overwhelming for some. But it doesn't have to be. Here are ten easy no or low cost ways to lessen your impact on the planet, create a healthier house and garden and even fatten your wallet.

1. Change a Light Bulb
All you have to do is install a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL). This is the quickest and easiest way to save energy and money. CFLs convert most of the energy they use into light rather than heat. These bulbs also consume about 75 percent less electricity, and it will last up to 10 times longer.

2. Unplug Things That Glow
Anything that has an LED (light emitting diode) that glows even after you turn it off continues to draw power....power that you pay for. This includes your TV, cell phone charger and printer, to name a few. Unplug these things from wall sockets and plug them into power strips instead. When you leave the room, flip the switch to cut the flow of electricity. This alone could save you $200 a year!

3. Recycle Your Electronics
Americans tossed out a whopping 5.5 billion pounds of electronics in 2005 alone. This isn't good. Millions of pounds of chemicals and heavy metals ended up in the ground. Well now, it's easier than ever to recycle electronics. Go to www.mygreenelectronics.org to help you find a recylcing resource in your area. You can even sell an unused cell phone to greenphone.com. You can get as much as $35. The phone will then be refurbished and resold.

4. Audit Your Energy
We all should know how much energy we're using and where we're using it. If you don't, invest in a home audit. It only takes a couple of hours and pays off with a list of things you can do to curb consumption. You can find an auditor through your utility company, which should be at low or no cost. If you hire one, it may cost as much as $450-$650. And here's why you need one...on average, an energy audit shows you how to save up to 30% on utility bills.

5. Support Local Farmers
Did you know that typical grocery store produce travels nearly 1,500 miles before it ends up on your plate? All of this traveling burns fossil fuels and results in carbon emissions, which is pollution.
So if you buy from a local farmer, you're not only getting the freshest food possible, but you're saving energy! So head on down to the local farmer's market. Or to find farmers nationwide, check out www.localharvest.org, www.sustainabletable.org and www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm.

6. Fix The Drip
Most of us use about 100 gallons of water a day, which is enough to fill 1,600 glasses. This is 200% higher than what we used back in 1950. For this reason alone, more than 36 states are expected to face water shortages in the next few years.

But you can help. All you have to do is fix a leaky faucet or toilet. A dripping faucet alone can waste up to 74 gallons a day, a leaking toilet up to 200 gallons a day.

7. Let The Grass Grow
Grass does best when it's kept at least 2 1/2 inches tall. This length creates more surface area to absorb sunlight, which creates thicker turf and deeper roots. And this means you won't need to water as often!

Also, let grass clippings stay on your lawn. This will add nitrogen to the soil and discourages weed seeds from germinating. You'll need less fertilizer and herbicide. And if you leave clippings on your lawn, this means less in the landfills. In 2005, Americans got rid of more than 12 million tons of yard waste.

8. Check the Label
When it's time to replace a household appliance, choose a product with an Energy Star label. It's a program that rates products from light bulbs to kitchen appliances. These labels guarantee that products are energy-efficient, using 30 percent less energy.

9. Do Full Loads
The average American family of four washes about 540 loads of laundry a year, which consumes up to 21,000 gallons of water, and more than 150 loads of dishes uses about 1,500 gallons. Most of the energy is used toward heating the water.
So here's what you need to do...don't wash until you have a full load, choose short cycles and use cold or warm water instead of hot water.

10. Put the Critters to Work
Put your backyard ecosystem to work for you. Birds eat many insects. So provide the birds with a water source and trees and shrubs for cover and nesting. Attract ladybugs...they are big eaters of aphids. To find out which backyard insects are garden friendly, go to www.garden.org.