Go Green at Home...

• Recycling is important, but first and foremost: use less!
• The things you do use can often be used over and over again – either for the same purpose or for something totally new. Be creative. Not only are you cutting back on the resources used you'll also end up with some cool eye-catching conversation starters.
• Set aside bins in your green home to separate and collect recyclable materials, including newspapers, white paper, clear and colored glass, plastic water and milk bottles, aluminum, cardboard, batteries and fluorescent light bulbs. Check with your local council to find out what recycling services are available.
• Many computers, TVs and other electronic items include toxic materials that should not sit in landfills, and you’d be surprised how many retailers and other companies will take your old gadgets for recycling. 
• Use non-toxic, environmentally safe, biodegradable cleaning products, including laundry products, which you can find at any natural grocery and even many mainstream stores. Just read the labels carefully.
• Don’t pollute your indoor air or mask odors that could alert you to a problem. Choose fragrance-free products.
• Unplug the 'secret energy suckers' in your home: TVs, DVDs, satelite TV boxes, computers and printers, video game consoles, microwave ovens and AC adapters for mobile, digital cameras and other electronics. Most electronic equipment, including anything that uses a remote control, is designed to consume energy when it is turned off. That “off” setting is actually a “standby” or “idling” mode. Standby power in the average household consumes 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. That’s enough energy to power an entire home for two months, or more. The solution? Unplug anything that isn’t being used.
• More and more utility companies are offering their customers the option to purchase green power – electricity generated by rapidly renewable resources like solar power, wind turbines, geothermal systems and biomass – to power their homes.
• Wash your clothes in cool rather than hot water.
• Buy locally produced items, including produce and other goods. It reduces the amount of fossil fuels required to transport the things you buy from other parts of the country or the world. It also reduces the amount of plastic and paper products consumed in the packaging of such far-traveling products. Buying local reduces the consumption of valuable natural resources
• Instead of using supermarket disposable plastic or paper bags, bring your own reusable tote bags. The bags are sturdier than disposable bags, making the trip home easier, and they don’t waste resources or end up in landfills. If you must use disposable bags,  avoid double-bagging whenever possible.
• Use nontoxic gardening techniques. Many gardeners over-apply or improperly apply pesticides, putting themselves, their families and pets at increased health risk. Nearly half of all households have pesticides stored within reach of children. About 230,000 people each year are treated in hospital in the US for injuries related to various lawn and garden tools. Our clean air and drinking water are affected by pesticides and garden equipment emissions.