Green Home, Happy Home

Simple changes to reduce your water use include taking shorter showers and conserving while brushing your teeth. Also, “dishwashers use up to 5,000 gallons less water a year,” O’Neill says.

Purchasing low-flow showerheads and/or low-flow or dual-flush toilets will also help you cut down on your water usage. Installing a water aerator reduces the time it takes for your hot water to heat up. When it comes to laundry, a front-loading, Energy-Star-rated washing machine is your best bet.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

No green home is complete without the three R’s—reduce, reuse and recycle. “Most municipalities offer recycling programs, and those that don’t have curbside collection usually offer a local place where you can recycle,” notes O’Neill. Because recycling has become so easy, many people forget about reducing waste and reusing existing items—better than recycling is creating less trash to begin with!

Composting offers another way to reduce organic waste in your newly green home. Your organic scraps, from banana peels to coffee grounds, will form rich soil that can then be used in gardens.

When redecorating, consider purchasing used pieces from consignment stores or online sites like Craigslist or Freecycle, or repurposing furniture you already have. “If you’re repurposing things, consider what fabrics and materials you’re putting on them,” says Ellis. “When you’ve bought [or repurposed] this great old piece, don’t lose the momentum by covering them with nylon, vinyl and latex foam.”

Regardless of what predicates the change, living in a green home has lasting benefits for you and your family. Although it might take a bit of effort and thought, it will become increasingly fulfilling for you to realize that your personal actions are having a broader impact on the environment both in your home and in the world.

* name(s) changed