#1 Computer Off, Savings On
You can save an average of $90 a year by turning your home computer off every night. You should also turn it off if you don't expect to use it for the next two hours.
#2 Costs of Cooking
The energy used to cook for an hour in a standard electric oven creates 2.7 pounds of carbon dioxide. By comparison, a slow cooker creates 0.9 pounds over seven hours, and a microwave creates half a pound in 15 minutes.
#3 Green Clean
You can use baking soda to keep your home spic-and-span. Mix four tablespoons in one quart of warm water for a general cleaner. Add salt to scrub baking dishes and countertops.
#4 Good Scents
Need to freshen the air? Do it naturally with open windows or simmering spices. Air fresheners are bad for the environment.
#5 Lawn Care
Keep your lawn natural. Chemical fertilizers are washed by rain or sprinklers into storm drains, which dump into rivers, streams, or the ocean.
#6 Toxic Trash
Throwing away batteries adds hazardous metals to landfills. Recycle them instead—check with local stores, such as RadioShack and Office Depot, for recycling programs.
#7 Light Recycling
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) contain mercury and should not be thrown into the trash. Home Depot and Ikea have CFL recycling programs, and your local hardware store or recycling center may have one, too.
#8 It's a Wash
Keeping your clothes clean uses the second-biggest amount of water in your house. Make sure you have energy-efficient machines to reduce your use and help you save on water and energy.