Concerned about the earth's environment? You don't need to grow your own food or be off the grid to help the environment. A few changes in your home can help combat global warming and your pocketbook. Making your home a little greener is easy and will have an impact on the environment.

These 10 tips will help our planet and save you money.

1. Energy Efficient Appliances 
Need to replace your appliances? Look for Energy Star rated hot water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners as well as kitchen appliances. Appliances more than 10 years old are sucking loads of energy. 18% of a typical home energy bill is from appliance use. Purchase energy-efficient appliances that have the Energy Start logo and you’ll save hundreds of dollars a year. 

2. Use Programmable Thermostats  

When your not home or sleeping, program your thermostat back. In warmer weather keep your thermostat at 25 C and in colder weather each degree below 20  C will save you an average of 3%-5% heating energy. Put on a sweater and slippers, you wont really notice a huge change in temperature, however, you will notice a difference on your heating bill.

3. Green Seal Paint

Many of us our conscious when we are painting, we make sure there is good ventilation and usually paint when no one else is present. Look for paints with the Green Seal and purchase paints with zero or low volatitle organic compounds (VOC). Conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals, VOC’s and these can cause smog poor indoor air quality and ozone pollution.   

4. Install Low-Flow

An energy efficient showerhead can save you approximately $300.00/year and it only costs around $15.00 to install them. You just screw them on. Low flush toilets can range from $125.00-$500.00 depending on the type and style. If you don't want to change your toilet, try adjusting the toilet's float value to admit less water into the tank.

5. Leaky House? Plug those Leaks

The biggest energy issue in the home can be air leaks. It can be one of the simplest things to rectify. Caulk and weather stripping can help stop expensive drafts and improve your comfort level. Leaks can be found around doors, windows, electrical outlets, where plumbing cones in the house and even the attic floor.

6. House Hold Cleaners

Household cleaners can be toxic to both you and the environment. Stop buying them and use products that are not so harmful. Butyl cellosolve is found in some window cleaners and carpet cleaners, use Alcohol for a solvent instead. Use coconut or other plant oils rather than petroleum which is found in detergents.  Instead of an SOS pad, try baking soda. To clean windows use newspaper and vinegar. No need to buy paper towels or Windex. Lemon Juice on stainless steel is great and also takes the smell of garlic off your hands. Rub lemon on your hands after handling garlic and rub your hands up and down the tap, shiny as can be.

7. Bamboo Flooring

If you are replacing flooring, investigate Bamboo. Bamboo is considered one of the most environmentally friendly flooring materials around. Bamboo can replenish itself quickly taking only 4-6 years to mature. Hardwood can take 50-100 years to replenish. 

8. Install CFLs 

Replace  light bulbs with qualified ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs and use 66% less energy. By replacing your 5 most frequently used light bulbs, you'll save approximately $100.00/year.

9. Green Gardening

One of my favourite past times is gardening. Not only does it reduce my stress level, it looks beautiful. I could spend hours admiring a nice garden. Instead of synthetic fertilizers for your grass, flowers and plants, use compost. It’s easy to compost, start by visiting your local township office, get yourself a composting bin or build one yourself. Healthy soil will minimize weeks and is key to producing healthy plants and grass. Compost provides a balance of nutrients needed to maintain your soils well being.

10. Save a Tree

Besides using Bamboo for your flooring, you can buy “tree free” post-consumer recycled paper. Use less paper, write on the back of old school notes and wrap presents in newspaper. Recycled paper uses less virgin pulp than ordinary paper keeping more waste paper out of landfills.

As a home owner, being a good global citizen starts at your doorstep.  Slight changes in your home can make huge changes for the planet, improve our health and will also save you money.