You might not think twice about it, but choosing to wash your laundry loads with hot water instead of just warm or cold water actually uses a lot more energy. To save energy, set the washer to warm or cold cycles!

When you’re brushing your teeth, make sure you don’t let the tap water run. By doing a simple thing like remembering to turn off the water, you can actually save up to five gallons of water every day! Think of the impact that makes in a year, or even a week!

Believe it or not, a tip as simple as to fill up your dishwater loads before running them can save up to 20 gallons of water per load! Even though many of our families tend to run the dishwasher every night after dinner, sometimes the washer is only half full. In that case, give it an extra day until the washer is filled up so you won’t have to waste a load of water.

Even though they don’t seem to be using electricity when they are turned off, many appliances and gadgets are actually still using a little bit of power. This type of electricity is called a “phantom load,” and can actually create a significant amount of money on your electric bill. So save your money and don’t use electricity when it’s not needed by unplugging appliances.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) might sound like tech jargon, but the facts are simple: CFLs use as much as 75 percent less energy than regular light bulbs, and can last up to 10 times longer. They might be a little pricier than the average bulb, but the price in energy savings will overcome the initial price after about three months of usage, so it’s totally worth it!

We all know what it’s like to get ads and other unwanted SPAM in our inboxes, but let’s not forget about the junk mail we get through the regular mail as well! Remember that for every piece of unwanted mail we get, trees are being cut down and processed. That’s why it’s important to not just ignore and discard our junk mail, but to make sure we stop getting it in the first place. If you keep getting mail from a company you’re not interested in, call them and have them take you off their mailing list.

Did you know that drying your clothes with a dryer can cost most than $100 a year? Keep your money in your piggy bank and be more energy efficient by simply line-drying them! If you’ve got a back yard, the set-up is easy and totally free, once you have the string and the clothing pins. Give it a try, and then reward yourself with the money that you saved!

Laundry detergents often are not 100% safe for both you and the environment, so it’s important to pay attention to what you are washing your clothes with. Chlorine bleach is toxic to humans, and can create other harmful byproducts when flushed down the drain. You can try to avoid using these potentially dangerous chemicals by switching to eco-friendly cleaners that are made with natural, non-toxic chemicals.

Even though bringing water bottles on the go is convenient, it’s also using up a lot of plastic. Invest in a cool reusable water bottle, like one of Sigg’s light-weight, aluminum bottles that come in awesome designs (www.mysigg.com).

Going green is all about getting closer to nature. One way to bring that into your home is to get more plants. Having more plants around will give your home fresher air, remind you that you’re eco-conscious, and help you with décor!