Low-Cost Green Home Improvements

Making your home more green can run the gamut from hanging your clothes out to dry on a clothesline to replacing all of your old windows to adding solar panels to your roof. But some changes are easier than others, and some have a better return on investment.

Here are five suggestions from TheGreenSpotlight.com on relatively easy and economical projects that will reap you savings:

1. Switch light bulbs.
   CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) light bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last six times as long as traditional incandescent bulbs. (The only caveat: CFLs contain small amounts of mercury, so look for low-mercury products and don't throw them in the trash - find a store, such as Home Depot, that recycles them, which I always take them to Home Depot for recycling.) LED bulbs might look pricier, but they pay for themselves and last years and not only saving energy, but saving you money. I use only LED and Fluorescent bulbs in my Home for all chandeliers, pendants and etc.
2. Switch to WaterSense plumbing fixtures.
   Products with a WaterSense label have been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency as being 20 percent more efficient than their counterparts without sacrificing performance. Toilets, bathroom faucets and shower heads are just some of the fixtures you can upgrade with more efficient versions to save energy, water and money.
3. Switch to ENERGY STAR^® appliances and electronics.
   ENERGY STAR-certified products incorporate advanced technologies that use less energy. For example, an ENERGY STAR-rated washer uses 40 percent less energy, plus it requires less detergent, uses less water, and is easier on your clothes than a conventional washer.
4. Insulate hot water pipes and heater.
   Wrap your hot water heater with an insulating water-heater jacket to reduce heat loss around the tank. Also insulate around hot water pipes to keep your water from losing heat before it gets to you.
5. Get a home energy audit.
   Hire a contractor accredited by the Building Performance Institute to perform an energy audit of your house, checking for air leaks and identifying other inefficiencies.

Visit www.thegreenspotlight.com for more information on energy savings and green projects for the home.

                              Recycle in the Bathroom

Do you have a recycling bin in your bathroom? Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies thinks you should. According to their CARE TO RECYCLE^® program, while 70 percent of Americans say they consistently recycle, only 20 percent report recycling in the bathroom. That can lead to more than 500 million shampoo bottles alone ending up in landfills each year, when they could be recycled to make items such as carpeting, car upholstery, boat sails, or fiberfill for winter coats.

Here are some tips to help you keep your shampoo bottles out of the trash.

• #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) plastic bottles are recyclable in most communities. These include bottles that hold many kinds of liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner, lotion, mouthwash, body wash, and baby powder. Just look for the "chasing arrow" triangle with a number inside it, usually on the bottom of the bottle.
• Most paperboard items found in a bathroom can be recycled, including toilet paper tubes and boxes for soap, tissues, bandages, or over-the-counter medicines.
• Items of mixed materials or certain types of plastic are NOT commonly recyclable. These include dental floss containers, toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, and any pumps that come in plastic bottles (just remove the pump and then recycle the bottle).
• I always keep separate Recycle Bins in my Home for each item, like: Plastic, Aluminum, Glass, Mixed Metal, Paper and etc. labeled and asking my family members and guests put recyclable items inside those bins only, not to throw it to Garbage Bin and everyone can apply this rule at home. It help kids also understand from early age how to protect Mother Nature and be knowledgeable about recycling.

Use the Recycle Search tool at Earth911.com to find the recycling center nearest you that accepts #1 and #2 plastics or check local supermarkets who have bins for each type of recyclable items, like Target, Publix and etc.