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Are you concerned about global warming? Have you thought about what you can do to improve the environment in your community? How your home can help save our planet? Perhaps you've thought the problems are too big, too complex - and what you do makes no difference.

Think again! Each small step you take can improve water and air quality in your neighborhood, each thing you do to improve the environment in your home can help save our planet.

Start by making a list of ways your home can help save our planet. For starters, here are fifty ways your home can help save our planet. Many of these actions will save you money as well.

Clean water

1. Use environmentally-friendly household cleaning products.
2. Use phosphate-free dishwasher and laundry detergent.
3. Minimize use of garbage disposal.
4. Recycle waste materials.
5. Minimize use of herbicides and pesticides.
6. Don't dispose of toxic household products by burying them in your yard - take them to a household hazardous waste disposal facility.
7. Use non-toxic roof and deck cleaners.
8. Use non-toxic paints and coatings.
9. Landscape for clean water - minimize runoff from hard surfaces - consider rain gardens that collect rainwater and allow it to percolate into the soil.
10. Plant trees and shrubs that help filter runoff from your yard.

Water conservation

1. Check every your entire water system to be sure that your it is leak-free.
2. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes.
3. Replace old toilets with efficient 1.6gal/flush models.
4. Minimize water use as much as possible in bathing, showering, laundering, washing hands and dishes.
5. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.
6. Install water-saving aerators on faucets and flow regulators on showers.
7. Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up. You'll also save energy.
8. Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. They do not need to be watered frequently and will likely survive a dry period without any watering.
9. Minimize lawn watering.
10. Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater for lawn and garden watering. 

Clean Air

1. Choose paints and coatings with the lowest possible amount of volatile organic compounds for your project. (VOC evaporates from paint and contributes to smog.)
2. If you live in a smog-prone area, try to avoid painting during summertime peak smog periods.
3. Clean up latex paint with water, but do not rinse the water down the drain or dispose in your yard. Take the clean-up water to a household hazardous waste facility.
4. Keep lids closed on paint containers when not in use.
5. Use stripping products that contain no volatile solvents.
6. Use low-VOC cleaning solvents.
7. Store used rags in closed container.
8. Avoid open burning - compost your yard waste.
9. Check your wood-burning stove to make sure it is operating efficiently.
10. Maintain your oil furnace to make sure it is operating efficiently.

Energy savings

1. In wintertime, turn thermostat down at night - better yet, install a programmable thermostat.
2. Turn thermostat to an energy-saving temperature when you leave home.
3. Naturally cool your home with breezes through open windows and doors.
4. Plant trees for shade, but make sure that shade does not prevent use of solar power panels.
5. Make sure your home has enough insulation in the ceiling, lower floor if over a crawl space, and walls.
6. Check for air leaks at windows and doors - add insulation stripping as needed.
7. Purchase only Energy-Star certified appliances.
8. Wrap hot water heater with an insulation blanket designed for that purpose.
9. Insulate attic and fan openings in the ceiling.
10. Use energy-saving lamps: compact-fluorescent (CFL) or light-emitting-diode (LED) lamps.

Renewable energy

1. Check with your electric utility to determine its carbon footprint - or how much of their power is generated using carbon fuels such as coal and oil.
2. Some states allow energy "supply choice" -- you choose your energy commodity supplier. Consider choosing the supplier with the smallest carbon footprint.
3. Solar energy is a free resource - open window shades and let the sunshine warm your home in wintertime.
4. Install solar-powered attic fans and garden lights.
5. Build an inexpensive solar panel to power small appliances and learn the basics of solar power generation.
6. Does your home have a large south-facing, unshaded rooftop? If so consider installing a solar power system.
7. Wind energy is a free resource - open windows and doors and let the breezes cool your home in summertime.
8. Build an inexpensive wind power turbine to power small appliances and learn the basics of wind power generation.
9. Does your home have a large open area with available wind? If so consider installing a wind turbine.
10. Small inexpensive efficient wind turbines will soon be available. Stay tuned!

How to get started

The most important thing is get started. I suggest you do at least one thing each day to help save the planet. Start with low-or no-cost options.

If you are handy at home projects, you can build small scale home solar and wind power systems. It's easy and inexpensive.

Find out exactly how much electricity is used in each room in your home -- by each appliance. This is made easy with a energy feedback meter. Using this information, you can make many energy-saving changes in the how your use electric power in your home.

Your home can help save our planet.

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