Looking to make peace with the environment while saving a little money?  Then you’ll probably be interested in learning about some of the smartest green ideas for your home. Whether it means understanding how to use daylight to control your thermostat or making eco-friendly buying decisions on purchases for your house, it’ll be worth your effort. Learn the five smartest green ideas for your home and take yourself one step closer to feeling good about your contribution to the planet.

Green idea #1:  Make the sun work for you

The sun is by far one of the most powerful energy sources around. On top of that, its energy is pretty readily available. Too often though, people make the mistake of letting too much sun into their homes in the summer while not allowing enough in the winter.

Instead, do the opposite. Welcome sunlight into your home in the winter and you’ll find your heating bills dropping substantially. Block the rays of the sun in the summer and make it easier on your air conditioner or swamp cooler to cool your house. How do you do that?  Try these pointers:

• Install window shields or screens that block summer rays. Make sure to get the removable kind so you can take them down for the winter.
• Extend your roof so it overhangs walls by at least one foot – this will keep the sun off windows and exteriors
• Plant tall bushes and ivy along any exterior walls that get direct sunlight. Choose varieties that lose their leaves in the winter so the sun can warm the walls of your house during chilly months.

You can also use the sun to your advantage by investing in a solar water-heating system and a solar electricity system.

Green idea #2:  Give your home an insulation boost

You can cut your home energy bills by as much as 20% if you take the time to upgrade your insulation.

An easy fix to insulation problems is to add or upgrade caulk and weather strips around your windows and doors. It’s a good idea to conduct a home energy audit before you get started. (Learn how to do this by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency website at www.energystar.gov.)

It’s also important to pay attention to design features. Cathedral ceilings and flat roofs need extra insulation and ventilation. Recessed lights should be installed with fixtures that can safely allow for insulation above and around them.

Green idea #3:  Think big by planning small

If you’re going to build or renovate a new home, scale down your goals into something manageable. In the last 30 years, American floor plans have expanded an average of 800 square feet per home. On top of that, builders and buyers have put an emphasis on high ceilings and massive spaces, often called great rooms.

The truth of the matter is that few people take advantage of extra space like they think they will. A sitting area in the master bedroom rarely gets used except as a place to stack laundry. Massive, chef-style kitchens aren’t really necessary if you’re cooking for the average family. Great rooms end up serving only one purpose at a time instead of satisfying several family needs.

Instead, opt for smaller spaces. They’re easier to heat and cool and are largely more functional. Better yet, they require less furniture and less of a decorating expense.

Green idea #4:  Choose the right appliances

If you want a truly sustainable home, spend your money on energy efficient appliances and materials. Though prices may be steeper on items with significant energy star ratings, you’ll reap payback year after year by not consuming as much electricity as you would with a standard appliance.

Just be cautious when “buying green.”  Thoroughly research your options and make sure that any appliance or construction material with environmentally-friendly claims can in fact do the job that you’re purchasing it to do.

Green idea #5:  Work with what you have

Many people mistakenly assume that it’s better for the environment to tear down an old house and build a completely new, energy efficient home in its place. Believe it or not, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Construction material actually turns out to be a major contributor to landfills. Tearing down an old house means you’re sacrificing everything that originally went into building that house. This includes all the fossil fuels burned by the original construction crew.

It’s true that some old houses simply can’t be saved, but even houses with serious problems can be salvaged. Try to work with what you have, even if it means salvaging only the first floor and building around it.

If you do decide to remodel, aim to build up rather than out. Expanding the height rather than the width of your home is an easy way to prevent your home’s carbon footprint from getting too big.