There’s nothing like the freedom of having your own space. With that space, however, comes an obligation. Whether you’re buying or renting housing, it’s important to take as many steps as you can to practice earth-friendly living. The difference only one person can make is enormous, so imagine how healthy our planet would be if occupants of housing all over started taking better care of the earth!  Follow the housing tips below to begin practicing earth-friendly living.

Choose green appliances

Don’t worry – this doesn’t mean all your appliances should be avocado-green. What it does mean is that you should select appliances that are energy-efficient and thus “greener” than most power suckers. This is a wise step to take for both new and old homes. If you’re purchasing a new home and need to select all your appliances, ensure everything you buy has the “Energy Star” logo. This certification comes from the Environmental Protection Agency and certifies than your appliance uses between 10% and 50% less energy and water than models without the certification.

If any of your appliances are over ten years old, it’s a good idea to replace them with newer, more energy-efficient models. As the Energy Star website points out, if just one-tenth of housing owners and renters used greener appliances it would be equivalent to planting 1.7 million acres of new trees!

Go for greener cleaners

A shocking number of household cleaners contain toxins that are harmful both to you and to the environment. Protect your housing environment by purchasing cleaners with eco-friendly ingredients. Such ingredients include plant oils like coconut oil instead of petroleum (found in detergents). Or look for plant-oil disinfectants like eucalyptus, sage, or rosemary rather than triclosan (an antifungal agent found in deodorants and soaps). You also might look for grain alcohol instead of butyl collosolve (a toxic agent found in window cleaners and carpet cleaners).

Green cleaners for your housing environment can also be made from scratch using natural ingredients. Natural products found around the house like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and borax can all be used as cleaning agents. Using such a natural approach is likely to save you money as well. Look in your local library or use a search engine to find recipes for natural, homemade cleaners.

Use greener lighting

If you replace all incandescent light bulbs in your housing area with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFCs), you’ll use 66% less energy overall. Better yet, CFC bulbs last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. This could translate to a total energy savings of $30 per bulb.

Choose eco-friendly paints

If your housing is due for a makeover and you want to spruce up with new paint, opt for zero- or low-VOC paints. Such paints are produced by most of the major paint manufacturing companies and can be easily located. They come without the toxic metals, solvents, and volatile organic compounds (these are VOCs) that conventional paints contain. Such pollutants contribute to smog and ozone pollution. They’ve also been known to cause health problems by polluting the indoor air quality of housing area.

Conserve water

Many environmentalists agree that water is one of our most precious resources. Do your part to conserve it by installing water-conservation tools within your housing environment that do the work for you. One such tool is an aerator. Aerators can be installed on all household faucets and will cut your annual water consumption by at least 50%. Installing low-flow toilets and low-flow shower heads is another wise option. Low-flow tools cut water flow by more than half. Not only will they save you money on your water bill, they’ll also help you conserve water.

Be temperature-conscious

Experts estimate that roughly half the energy output used in most housing environments is due to heating and cooling. Fortunately, there are ways to control your temperature requirements. Start by turning down your thermostat when cold weather strikes. You can compensate by wearing more layers and putting on slippers. In the summer, keep your thermostat a few degrees warmer than you normally would. Compensate for the warmer temperature by installing overhead fans. You may also wish to keep a spray bottle of water nearby and so you can spritz yourself when you feel overheated.

Another trick to regulating the temperature in your housing environment includes making sure the air filter for your furnace is clean throughout the winter. The clean filter lets warm air flow through with less energy expended. It’s also wise to keep your window blinds closed in the summer. The closed blinds prevent hot summer sunshine from overheating your house.

Recycle old goods and buy new recycled goods

Most major housing developments have some kind of recycling program available to them. Even if your area doesn’t offer curbside-pickup for recycling, chances are there’s a drop-off location nearby where you can take your recycled goods. Make it a point to recycles glass, paper, plastic, and aluminum. Use the Internet to find out how to recycle other goods, such as ink cartridges and televisions. You may be surprised at how many recycling options are available to you.

When you shop, make it a point to buy recycled goods. Most paper products, including napkins, paper towels, and tissue paper, can be found in recycled versions.

Green housing means clean housing

Remember, an eco-friendly environment is ultimately better for your health and will likely have a positive impact on your wallet. Make the effort today to turn your housing environment into a green one and take pleasure in the fact that you’re doing your part for the world.