60 easy ways to green your home: an eco-friendly checklist

Save energy by using less electricity and fossil fuels

Save money by consuming less

Reduce the negative environmental impact of your household

Eliminate potentially harmful chemical and irritants from your home

Increase resale value: Homes with green features sell faster and typically fetch higher prices

Saving water

Reducing hot water use

Choosing green products

Reusing and recycling

Heating efficiently

Minimizing AC use

Sealing up air leaks

Conserving electricity

Choosing eco-friendly appliances

Servicing your HVAC system

Lowering your carbon footprint

Hiring a “green” pro

Fix faucet drips. One drip per second wastes about 3,000 gallons per year.

Add aerators to faucets. They increase pressure while using less water.

Take a shower instead of a bath, and keep it to 5 minutes max. 

Replace existing shower fixtures with low-flow showerheads to save about 2,700 gallons a year.

Capture running water in a bucket while waiting for a shower or bath to warm. Use it to water plants or flush the toilet later on.

Avoid the kitchen garbage disposal, which requires running water, and compost food scraps instead. 

Instead of washing dishes under running water, use a basin. Wash the cleanest dishes and silverware first, then dirtier ones, to minimize changing dishwater.

Don’t pre-rinse dishes, always run the dishwasher full and late at night, during your utility company’s “off-peak” hours.

Collect rainwater at downspouts for watering house plants and landscaping.

Look for faucets that carry the WaterSense® label. They’re certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use 20–30% less water than an average faucet. Some utilities may offer rebates for faucets and fixtures that have this label. 

Switching to low-flow toilets also saves water—about 13,000 gallons per year. 

When it’s time to buy a new dishwasher, choose an Energy Star-rated appliance. It’s certified to use half as much energy and one-third less water than a conventional dishwasher.

Don’t waste hot water. A no-brainer for sure, but worth repeating: Use more cold water. Start with the laundry; warm water should do the trick for most stains. 

Cover hot-water pipes with foam insulation sleeves to prevent heat loss as water travels through pipes.

Turn down your water heater’s thermostat dial to decrease the amount of energy needed to keep water toasty. 

Replace conventional tank-style water heaters with energy-efficient ones that use 10–50% less energy, according to Energy.gov. When shopping around, compare the yellow Energyguide label on each water heater. 

For super-high efficiency, investigate a hybrid heat-pump electric water heater, hybrid gas-fired water heater, tankless water heater, or solar water heater. 

Avoid using brands that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as oil-based paints that require clean-up with chemical-based paint thinners. In addition to environmental pollution, VOCs can cause a variety of health problems, from respiratory irritation to headaches.

Choose natural cleaning products containing minimal, if any, chemicals. Use distilled white vinegar to clean grease and calcium deposits. For tougher jobs, a solution of water and borax (a natural mineral) or baking soda usually does the trick. The non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), which tests and rates “green” cleaning products for safety and effectiveness, is an excellent resource. 

Clean with rags, not paper towels. 

Don’t use pesticides and herbicides that release harmful toxins into the air, soil, and water.

Buying less. Get only what’s important to you. 

Buying nothing. Organizations such as BuyNothingProject.org make it easy to network with others in your area who want to share, give back, and declutter.

Recycling paper, glass, and plastics.

Buying a water filter so you can stop sending single-use plastic bottles to landfills.

Reusing. The best recyclable is something reused. This means buying second-hand and donating things when you’re done with them.

Minimizing use of building and remodeling materials. Use reclaimed lumber for your flooring project or consider refinishing wood floors instead of replacing them.

Exploring eco-friendly products. Opt for those made from sustainable building materials, such as bamboo, linoleum, cork, or recycled plastics.

Set thermostats to 68° and make sure heat can flow from room registers without obstruction.

Switch to a programmable thermostat to save as much as 10% annually.

Close the fireplace damper (unless you’re making a fire) to avoid sucking warm air out of the house.

Capture the sun’s warmth by opening shades and curtains on east, south, or west-facing windows until evening—then close them overnight.

Set thermostats to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, as recommended by the DOE.

When running the AC, never leave doors and windows open. 

Block heat gain from the sun with awnings, thermal shades, blackout curtains, and heat-reflecting window film.

Avoid use of heat-generating lights and appliances in the afternoon (the hottest time of day). 

Improve attic ventilation by installing attic vents to expel hot air. 

Plant shade trees. When positioned to block summer sun, trees can reduce indoor air temperature as much as 9 degrees.

Caulk and weatherstrip to stop outdoor air from seeping in. See 10 tips for winterizing your home.

Install storm doors and windows to prevent drafts in winter. 

Don’t over-ventilate. Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans extract expensively-conditioned air from the house—so keep it short when using them. 

Consider new high-efficiency windows. They can cut your energy bill an average of 12%, according to EnergyStar. 

Add attic insulation for better energy control. According to the EPA, home attics should have at least R-38 insulation. 

Replace conventional incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs), which last longer and use much less energy. LEDs are best because they burn cooler.

Turn off lights when you’re not using them or when you leave the room. This is the easiest thing you can do. Make it a habit for the entire family. Even better, use timers or smart lighting controls to turn off lights when they’re not needed.

Replace standard switches with dimmers. Dimmer switches reduce the amount of electricity used by lights, help you tailor light levels and lengthen the life of bulbs. Be sure to choose dimmers that are designed for the types of bulbs on the circuit (CFLs and LEDs require special dimmers). 

Disconnect electrical devices not in use. Unplug transformers, adapters, rechargers, and similar electronic gear. Even when you’re not using them, they draw a small amount of electrical power. 

Skip the dryer and line-dry clothes whenever possible. Or invest in one or two sturdy drying racks.

Turn off the ice-maker when not in use. Making ice cubes all day can increase fridge energy consumption by 12–20%, researchers have found.

Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credits

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

Choose Energy Star®-rated appliances. They use 10–50% less energy than standard appliances.

Note the bright yellow EnergyGuide® labels on appliances when buying. They estimate yearly electrical consumption, operating costs, and more.

Look for rebates when buying Energy Star®-certified products (see Energy Star’s website). 

To heat small meals, use the toaster or microwave instead of the oven, which consumes more energy during pre-heating and cooking.

Check HVAC ductwork for leaks. 

Clean or change the furnace filter every 3 months. 

Clean the clothes dryer vent for improved dryer efficiency.

Replace outdated central-heating equipment with Energy Star-rated equipment. Although this isn’t an “easy” step, it’s a necessary one that will significantly cut energy usage and lower monthly energy bills.