The green movement is becoming less and less of a movement and more and more of a way of life. We all want a green home, and there are lots of ways to get there. We have sorted through the silly, the pointless and the too expensive to get down to the real ways to get a green home.
Taking any number of these steps will help you transform your home into a thriving, environmentally friendly habitat.
- Buy Local
- Buy Organic
- Buy free range/cage-free
- Avoid packaging
- Do your research on products
- Insulate or additionally insulate your home
- Drive less
- Make your own cleaning products
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Get a dishwasher
- Convert to CFL bulbs from incandescent
- Avoid greenwashing
- Recycle
- Eat less meat
- Eat no meat
- Reuse instead of buying new
- Use Craigslist
- Sell that extra car
- Ride your bike
- Take a staycation
- Turn your computer off
- Cancel your newspaper delivery and read it online
- Offset your carbon footprint
- Rake your leaves, don’t blow them
- Get a reel mower (and ditch the gas one)
- Start composting
- Repurpose old things
- Shop at garage sales, not stores
- Turn down the heat
- Turn down (up) the air conditioner
- Eliminate phantom energy waste
- Use power strips and turn them off at night
- Shut doors to unused rooms
- Stop printing things you don’t absolutely need
- Use coupons
- Make a donation to an environmental program
- Convert your 2 stroke engines to 4 stroke
- Mow your lawn less
- Start a flower garden
- Grow your own food
- Paint instead of renovate
- Use low VOC paint
- Buy energy star appliances (only when you absolutely need a new appliance)
- Don’t buy a hybrid (huh??)
- Telecommute
- Buy organic dog food
- Ditch the paper cups for coffee and bring a mug to work
- Dry your clothes on a rack
- Dry your clothes on a clothesline
- Seal up your home to stop heating (and cooling) the outdoors
- Turn your AC completely off (we need heat to survive, we don’t need cold)
- Wrap your water heater in one of those silver blanket things
- Install a timer on your water heater so you only have hot water when you typically need it or…
- Install a tankless (on demand) water heater
- Convert to electric hot water and/or heat and…
- Install solar panels or…
- Install a wind turbine or…
- Buy clean energy from your utility provider
- Get netflix (instead of driving to Blockbuster) or…
- Even better: download your movies
- Cancel your junk mail and extra catalogs and magazines (the mail system is incredibly inefficient)
- Give gift certificates for birthdays and holidays instead of shipping presents
- Give to an environmental charity instead of buying “things”
- Only run that dishwasher when full
- Use electricity during off-peak demand times whenever possible (avoid mornings and evenings)
- Clear off the top of your fridge (both inside and out)
- Fill up your freezer (it’s more efficient when full)
- Clean your fridge’s rear-end (the coils should be clear of dust and pet hair)
- Take the bus
- Start or utilize a ride-sharing program
- Work four 10 hour days instead of five 8 hour days (cuts your commute waste)
- Stop buying bottled water – bring a water bottle of tap water
- Buy a filter if you can’t stand the taste
- Turn off the TV and…
- get some exercise
- Turn off those extra lights or…
- Install some light timers
- Turn off those holiday lights at night
- Turn off those fans
- Turn down up the refrigerator temperature
- Host your website with a green web host
- Print with an eco-font
- Reuse an older cell phone or…
- Buy a used one or…
- Stick with the one you’ve got
- Read by candlelight (instead of electric light)
- Light a fire (in a fireplace or something)
- Keep plastics out of the microwave or…
- Ditch plastics altogether and switch to glass containers
- Bring leftovers, don’t buy your lunch every day
- Recycle your metal, even old electrical wire and computers (did you know you could do that??)
- Don’t burn yard waste (let it rot… seriously)
- Eat less (a lot of a human’s carbon footprint comes from growing, processing, preparing, cooking and *cough* disposing of food waste)
- Don’t even think about using paper plates
- Drink green wine
- Don’t host a progressive party (it’s wasteful to drive lots of people from place to place)
- Send an e-vite
- Serve and buy seasonal food (can YOUR region grow strawberries in January?!?)
- Join a CSA Farm (community sustained agriculture)
- Read this blog!
- Keep your car instead of upgrading
- Shovel snow instead of plowing or snowblowing
- Turn the TV OFF (we already said this once but it’s double-important)
Do you have an idea for making a green home? Post it here as a comment.
This article is CROWD SOURCED! What does that mean? Our goal is to grow this list, and for each item to have a link to a helpful resource. For example, if you have a resource for #91, recycling your metal, post it here as a comment and we’ll try to create a link for you.
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Image credit: souzablog.com
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Very thorough list, thanks.
Great listing steps for a green house. Now-a-days all of us need green house to save the environment from pollution.
A tree will consume 30kgs of pollution in a year. The steps 4 & 13 are important.
Thank You for these steps!!
We try to do what we can by turning off all the lights when not being used.
Great! Thanks for all the tips. That’s a lot of really great ideas. And it really is about seeing the whole picture and these tips show that. Being green truly is the new black! And we should all be happy for that. Thanks for the great, informative post.
I came across this surfing Google
Great post. This will really help people who find ways on how to lessen their electric bills. Be green, be clean.
Thanks for the great post!
I enjoyed reading this post about 100+ steps to a green home « Hippie Magazine. Really interesting. I will come back to visit this blog again.
Great Post!
Awesome pic!!!
I like no. 25 Drink green wine
Use low or NO VOC paint.. Yay!!!!
It’s much easier for those who are building their homes from scratch. A lot of green measures can be implemented right away.
Gene, when there is a will, there is a way. Not to mention it will bring up the value of the home.
Thanks for a list. It is good to built a green home, initially it will exceed the building cost but at later stage you will save money
Looking through this list its interesting to see how technology makes it easier to lead a green lifestyle.
Wow it is amazing how many ways there are to get on the green road. In fact it is quite embarrassing when you look down the list to see how simple some of the things are and yet I have never done them. Well things will be changing in my household and I am loking forward to becoming much greener over the coming months.
Thanks for the comment James. Be Green!
That is one big green list. I never thought that by doing such simple things I would be helping the environment. I mean seriously? You know what I think we should all do to get started with the green lifestyle? Read more of Hippie Magazine
Buy and burn soy candles which are all natural and do not pollute your home. Paraffin candles give off toxins such as benzene and toluene.
I didn’t know a dishwasher was more green than washing dishes by hand. What’s the difference if I may ask?
Hi ‘Survival Blanket’
This fact assumes you run the water while you wash dishes. If that’s the case, a dishwasher uses less hot water than running the faucet continuously.
Cheers,
Cyrus
Excellent concept. I would like to best work from you in the future as well.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Something I found that works well is strategic placement of salt lamps… they use less electricity than regular lamps and purify the air somewhat.
Certainly some great advice. I’ll come back once i’ve tried a number of these things and let you know my results. Namely in terms of how much my energy usage goes down i hope!
Hey Park Home,
Thanks for the comment. We’d love to hear back on how these tips work out for you, and if you have any of your own to add.
Thank you so muc for this 100+ tips to building a green home. A wonderful environmental friendly site that really encourage everyone to go green
SO true! So true! Green home is now a way of life. Though only in some countries! There is a lot of work to do in the poorer countries as this is where excessive population is often greater and some of the “hand me downs” and therefore less than perfect practices. Examples, are outdated medication, plastic products, fuel methods and so on.
Great comments here.
Thanks for the great list. Been going more-and-more green at my house the last year or so. It interesting that once I started to be more efficient I now feel guilty NOT doing it.
Green is definitely the way to go. Thanks for the great list. I’m going to put a few into action right away.
I’m already doing the first three. I’ll work on adding a few more from the list. Thanks for the great information.
Thrifty and creative people have long known the value of repurposing. In a time when many people are seeking to stretch an already tight budget, or want to develop a greener lifestyle, learning to repurpose simply makes sense.
Let’s go for green! Insulating the house will give more protection to the house and more convenience to the family. Most importantly, plant trees or the least make a flower garden,that will give fresh air.
I love lists like these. This is something I could share with some of our clients!
This is indeed a topic which has been ignored by many experts & professionals. Green home is really a great long term steps for a better world to live in. Thanks for this lists.
what a long list.. but i love it
thanks for sharing this
When throwing away garbage, know what is recyclable, consumable, and able to be composted. Also, when you purchase food
or other items, be conscious as to how much waste it will produce. Separate your garbage, and be aware of what is toxic and should be disposed of with specific care.
This has some great stuff. I think you should add eat green tomatoes on there though!
In high School my biology teacher use to ride his bike everyday except for when it was rainy or bitter cold. I thought that was awesome. He was getting a great workout and help out the environment. I would really like to start doing that.
Some of this stuff is so simple I am so mad at my self for not doing it. Thank You
I think 14th and 15th steps are interesting to know,it may sound difficult to many but if you want a positive change then you have to make t his happen.
These are excellent tips for a greener home. Thanks for sharing.
That is one big green list. I think these steps are great. They did such a great job.
Recycling should be a daily part of your routine. Utilizing separate “trash” cans saves you from sorting later in the week. One of the most important times to recycle, however, is during construction (particularly for a home renovation). Also, don’t forget to buy recycled products. Paper products are a given, but branch out. Today, everything from counter tops and decking to furniture and fabrics can be made from recycled materials, and, due to modern innovations in production, they may be difficult to spot. Don’t forget to shop antique and thrift shops, too.
Travel Smarter! Complete your errands in less trips. Convert your diesel car/truck to vegetable oil.
Purchase gas efficient or alternative fuel vehicles, carpool, walk, ride your bike, use public transportation. I bet you can think of many more ideas to travel smarter!
Stop using Plastic. We are all guilty of breaking out the plastic plates and utensils whenever convenient (barbecues, parties, etc.). Go back to the good old days when we used our dishware. I know, I know it’s so much easier to do cleanup when you just throw out paper plates. But remember, we are trying to save the environment. Isn’t it worth it?
Remember, the environment that our children and grandchildren will live in can only be as clean as we leave it.
These tips are really great, as it is useful, for me as i am planning to build a greenhouse.
Cut down on your energy consumption by upgrading to new Energy Star-rated appliances and electronics. The organization has placed its blue star of approval on everything from dehumidifiers and refrigerators to ceiling fans and DVD players. Each product is designed to run more efficiently, reducing its “operating cost.” For even better results, remember to unplug all electronics while not in use.
Some highly thoughtful and easy-to-implement green house suggestions. I really liked the intro to your article, “The green movement is becoming less and less of a movement and more and more of a way of life.” I really found this suggestion of yours namely “Turn off those fans”, very ridiculous. How do you expect people in tropical countries to switch their fans in a sweltering summer? Please modify it as “Turn off fans when not in use.”
Nevertheless, your point has been taken seriously. Thank You.
Building an “earthship” type house may be the ‘greenest’ option yet. Used tires as the base, solar power, water used several ways and for internal garden…
Another tip is simply BUYING LESS!!! What a concept. The less we own, the less stress on the environment.
Well said. Thanks for the comment.
when choosing to buy a dog house, always choose wood based dog house or if you can afford one, choose steel based.*’
Reduce paper. When printing, use both sides of a piece of paper in order to conserve. Keep a scrap paper pile for misprinted or unnecessary documents to either print on or write on. Try to reuse envelopes as many times as possible to cut down on waste. Also, consider purchasing a mesh or cloth coffee filter as opposed to disposable paper filters.
Living Green means making conscious choices in your lifestyle that not only reduce, but also enhance your impact on the environment. It also means recognizing that each and every action does indeed count. Be aware of what electronics stay plugged in all the time in your home. Plug a power strip into a busy wall outlet and then simply switch off the power strip when you leave home to turn off all of your unused appliances and electronics at once. Leaving things on-like a video game system or a computer not in sleep mode can use up a lot of power.
This 100 steps of green movement is very much helpful to us. As having green environment is really cool and can take away all stress then doing it all are the great ways to make successful.
Thanks a lot for sharing this informative and useful article to us.
Living green does not necessarily mean going out and buying a hybrid car; you can reduce your energy and gas consumption without having to buy a whole new vehicle by being a conscious driver. Take the bus: While not all cities have extensive subway or train systems, almost all cities do have a bus line. Check the schedule and see if there’s a bus stop by you, and if it goes to work, school, or other places you frequent. Paying a buck or two for bus fare is a lot cheaper than paying two to three bucks for a gallon of gas.
Going green is not our choice anymore, it is our responsibility. That is why it is so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of our planet. In fact, many of the things we can do, we actually already do!
The use of Eco-friendly products as well as materials is witnessing a continuous increase since it helps in reducing pollution and global warming. Therefore, it is the moral responsibility of every individual to contribute towards making their environment healthy and clean. You can make your contribution by using environment-friendly products for renovating or building your home. Not only are these products beneficial to human beings, but also for the environment. If each one of us understands the importance of such products, our planet would definitely become a healthier place to live in. So, it is advisable to use such products for your own benefit as well as for the benefit of the mankind.
Great article.
I think it’s time for everyone to start being more envirement friendly and more effecient and a great way to start is by following these steps that you’ve provided.
I hope people will consider this and follow this lists. Living more green will also save a lot of money.
Regards.
It’s a rewarding day for everyone finding the value in “going green” for themselves and embraces eco awareness in their life. The positive impact on the environment is exponential with more and more people seeking eco awareness in their personal lives and in their work.
Great steps, now we just have to convince 95% of the rest of the world to follow these steps and the world might actually go Green!
Live by example. In the past, people lived as they were taught, and in those days, not a lot of consideration was placed on living green. Turn those thoughts around and teach your children how to live green. A benefit to this is a continued commitment to protect the planet and ourselves. Conserving the forests to protect endangered species will enable future generations to view the magnificent species Earth has to offer.
Unfortunately BIG Business especially in some places (US note) will take no heed of green policies..shame on them! Theres an ideal world and a real one..
Living Green means making conscious choices in your lifestyle that not only reduce, but also enhance your impact on the environment. It also means recognizing that each and every action does indeed count. Thank you.
Here’s a tip. Get “rid” of your pets. Stats show that 2 medium size dogs have the same carbon footprint as a large SUV. And guinea pig has the same carbon footprint as a large HDTV.
How the green movement will reconcile their love for animals and the carbon they produce I do not know!
These tips will be reminder for us to take care our motherly nature and make our surroundings clean. Living with a good nature and breath a fresh air is very comfortable and can take away our stress. Its not yet too late to protect our nature from destruction, lets us start that in our own self. Thanks for the informative tips.
Great Article…Amazing how such simple changes to ones lifestyle can have a major impact on our planet. I think our ancestors were just more aware of the environment naturally than we our today in this modern fast-paced world. Great to have posts like these out there in the web!