Environmental Issues: Green Living in Your Home

Even with the door closed tight, winter drafts can enter a room to make you shiver and force your furnace to work extra hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. Learn how to stop winter drafts cold. Save both energy and money by stopping winter drafts.

Looking for a foolproof way to stay warm on a cold night? Try using a hot water bottle to warm your hands a feet.

One way to save money on your heating bill and reduce the amount of energy you’re using is to stop heating rooms you rarely use.

One way to stay warm while saving both energy and money is to make efficient use of your own body heat by bundling up in warm clothes and then lowering your thermostat.

Keep cool with green alternatives to air conditioning. These cooling tips will help you keep cool.

Keeping your clothes and dishes clean is just part of living a healthy life, but are you using dishwasher and laundry soaps that put the envrionment at risk? Phosphates and other chemicals in many dishwasher and laundry soaps can pollute lakes and waterways, kill many plant and animal species and pose human health risks. Learn about the...

Compact fluorescent lamps, which use far less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, contain mercury that should be recycled to avoid creating risks to public health.

Requesting a free home energy audit from your local utility can help you find ways to reduce your energy consumption, lower your carbon footprint, and save money in the bargain. You may also be able to purchase green power from your local utility. Learn more about green power and how you can get a free home energy audit.

Traditional carpet cleaning solution contains chemicals that can damage health and the environment. Learn where to find healthier professional and do-it-yourself carpet cleaning options.

Many products claim to be biodegradable, but what does that label actually mean? With no legal definition for the term and no clear standards for enforcement, consumers have no guarantee that "biodegradable" products are good for the environment.

Compact florescent light bulbs use less energy, last longer and cost less to use than standard incandescent bulbs--and they are good for the environment. Learn how changing just one light bulb could help change the world for the better.

Want to help the environment? Get a roommate, get married, or find some other way to expand your household. People who live alone consume considerably more energy and other resources than those who live in households of four or more, and younger, more affluent singles use more than their older counterparts.

In many parts of the world, there is an approaching shortage of clean, usable water. That problem could be solved in many cases by harvesting and using rainwater that now goes to waste. This guide explains the benefits of rainwater harvesting, how it can be implemented on both large and small scales, and offers many other tips and tools.

A sponge is a sponge, right? Well, no. Some sponges are living organisms that have been harvested for centuries and used in the ways we know them best. Others are artificial replicates, made from wood pulp and other ingredients. Which is better for the environment?

Recycle your toothbrush? Why not? Fifty million pounds of toothbrushes are tossed into U.S. landfills every year. Don't let yours be one of them. Several companies now offer eco-friendly products or programs that let you recycle or reuse your toothbrush.

The confusion over what we can and cannot recycle continues to confound consumers. Plastics are especially troublesome, as different types of plastic require different processing to be reformulated and re-used as raw material. Some municipalities accept all types of plastic for recycling, while others only accept jugs, containers and bottles stamped with certain numbers. But what do the numbers really mean, and how can consumers learn the code?

By shopping in ways that are environmentally friendly, consumers can save thousands of dollars annually and make the world a little cleaner.

Green roofs, which use plants and soil on rooftops to reduce rainwater runoff, increase energy efficiency, and improve urban ecology, can have far-reaching positive effects on the global environment.

Is it more environmentally friendly to hand-wash dishes or to use a dishwasher? The answer may surprise you. Learn what the experts say.

Looking for a way to keep your drains unclogged without damaging the environment or your health? Learn about some of the best non-polluting, non-caustic options.

It's difficult to find wood floor wax without harmful chemicals, but it's not impossible. Here are suggestions for wood floor wax that helps to keep your indoor environment healthy.

Home canning is a traditional skill with outstanding applications for today. Home canning enables you to preserve the great taste and nutritional value of your backyard garden or locally grown foods, reduce your exposure to pesticides and other chemicals, and increase your sense of self-reliance. Find out how easy it is to get started.

Making eco-friendly home improvements is easier than you may think, and the benefits to your health and the environment can be dramatic. Learn more about do-it-yourself eco-friendly home improvements, and get the resources you need to make eco-friendly home improvements a snap.

Want to fight global warming? These 10 simple actions will help you fight global warming by using energy wisely.