Tip 1: Reuse what you already have. Instead of throwing away those outdated or worn out cabinets try updating them. Sand and stain them or just give them a fresh coat of paint. Not only will that be cheaper, but it will keep them from ending up in a landfill.
Tip 2: Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFL’s (compact fluorescents). Not only do they last longer, but they can lower your energy bill by as much as 75% for lighting alone. A typical incandescent uses 60 watts of power, but a CFL with the same light output uses only 14 watts.
Tip 3: Replace your old energy hog appliances with new energy saving appliances this can reduce your energy bill by up to 25%.
Tip 4: Instead of using a bucket full of dirty water to mop your floor try filling a spray bottle full of soap and water and spraying it on the floor instead when just doing routine mopping. For more comprehensive cleaning use standard wet mopping with a bucket of water and soap.
Tip 5: Reduce the amount of carpet in your home. This will cut back on cleaning bills and make your home healthier.
Tip 6: Use solid wood or plywood as much as possible instead of OSB or particleboard, which can fall apart when exposed to water.
Tip 7: When painting consider using low odor or low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint. Not only will the odor be easier to handle, but it will reduce the contamination of your indoor air, making your home healthier.
Tip 8: Instead of throwing out your organic or “food” waste from your kitchen and the leaves and grass clippings from your lawn and garden try composting. Composting is easy to do. If you don’t have the garden space or your neighbors don’t like the smell just take a container, either a premade composting container or one that you make and throw all of your scraps into it. Occasionally you may want to add powdered lime to speed up the breakdown of your garbage, but within 3-6 months you will have a food that your plants and even your lawn will love. It will reduce your waste bill and cost you nothing to make.
Tip 9: If you have printer paper that has been misprinted, don’t throw it away, use it for scrap paper or give it to your kids to paint, color or draw on. Just make sure that it doesn’t have anything on it that you don’t want people to see like your personal information.
Tip 10: If your home isn’t heating or cooling well, instead of replacing your furniture or air-conditioning try finishing off your basement or insulating your attic. You would be surprised how much a well insulated attic or finished basement could save you on your energy bill and it’s a lot cheaper than replacing or upgrading your furnace and air-conditioner.