Change a Light Bulb—Switch out one of the most frequently used incandescent light bulbs in your home to a compact fluorescent light (CFL). They last ten times longer and use up to 75% less energy. If every household in America did this, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 800,000 cars!

Plant a Tree - Trees not only help reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, they can shield your home from direct sunlight and keep it cooler in the summer. Choose a tree that is native to your region to ensure that it will have a long, healthy life.

Unplug Your Appliances - “Phantom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.

Reduce Junk Mail - Save countless trees and reduce landfill waste by reducing the amount of junk mail you receive.  There are many free and subscription-based resources which will remove you from unsolicited marketing lists. Also, opt out of receiving those bulky phone books by contacting the manufacturer and asking to be taken off their mailing list. You can usually find their contact information listed on the phone book’s inside cover, or visit www.yellowpagesgogreen.org to opt out.

Recycle Old Cell Phones - Each year, 130 million cell phones are thrown out, weighing approximately 65,000 tons. Recycling your old phone prevents hazardous elements like mercury, cadmium and lead from ending up in our landfills. Check out www.onemillioncellphones.com and donate your old cell phone to a program that benefits impoverished people around the world.

Green Your Kitchen - Choose non-toxic, eco-friendly kitchen accessories, such as products made from sustainable bamboo or 100% recycled materials.  Also, opt for non-toxic or plant-based cleaning products.  They work just as good as your average cleaning product, but are safer for your family and better for the environment.

Purchase Eco-Friendly Products – Products manufactured from sustainable and low-toxic materials are produced in ways that have less of an impact on the environment and are better for your health.  Look for products with attributes such as biodegradable, 100% organic, BPA-free, PVC-free plastic, non-toxic, or made from sustainable wood.

Observe an Eco-Sabbath - For one day or afternoon a week, don't buy anything, don't use any machines, don't switch on anything electric, don't cook, don't answer your phone, and, in general, don't use any resources. In other words, for this regular period, give yourself and the planet a break. Keep your regular eco-sabbath for a month. You'll find that the enforced downtime represents an improvement to your life!

Toss Out Those Chemical Cleaners - No need to spend lots of money on fancy household cleaners (that likely also contain harmful chemical ingredients).  Good ole' baking soda is non-toxic and when mixed with a little water makes for a great cleanser for tubs, sinks and other surfaces.  All for less than a dollar!

Conserve Water – water is one of the world's most precious resources -- and we all need to do what we can to conserve it wherever possible. Aerators on your household’s faucets and low-flow toilets can help you save water without even thinking about it. Also, be sure to fix that leaky faucet!  A single dripping water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month.

Avoid artificial fertilizers—Common fertilizers can be harmful to the environment and the local water supply.  Choose organic fertilizers that are made from plant or animal by-products rather than chemicals.

Control pests the natural way— Avoid any chemical pesticides. Look for plants that are naturally pest-resistant.  Encourage helpful insects that prey on pests by growing nectar or pollen flowers and perennial ground coverings.  Also, try keeping your grass at a higher length. Higher grass mowed by sharp blades will prevent weeds from taking root and make a healthy lawn with little pest control necessary.

Choose plants that are native to your area—Native species will be better adapted to dryer climates and less susceptible to disease. Visit http://www.wildflower.org/collections/ to determine which plants are best for your region and quality of soil.

Water Responsibly – The EPA estimates that up to 1.5 billion gallons of water are wasted annually in landscape irrigation across the country. Keep your landscaping beautiful without using too much water by watering in the early morning rather than during the day when the sun is at its peak.  Apply mulch to areas around gardens and shrubs to protect them from evaporation.  If possible, opt for a drip irrigation system, which uses 50% less water than a normal in-ground sprinkler system.

Plant an Organic Vegetable Garden—Growing your own organic vegetables isn’t just good for you, it’s also good for the environment. Most conventional produce is grown hundreds or even thousands of miles away and requires significant energy to ship to you. Plus, you avoid consuming pesticides typically used to grow non-organic produce.

Eco-Friendly Patio - If you're in the market for new patio furniture, look for some that's been made out of recycled or earth-friendly materials, such as reclaimed lumber or recycled Poly-wood.  Your cool lemonade will taste even sweeter knowing that your new lounge chair caused the environment no harm!

Buy Local - In the United States, food typically travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to plate. Transporting our food that far means higher energy consumption, lower quality produce, and less local agricultural investment. Visit your local farmer’s market and make a meal entirely from local food – you’d be surprised how good it tastes!

Choose Organic - Choosing organic produce is a great way to avoid harmful pesticides and to support farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water.   Look for the label “USDA Certified Organic” on all organic foods at the grocery store, and you’ll know you’re buying a more sustainable product.

Grow your own organic vegetables—Home-grown vegetables can be more flavorful and satisfying, and by growing your own produce you are reducing the amount of pesticides and carbon emissions associated with what you eat.

Purchase Items with Less Packaging - Next time you’re at the grocery store, pay attention to how much packaging all of the food comes in. You can reduce your household waste by purchasing items that have minimal packaging, buying the largest size of an item you can reasonably use, and buying in bulk.

Green-Up Your Lunch—Bring reusable food and drink containers to work rather than disposable varieties. Packing a lunch is a great way to save money, eat healthier, and cut down on the packaging materials that typically come with take-out or frozen meals.

Skip the Bottled Water - Of the 25 billion single-serving plastic water bottles Americans use each year, 80% end up in landfills. Recycle your water bottles and, better yet, choose to re-use a refillable water bottle made of a refill-safe material.

Maintain Your Vehicle—Improve your fuel efficiency by making car maintenance a priority. Make sure to take your car in for inspections and oil changes on a regular basis.  Check with the manufacturer to determine what type of oil is best for your model to keep your car running efficiently.

Take it easy—Slamming on the breaks or accelerating too fast is a waste of gas and can also be unsafe.  To improve your gas mileage, be gentle on the gas pedal and breaks. Avoid high speeds because gas mileage drops rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Also, turn your car off rather than idling whenever possible and remove excess items from your trunk.

Pump Up Your Tires—Make sure your tires are filled to the appropriate pressure. Driving with under-inflated tires will hurt your fuel economy and may increase the wear and tear of the rubber. Invest in a tire pressure gauge and use it regularly.

Carpool/Take Public Transportation Weekly— Fewer cars on the road means less carbon emissions, cleaner air, and a reduced dependence on oil. Doing this just once or twice a week can make a big difference.

Limit Your Air Travel—Airplanes create more waste and emit more CO₂ than automobiles typically do. If you travel frequently for business, propose the idea of conducting meetings over the Internet using a Webcam. For air travel that is unavoidable, offset the trip with Green Mountain carbon offsets.

Walk or Ride Your Bike— Instead of taking the car to the corner store to pick up a few items, ride your bike or walk. It can sometimes get you there faster and it will help you burn some extra calories along the way.