There are many ways to ensure the output of an average American one-family home is disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

A great way to get motivated is to think of it as a weekend project: This weekend, you are going to greenify your home. Grab a six-pack, some tools, a buddy or two and enjoy!

1. Composting - You can knock a huge dent in your home's kitchen waste by composting them! This produces great fertilizer, and there are several convenient composting bins on the market that work quite nicely. Some even rotate, allowing you to spin the compost drum instead of manually turning the soil. If you don't want to shell out the dough, you could just build your own.

Scraps ideal for composting include:

Cooked or uncooked vegetables, tea bags, coffee grinds, shredded paper, lawn trimmings, pasta, corn shucks, paper towels, horse/cow/chicken droppings... anything but meat! Meat attracts vermin and disease, and may contain parasites. Ditto for the manure of animals that eat it.

2. Energy Conservation - Keep your air conditioner on 78 degrees year-round. Water-efficient toilets and showerheads are quite often the norm in hardware stores. They now make energy-saving fluorescent bulbs, available at your local Wal-Mart or Dollar Store. These come in all spectrums, from daylight to mood lighting, and can be used in any standard light fixture.

3. Natural Energy: For the seriously environmentally concious. Solar panels are already making a huge dent in energy costs in states such as California. Many houses actually receive credit from the energy company, and sell energy back to the grid. Solar panels and windmills may be usable in your neck of the woods. Trying Googling "Solar Energy" and check out the hits you come across for an idea of the prices and viability for your area.

4. Recycle! The oldie but goodie. You've been hearing it for years. Separate your trash. Compost organics, glass, metal, paper. You may be able to earn money from your trash at nearby recycling centers!

Stay Green!

Learn more about this author, J.D. Wood.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Environment-saving tips for keeping your home green?
We want to hear your view. Write now!