Ten Steps to a Greener Home

Most of us would love to leave a healthier planet for our children. But how to live a greener life? Its easier than you think.

1. Use Green Cleaning Products

Common cleaning products are filled with toxic chemicals -- compounds that are directly linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, lung and skin damage, and other serious health concerns. Kids are especially vulnerable. Cleaning chemicals are a major contributor to indoor air pollution -- and keep in mind that inside the house is where the average family spends 90% of its time.

2. Install a Water Filter

Clean, safe water. This is a simple home improvement that is smart, easy and cost-cutting: no more plastic water bottles, no more fossil fuels used to deliver the H20, and no more water delivery bills, either.

3. Use Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Did you know that 90% of electricity is lost by heat in incandescent (regular) bulb's. Energy-efficient bulbs produce the same amount of light using about 25% of the energy. There are energy-efficient light bulbs for every kind of fixture, providing a spectrum of watts, hues and ambience. There are even light bulbs that last 20,000 hours that's 5 hours a day for 11 years. Just one of them will replace 26 store-bought light bulbs.

4. Use Recycled Paper Products

Every year, more than 900 million trees are cut down for U.S. paper and pulp mills. More than 40% of landfill is paper office and residential paper dominates it. What's more, the bleach used on most paper products has toxic chlorine-based chemicals that destroy the ecosystem, cause cancer and birth defects.

5. Purify Air with Houseplants

The EPA estimates indoor air to be two to 10 times more polluted than the air outdoors. Building materials, furnishings, carpet backing, cleaning products, computer circuitry and printers continuously release pollutants. Plants are not only nice to look at, they are also great, natural air purifiers.

6. Choose Natural Lawn Care and Stop Using Pesticides and Synthetic Fertilizers

Pesticides are intentionally toxic. Every year, 90 million pounds of pesticides are used on lawns in the U.S. alone. Our shoes track these toxins into our homes and our children's health is the most compromised. Exposure to pesticides can lead to such health problems as birth defects, neurotoxins, and kidney and liver damage.

7. Choose "Green Energy" Options through your Electric Utility

How cool is it that so many standard utility companies offer "green energy" options? For a small premium, you can elect to get your electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, or biomass. This is a direct way to personally wean your household off fossil fuels. Sign up and save the world!

8. Favor Cloth over Paper Products

Using cloth towels, napkins and rags instead of disposable paper goods can reduce the heaps of rubbish in our landfills and save you a few bucks in the process. Cloth dishtowels are a smart eco-choice over paper towels. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.

9. Be Wise with Laundry

Use Biodegradable Detergent and Oxygen Bleach: Both are free of toxins and irritants. Wash Clothes on Cold: The washing machine performs just as well with cold water as with warm or hot. It will save energy and money and extend the life of your threads. Wash Full Loads, But Don't Overfill: It takes the same amount of energy for a small load as a large load. However, an overfilled machine wont perform as well and may need a longer wash/rinse cycle.

10. Buy Organic Food Products

Going green at the supermarket is one of the most important and influential options for human and ecological health. Organically grown food simply does not contain the cocktail of chemicals used to cultivate conventional food. Buying organic is a win-win situation -- better for us, better for the planet. Of course, opting for organic does cost significantly more and such products are not always available. So allow your shopping list to evolve little by little. Start by prioritizing your purchases. The following types of products are the most important to buy:

Meat, Poultry, Eggs and Dairy, Berries, Potatoes: