Today’s media is filled with conversations about corporations and communities going green and reducing their carbon footprint. As well as trying to reduce our carbon footprint, another large reason for people jumping on the “going green” bandwagon is that our non-renewable resources are becoming too expensive. As a homeowner, here are five simple ways that you can help reduce your home’s environmental impact, all the while lowering your living costs.

Unplug When Not in Use

Believe it or not, you can save a lot of money on your electric bill just by simply unplugging your electronics. According to Energy Star, the average American household spends almost $200 a year to power appliances that are actually turned off. So, if you are not using the toaster, coffee pot, or kettle…unplug them!

Buy Energy Efficient

When choosing new appliances for your household, go with a brand that is labeled as being energy efficient. Switch out your regular light bulbs for CFL light bulbs. This will not only lower your electricity consumption, but your electric bill as well. Using less electricity leads to reduced pollution, protecting air quality.

Cool Your Home Naturally

The sun’s rays heat the house as they penetrate the window panes. By closing the curtains, you can reduce the amount of heat filtering in from the sun. This will naturally reduce the internal temperature of your home and therefore lessen the amount of time your air conditioning unit will have to run.

Line Dry

It takes approximately 900 pounds of coal to run an electric clothes dryer for a year—and that’s just for one household. Line drying your clothes will save you approximately $120 a year in electric costs, but will save the environment so much more.

Eco-Friendly Insulation

Eco-friendly alternatives to insulation include materials such as cotton, wool, cork, and recycled plastic. Most natural materials are sustainable, renewable, and can be produced at a fraction of the cost of their manufactured counterparts. According to a specialist from Reitzel Insulation Co Ltd, eco-friendly insulation alternatives are generally chemical-free, yet still possess the same insulation capabilities as fiberglass.

As a society, we have been trying to produce a more sustainable, greener alternative to our lifestyle of the past in order to prevent any further ecologic damages. By simply unplugging unused appliances, line drying clothes, using different light bulbs, and switching to eco-friendly insulation materials you can largely reduce your home’s impact on the environment.