2/17/10

Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles for all but the dirtiest dishes. This saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it. Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce energy use. Also, look for eco-friendly dishwasher detergents free of phosphates and chlorine bleach, like Method's Smarty Dish. They're in capsule form and will make eco-washing easy as pie.

2/16/10

When shopping for a new laundry basket, head over to the gardening department of your favorite store instead. Wooden bushel baskets are typically used to haul big loads of leaves and other garden debris. But they make for attractive laundry baskets, with two wire handles for easy transport. Since they are free of polyvinyl chloride and made from renewable wood, they are a greener choice, too. They're also inexpensive, so they will save you money!

2/15/10

Stop wasting heat. If your home runs on a central heating system, close the vents in little-used rooms like spare bedrooms or the dining room. By restricting the flow of warm air into unused rooms, it'll be diverted into rooms that need to be heated. The warmer those rooms get, the more you can lower the thermostat.