Energy Conservation:

• Complete a Home Energy Analysis
  
  
• Look for products and appliances approved by ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The ENERGY STAR program sets the guidelines for energy efficient products and appliances to help you save money and energy in your home or office.
  
  
• Consider switching light bulbs in your home to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to New Jersey's Clean Energy Program, using these light bulbs can help you save an average of $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb's lifetime.
  
  
• Unplug instead of "turn off." Even though your television or DVD player is turned "off," odds are it is still using energy in idle mode. Also consider unplugging your cell phone and digital camera chargers when not in use.
  
  
• Lower the temperature of your water heater. By reducing the temperature a few degrees, you can save energy and prolong your heater's efficiency.
  
  
• Further resources include:
  
          CleanPower Choice Program from NJ Board of Public Utilities' Office of Clean Energy
  
          Energy Guide: Smart Energy Choices
  
          New Jersey Green Homes Office
  
          Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G)
  
          WarmAdvantage Home Heating System Program
  
          Building Owners and Managers Association's 7-point challenge to decrease energy consumption

   

Recycling:

• Recycle not only your newspapers, cardboard, plastic, glass and aluminum, but also your old batteries and electronics, such as your used computer or cell phone.
  
  
• Find alternative uses for materials such as plastic bags, egg crates and plastic bottles. Reuse these materials in gardening, traveling, shopping, etc.
  
  
• Purchase products made from recycled materials.
  
  

Waste Management:

• Look for composting sites in your area. Composting is the biological decomposition, or breakdown, of certain organic material to create soil with nutrients and minerals beneficial to plants, animals and microorganisms.
  
  
• Organic materials that can be composted include clean paper, cardboard, leaves, yard trimmings, fruits and vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, etc.
• Consider a grasscycling program, which involves leaving the grass clippings on your lawn after you mow. The clippings naturally decompose and release nutrients that help fertilize the lawn.
  
  
• Read chemical labels carefully. Follow the directions on labels to avoid potentially toxic chemical mixes.
  
  
• Learn more from the EPA's National Waste Minimization Program.
  
  

Building Resources:

• Visit the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Home Guide.
  
  
• Participate in LEED for Homes, a home rating system that measures the performance of a green home in water and energy efficiency, indoor air quality, location, design, and other factors.
  
  
• Find a LEED Home Provider in your area who will offer technical support and verification that your home is built according to the green standards of LEED for Homes.
  
  
• NAR's Field Guide to Commercial Green Buildings
  
  
• The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) also offers Green Home Building Guidelines.
  
  
• NAHB National Green Building Program, which now offers two new green scoring tools: the National Green Building Standard^TM (approved by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute) & NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines (which are for single-family homes only)
  
  
• Learn more about the Regreen guidelines for green reconstruction.
  
  

Green Mortgages:

• Available since 1979, green mortgages offer incentives for home buyers to obtain a more energy efficient home. The money that would be saved on utility bills allows consumers to qualify for a higher loan.
  
  
• HUD's Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) Program takes into account the money saved on energy expenses and offers loans for financing new or existing housing.
  
  

Time to test your knowledge!

Take a fun eco-quiz from National Geographic's new magazine Green Guide.