"Instead of using the garbage disposal, compost your kitchen wastes, as well as yard debris. Composting creates a natural, non-polluting fertilizer for your garden and saves space in the landfill."

"Need a new house? Consider renovating your old one with green methods and materials. Or, build a smaller house that is oriented properly to optimize solar orientation and prevailing breezes."

"They cost about $3 to $8, but they last 10 times longer, use one-fifth the energy and give off one-fifth the heat of a standard incandescent bulb."

" For less than $10, you can buy a 1.5 gallon-per-minute showerhead, which still supplies a comfortable shower and won't run as much water down the drain. Faucet aerators are another cheap, easy way to save water."

" It's the ultimate no-brainer. Can you see light coming in between your front door and its frame? If so, then conditioned air is going out. Spend a few dollars on weather-stripping and save a lot over the long run on your electric bill."

". The Faucet Genie uses a sensor to supply water only when needed, but can be hard to find and costs around $50. A cheaper device is a "flip-off" switch that lets you quickly turn off the faucet when washing dishes by hand."

"They cost about $50 to $150, but they allow you to still feel cool while setting the air conditioner's thermostat a few degrees higher. Turn them off when you leave the room."

"For less than $100, a technician can clean the coils and drain line, change the filter and make sure the unit is charged and working properly. Do it twice a year."

" Call your local utility to arrange for
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