A green home does not have to be built from scratch, nor does it need to be a substantial remodel on an existing home. There are several things you can do right now to lower your utility bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and extend the life of our natural resources.
1) Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). According to the Energy Star website (http://www.energystar.gov/), CFLs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer for energy savings of $30 over the life of one bulb. They also produce less heat, which will reduce your cooling costs in summer. They are most effective in rooms that are used often, such as kitchen and living areas, or where lights are on more than 15 minutes at a time. Call your electric company for possible rebates or reduced prices on CFLs.
2) Buy energy efficient appliances when it’s time to replace them. Energy Star appliances typically use 10-15% less energy and water. An Energy Star washing machine can cut your energy bill by 1/3 and your water use by half. Refrigerators have historically been energy hogs, but they now use half the energy they did in 1993. An Energy Star refrigerator uses 20% less energy than required by federal standards and 40% less than a 2001 model. Check the Energy Star website (http://www.energystar.gov/) for details.
3) Use native plants or drought-tolerant adaptable plants. Native plants need no extra care, since they are in their natural environment. Adaptable plants tolerate local conditions well, even though they are native to another region. Put your plantings on a drip irrigation system to save water. Sprinklers waste water due to soaking outside the targeted area and to evaporation. A good resource is Judith Phillips, who has written many books on native gardening in New Mexico. If you are building new, save as many trees as possible; disturb as little of your lot as you can. Plant deciduous trees for summer shade to reduce cooling costs. Grow your own food, and grow organically.
4) Collect rainwater from your roof. This can be an elaborate system of catchment and filtering for indoor use. Gutters run along the edge of the roofing, and downspouts are placed on the corners, leading to an underground cistern or cisterns. Water is pumped through a filtering system and into the house for daily use. This water needs to be tested regularly for human consumption. For outdoor irrigating, run downspouts into 55-gallon drums with spigots at the bottom. Several drums can be connected to catch overflow. The simplest system is placing 5-gallon buckets where rain runs off the roof edge. Your hair and your plants love the pH of rainwater!
5) Insulate your ceiling. 
Heat rises, and the first place it will leave your house is through the ceiling and roof, increasing your heating costs. It is estimated that 45% of your heat can be lost through a ceiling with no insulation. Summer sun beating on the roof can heat up your house and increase your cooling bills. Ceiling insulation will keep you comfortable and keep your energy bills low year round. Consider using cellulose insulation, which is shredded newspaper that is blown in. This is a great way to recycle!
These are inexpensive and effective ways to start going green. Never feel like you are not doing enough. If you replace one incandescent bulb with a CFL, you can save ½ ton of CO2 from going into the atmosphere. You don’t need to do a lot, but please do something.
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