The single most important resource for making your home green is the one between your ears. If you stop to think about what you are doing instead of acting out of habit, you'll be amazed at the energy and resource saving ideas you'll dream up.
I knew a young man who worked for a private environmental organization. He called me in a panic because his car broke down and he didn't know how he was going to get to work. I knew where he lived and I asked him why he didn't take the bus. His answer was that he never thought of it. Now he takes the bus every day. What changes can you make in your daily habits if you think about it?
Changing incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs is something everyone can do easily. It may seem that CF bulbs cost more, but they last 13 times longer and use less than half the energy. It's not just smart for the environment, it's smart for your wallet.
The watch words of the environmental movement are reduce, reuse, recycle. Inventive people are adding the word repurpose. Before you throw anything away, think about ways you can use it, perhaps for something other than its original purpose. If you have items that can be used by someone else, have a yard sale, donate them to a charity or put them on Craig's list or Freecycle.org instead of sending them to a landfill. This is part of making your home green.
Use products and businesses which you know use environmentally sound business practices. Use your dollars to vote for a better world. Consider the packaging on products and choose those that have less waste and use recycled materials. Eat at fast food restaurants less. You'll be healthier and you won't be throwing away styrofoam and plastic food containers that will be around long after your great grandchildren are gone. Making your home green is about making conscious choices for your family to reduce your use of resources.
If you are remodeling, consider using renewable, sustainable materials like bamboo and cork. Use low or zero VOC paints. They're better for your family because they don't have harmful fumes. Replace old appliances with energy efficient appliances which will save on your electric bill. Replace old window and doors with energy efficient windows and doors and make sure your insulation is good to minimize heat exchange. If your heating system is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it with a high efficiency unit. You may be eligible for subsidies from your power company or the government, and many energy saving home remodeling projects are eligible for tax breaks. Making your home green means using less energy.
If you have landscaping or a garden, use native plants which are suited to your area. They'll need less care and water. Don't use chemical pesticides or weed killers. Do use compost and natural mulch like tree bark instead of chemical fertilizers. The peat bogs are disappearing, so don't use peat moss as mulch. Manure is still one of the best fertilizers around.
Making your home green requires that you think about what you do everyday and making an effort to find more eco friendly alternatives. The most important natural resource you have is your head. Use it to make responsible choices to sustain our world for future generations.