In no particular order, here are some great tips on being more Eco-Friendly. Not just are they a smart choice for the Earth, but they're smart for your wallet, too!

• Use a power strip. It's an easy way to eliminate vampire power drain.
• Use Natural cleaning products. You can buy them or make them. Check out the Green Recipe page for some great all purpose natural cleaners you can make yourself!
• Buy toilet paper that's made from recycled paper. There are many brands to choose from, all are nice and soft and usually much cheaper than that kind with lotion in it.
• Switch to Natural Personal Care Products. Every day you shower and clean yourself, all of that chemical ladened soap just gets washed down the drain and into the water supply. Plus, you absorb a lot of chemicals through your skin, too. Surprisingly, it's really easy to make some items yourself, like rinses, oil conditioners, and lotions and salves. Check out the Green Recipe page for some great recipes!
• Get your magazines and newspapers digitally. Many websites are offering digital versions of popular magazines, some with a free trial offer.
• Just say no to bottled H2O! Do you have any idea how much waste is created by that little bottle? Not to mention the chemicals that are released from the plastic (do you really need to be ingesting synthetic estrogen BPA?) Do yours and the Earth's health a favor and switch to filtered water and a snazzy reusable water bottle.
• Keep your old electronics out of landfills by recycling. There's a few sites out there who will take your old electronics and then properly recycle or fix them. Some will even pay you for them. How great is that? Check out www.buymytronics.com, www.myboneyard.com, andwww.greenphone.com.
• Buy refurbished electronics. It saves you money, it saves on the amount of electronics going to landfills. Look for last of its kind items, display items, or returned goods. They're usually marked down considerably and sometimes you can haggle the price down even more.
• Buy green clothes. Let's face it, going green is all the rage, so it's no wonder that more and more stores are carrying eco-friendly fashion. Look for organic cotton, recycled polyester, and natural wool.
• Trade your unwanted fashion items with others online. You can avoid the monetary and environmental cost of purchasing new products, instead just pay shipping and swap with people all over the world. www.swapstyle.com
• Carpool, take public transportation, or bike or walk. Saves on gas, saves on air pollution, and biking and walking are great exercise.
• Trade your dvds, cds, books, and video games instead of buying new ones. New sites are popping up all over the internet.
• Install a low-flow shower head. They use less water: good for the Earth, good for your wallet.
• Recycle your burnt out CFL bulbs. Many hardware stores accept them (e.g. Lowe's.)
• Switch to reusable tote bags and avoid the "paper or plastic" dilemma. They come in a wide variety of styles and designs, some are even made out of natural or recycled materials.
• Grow houseplants! Not only do they make your home more beautiful and lift your mood, they're natural air purifiers.
• Grow a garden! Homegrown fruit and veggies always taste better due to not being grown in nutritionally dead soil, and theirs no carbon footprint to worry about!
• Buy local. Check out local Food Co-ops and Natural Food stores for local fruit and veggies, or try your local farmer's market. Then you can ask the growers themselves about their good.
• Take your old towels and blankets to animal shelters to donate. And then, since your there, take home a nice furry friend.
• Compost! Your garden and your houseplants will love you for it, plus it reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.
• Turn your thermostat down a few degrees. If you're cold, you can put on a sweater. After a few days, you'll acclimate and then you won't even notice the change.
• Wash your clothes with cold water. There are many detergents on the market now that are specifically for cold water.
• Wash one load of clothes at a time, rather than doing multiple loads every few days.
• Do your banking online. Think of all the paper you'll save!
• This Winter, skip the Salt and Chemical De-Icer and go for an Earth friendly natural de-icer instead. And while you're at it, sell that snow blower and start shoveling. Better for the Earth plus it's good exercise (just remember to use proper body mechanics to save your back: no lifting and twisting!)