It's Easy Being Green in Cleveland

Many people shy away from going green because they think it's too much work or too expensive. However, today, it's never been easier to go green. Here are 10 quick and inexpensive ways to go green in your home:

Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs. Even changing just the five most frequently-used bulbs in your house can save you $100 per year or more!

Install low-flow shower heads or place a water-displacement bag in your toilet tank to cut down on water waste.

Buy local produce — it cuts down on paper and plastic packaging waste and also reduces the amount of fossil fuels used in the transportation of products.

Set your thermostat to 78° or higher in the summer and 62° or lower in the winter to save $100 or more on your energy bill each year. Program if you can and while you're away, keep it low. 55 degrees in the winter is as low as you can go before freezing pipes. You can also turn down your hot water tank a few degrees.

Drive less by walking, biking or taking the bus. Initiate a carpool for trips to and from work, school or other activities. Keep your trunk empty! Lugging around large heavy items uses more fuel.

Utilize power strips and cut down on "vampire electricity," which is the electricity used while appliances and electronics are plugged into an outlet, but not in use. By flipping the "off" switch on a power strip, you'll quickly put a stop to this.

Incorporate native plants into your yard. They're more adapted to local soil and climate and will thrive with minimal care — meaning less water, fertilizer and pesticides used for maintenance.

Let your grass grow — most varieties fare best at two and a half inches tall, absorbing more sunlight and creating thicker turf, meaning less water needed for your lawn.

Do full loads when washing clothes or dishes as a way to save gallons of wasted water every week. And use cold water whenever possible.

Use eco-friendly paints, stains and finishes that aren't made up of volatile organic compounds, which give you that woozy feeling after painting, and also contribute to pollution.

Every little change makes a difference. Get your family involved and tell your friends and neighbors about the advantages of going green — the more people get involved, the better the chance to repair the damages we've inflicted on the environment in the past...