We may not all be lucky enough to live in a LEED certified building, but there are things we can do within our own homes to reduce or energy costs and the impact our family is having on the environment.  Here are some ways you can give back to mother earth in your life and in your home.

Walk, bike, and take the bus: Doing this one day a weak instead of driving your car can do wonders for the environment and not to mention your health. If you decide to walk or bike to some of your every day errands you are making two positive choices.

Buy a car with good gas mileage: Yeah, perhaps that brand new Hummer looks really cool but costs an arm and a leg to fill up at the pump. Well when you are looking to trade it in think about getting a more economical care that gets better gas mileage.

Install low flow showerheads and toilets: Low flow showerheads and toilets can save tons of gallons of water with every shower or flush. They are relatively inexpensive, about 10 or 20 bucks each and can save about 300 pounds of Carbon Dioxide a year if electrically heated and 80 pounds of Carbon Dioxide a year for gas-heated water.

Install blinds: Window treatments can do wonders for your energy bills. Try out Next Day Blinds, they have tons of varieties.  Next Day Blinds is sure to satisfy both your design and green living needs.

Replace old, less energy efficient appliances with new ones: If you are in the market for a new refrigerator or dishwasher, pick more energy efficient models. Front loading washing machines are much better than traditional ones. And just replacing that old fridge could make a significant difference in your overall energy consumption yearly.