Here are a few tips you can follow at home to reduce environmental impact for a cleaner, greener and a healthier life.

1.  Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.

2. Unplug appliances when you are not using them.

3. Install low-flow showerhead. Take shorter showers to reduce water use.

4. Plant plants that need minimal watering.

5.  Walk or bike to work.

6. Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.

7. Use filtered tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

8. Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when travelling or at work.

9. Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

10.  Wear clothes that don’t need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

11. Invest in high-quality, long lasting products. You might pay more now, but you’ll be happy when you don’t have to replace items as frequently and this means less waste too.

12. Keep you cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible. Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.