Tips For Green Living # 4

4. Buy Green Power From Your Utility
Most utilities charge less than $5 per month extra. Not only will your power come from a renewable source, but you'll use the power of your spending to show utility executives and government officials that we need more investment in renewable-energy projects.

Tips for Green Living # 3

3. Compost
Use a compost bin to turn your food and lawn wastes into rich mulch. It's a great way to reduce your trash production, and next year you'll have rich compost ready to go for spring planting.

Tips for Green Living # 2

2. Recycle Water in Your Bathroom
Use devices that allow you to reuse sink water for flushing your toilet. Or keep a bucket by the shower or the tub and fill it with the cold water that comes out before the hot water kicks in. Then take the bucket outside and use it to water your plants.

Tips for Green Living # 1

Small changes made by individuals can add up to big changes for the environment. Here are 10 to get you started:
1. Get a High-Efficiency Showerhead
A high-efficiency showerhead saves up to 3,000 gallons of water per person per year. You'll also save $50 in energy costs and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per person per year. The showerheads are specially designed to conserve resources while still providing like a luxurious-feeling shower. Sink-aerator attachments also save major amounts of water and are very inexpensive.

10 Home-Maintenance Tips for Spring/Summer

After a long, dark winter, spring's bright sun and warm winds are, well, a breath of fresh air. The only downside? All that sunshine spotlights your leaf-filled gutters, cracked sidewalks and the dead plants in last year's flower beds. Dwight Barnett, a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors, shared this checklist to help you target the areas that need maintenance so you can get your chores done quickly, leaving you time to go outside and play in the sunshine.

• Check for loose or leaky gutters. Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.
• Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.
• Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.
• From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. If your home has an older roof covering, you may want to start a budget for replacement. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.
• Examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of damage. Have the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.
• Inspect concrete slabs for signs of cracks or movement. All exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home's foundation. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. When weather permits, power-wash and then seal the concrete.
• Remove firewood stored near the home. Firewood should be stored at least 18 inches off the ground at least 2 feet from the structure.
• Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage. Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. While you're at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.
• Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels. Change interior filters on a regular basis.
• Check your gas- and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use. Clean equipment and sharp cutting blades will make yardwork easier.

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Arrange Air Travel for Family, if Necessary

If you're moving to a faraway place and you're not driving, then you'll obviously need to buy plane tickets for yourself and your family. It'd be great if you could get this out of the way well before the two-month mark, so you can watch ticket prices and strategize a good ticket deal. But when you're transferred due to work or you've accepted a new job offer, you don't always have that much notice. If possible, buy your tickets at least two months in advance of your move. And don't forget the family pets -- arranging their travel can take even more preparation.

Plan Menus to Use up Food in the Cupboards

As you start looking through your cupboards, you might notice you've collected some nonperishable food that you'd rather not pack up and move to the new place. So, sit down and put together some menus to use up that food before you move. It might actually be fun to think of creative ways to use mushroom soup, canned pineapples and spaghetti in one meal. And if the move has you too busy to manage this type of culinary cleanse, pack everything up for the local shelter or a food drive. Or, invite some neighbors over for a pantry-clearing party and send them home with the goods.

Notify Correspondents of Your Move

Even in our busy world of e-mails, texts and tweets it's nice to find a letter or card in our mailbox now and then. So, it would be really sad if you don't receive all those lovely holiday and birthday cards because your friends and relatives don't know what your new address is. Let people know that you're moving and what your new address will be. It can be as easy as sending out a mass e-mail with all the pertinent information. Or, you can order a pack of moving announcements and put that holiday mailing list to good use. If you're moving to another town, you might even get a going-away party out of the deal.

Have a Yard Sale

Now that you've set aside your unwanted things, it's time to figure out what to do with them. Since you're doing this two months in advance of your move, you've got time to plan a yard sale. Yard sales are generally on Saturdays, and you'll need to advertise to get a good turnout. So, put up fliers where it seems logical - your workplace, your church, your community center, the local library and, of course, don't forget to put up signs around your neighborhood. There are even Web sites where you can advertise your sale. If you're looking to make money, check eBay before you price your items to make sure you're not essentially giving stuff away. Of course, that is an excellent option; you can do just that.

Go Through Your Stuff and Identify Unwanted Items

Moving is the perfect excuse to get rid of unwanted junk that's collected in your house over the years. The rule of thumb is: If you haven't used it in about a year and it doesn't have any sentimental value, get rid of it. It can be hard to let things go, though, so you may need to go through each closet or storage space twice. On the first run, you'll remove the obvious unwanted things, and on the second run you'll remove the items you're a little more attached to.