Making GREEN Routine

What shade of green are you?

Maybe you already have a solar collector on your roof and a hybrid car in your garage.

Or maybe you've just started making a conscious effort to turn off the lights when you leave the room.

No matter what you are doing now to reduce your carbon footprint, you can always do a little more. Or a lot more.

We've collected some ideas that range from easy, low-cost steps anyone can take to changes that require an investment of time and money - and some in between.

Easy

Go wireless

Light your path without plugging into the grid. New technologies make solar lights brighter, and they shine most of the night.

Renew your deck

New low-odor, low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) wood finishes are not only kinder to the environment, but make this chore a lot more more pleasant.

Switch some lightbulbs

Compact fluorescent bulbs aren't ugly anymore. You can buy globes that look identical to the incandescent ones over your bathroom vanity - and even decorative candelabra bulbs.

Install a ceiling fan

Make it an Energy Star model with a more efficient motor and blades - and don't forget the fluorescent bulb. Then dial up your thermostat so you use less air conditioning.

Clean like Mom

Salt, baking soda and vinegar still work, or you can buy cleaning products that are vegetable- rather than petroleum-based.

Medium

Go with a greener floor

Choose Marmoleum, cork or some types of wood to put environmentally friendly floors underfoot. Kahrs wood flooring is grown, harvested and finished according to environmental standards.

Recycle and reuse

Before you toss something usable in your garbage can or run to the store, take a quick spin online. Freecycle.org lets people list things they want to give away and request something they need. Almost every suburb has a local group, so you won't have to drive far to share the bounty.

Buy a hemp rug

Yes, it's legal. Hemp has twice the strength of cotton, is naturally mildew-resistant and stronger than sisal or jute - and unlike nylon, it's not petroleum-based.

Save rainwater

Put a barrel - maybe as large as 50 or 80 gallons - under your downspout to collect rain. You can use this good, soft water for houseplants or keep it for dry days when your village won't let you water your garden.

Challenging

Reconsider the counter

Remodeling? Granite is not a renewable resource, but you can buy an eco-chic countertop made of recycled plastic bottles shredded into "flakes" for a confettilike look.

Plant vertically

Grow your herbs in a spiral garden right outside your kitchen. You'll create a microclimate that makes the most of resources: Water, soil and space. Plants that like it sunnier and dryer go at the top, and those that need more water at the bottom.

Reduce your bluegrass.

Grass soaks up water, fertilizer and pesticides. Places to target with more suitable plants or materials include slopes, narrow strips, walking paths and shady areas.

Ditch the detergent

Samsung's innovative SilverCare Washing Machine ($1,300) uses silver ions to disinfect and clean - without detergent, bleach or hot water.

(c) 2007 Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.