More people are becoming aware of the environmental consequences of their actions. Even things as simple as flipping a light switch use natural resources that are becoming more and more scarce. Luckily, there are some (almost) equally simple things you can do around the house to make it more eco-friendly, even if your home improvement skills are seriously lacking.

1. Invest in the Outdoors

Your yard offers a host of ways you can enjoy nature and focus on green initiatives. By adding custom pools Mobile, an outdoor kitchen or an expanded patio, you can create a space that you will want to use. And the more that is spent outside, the less is spent indoors using high-energy heating and cooling systems, lights and electronics. If a major outdoor renovation isn't in the cards for you, look for smaller items that can make the yard an attractive place to pass the days. Consider these ideas to get you started:

• Plant flowers or a vegetable garden

• Hang a hammock

• Install bird feeders

• Build a backyard pond

2. Swap Out Light Bulbs

Home improvements don't get much simpler than changing a lightbulb, yet this can have a significant impact on your electric usage over time. If you still have the old-style incandescent bulbs in any fixtures, make plans to replace them with LEDs. They use about a third of the electricity and last up to 25 times longer, so you won’t have to replace it again any time soon. 

3. Install Low-FLow Water Fixtures

Water is a precious resource. While you may have apple supplies of freshwater for your own use, not everyone around the world is in the same position. There are plenty of ways to cut back on wasted water, and installing low-flow fixtures is one of the easiest. Upgrade your sink fixtures to ones that use less water without affecting performance. Changing the shower heads is a simple and quick swap that can cut back water use significantly. Even if you have no plumbing skills whatsoever, you can add low-flow aerators to the end of faucets. 

4. Upgrade Your Thermostat

Roughly half of home energy consumption goes into heating or cooling its interior. Cutting back on that amount can add up to significantly lower resource use. According to the Department of Energy, adjusting the temperature in your house by 10 degrees for eight hours every day can reduce the cost of heating and cooling your house by up to 10%. Since you probably don't want to be sitting in a house that is either too hot or cold, it makes sense to make these adjustments when you are out of the house at work or school, or when you are sleeping. A programmable thermostat is a simple upgrade that makes it easier to accomplish. Simply set it to adjust the temperature based on your regular schedule and watch the amount of energy used to heat and cool your house drop significantly. 

5. Change Your Cleaning Routine

There are some pretty harsh chemicals in most household cleaning products. That is why most major manufacturers have begun producing a green line of cleaners for people that are trying to make their homes more eco-friendly. Plus, they are widely available, which means you no longer will have to hunt online or head to a specialty market to find them. In fact, you can find them everywhere from grocery stores to big-box retailers now. If you still aren't sure about the green cleaners on the market, consider making your own. 

No matter how limited your home improvement skills are, you can make changes around the house that help the environment. Consider changing light bulbs and water fixtures, spending time outdoors and reducing the number of harmful chemicals you use to get a good start.