As we learn more about the effect humans have on the environment and climate, people are looking for realistic yet effective ways to change their consumption habits and become more eco-friendly. While there are lots of little things you can do to your daily habits that can make a difference, the place with the most opportunity for improvement is your house. Our houses use a huge amount of energy. If you are looking for ways to make your home more eco-friendly, read on. We have five suggestions for you that will not only help you be more green but can also save you some money.

1. Improve Your Lawn and Garden

If you live in an urban or suburban area, you know how much concrete and road surface there is around. These can be bad for the environment because they reflect heat back into the atmosphere and prevent the ground from absorbing water, which can lead to flooding. One way you can help is by improving your lawn and garden. Healthy grass and plants keep the environment cool and produce more oxygen. If you feel like your lawn is not growing to its full potential, hire a soil testing service. They'll be able to see why your grass isn't growing as it should.

2. Install Energy Efficient Appliances

The biggest electricity users in our homes are our appliances, especially the ones that run constantly, like the refrigerator and hot water heater. If you are in the market for a new appliance, make sure to buy one with an Energy Star rating. These have been tested for energy efficiency and will use less electricity than other appliances. Using these appliances will also save your money on your energy bills.

3. Get a Programmable Thermostat

Your heating and air-conditioning system uses a lot of energy and if you have an old-fashioned thermostat, will be running constantly, even when you are not at home. By installing a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature the way you want it when you are at home. When you are not at home, you can have it in a setting that doesn't keep it running. Another way to be eco-friendly and save you money. Many new thermostats have smartphone apps that let you turn the system on and off, adjust the temperature and monitor the energy usage, even when you are not home!

4. Replace Your Lightbulbs

In olden times, we relied on incandescent light bulbs to illuminate our homes. Unfortunately, these bulbs also used a lot of energy. If you haven't yet, take the time to replace your old bulbs with LED light bulbs. They are available in lots of different shades and wattages so you can give your home the feeling you want. LED bulbs have a higher price tag than incandescent bulbs but they last much longer and use less energy, which means they cost less in the long run.

5. Get a Compost Bin

When you throw away food scraps in your trash, they go to the landfill where they rot and release harmful gasses into the air. Instead of doing this, purchase a compost bin. There are a lot of attractive countertop options available now, so you don't need to have an ugly bin in your kitchen. If you are not interested in or not able to compost in your garden, there are companies that will collect your compostable waste for you.

It has never been easier to make your home more eco-friendly. There are many attractive and affordable products that make the switch an easy one and most of our suggestions will help you save money as well as energy.