Eco-friendly products aren’t just reserved for major home remodeling however. You can get eco-friendly bamboo laptops, belts made from recycled bike inner tubes, and even shoes made from recycled quilts.

Whenever you look at buying something, you want to look at how it is made. Is it manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner? There are actually a couple of levels of eco-friendly products. One is that the product itself is made from renewable or sustainable materials and the other is the method of manufacture and its effects on the environment. The best of both worlds is to be able to get a product that is made from renewable materials and manufactured in an earth friendly manner.

You can take the concept of using eco-friendly products down to any level. For example, even your grocery shopping can be made more eco-friendly by buying locally grown, organic produce and using recyclable bags to carry it in.

When it comes to home renovations, you have a lot of great options. Everyone has heard of bamboo flooring which is both beautiful and made from a renewable resource but there other types of flooring that you can use as well. Cork flooring is also renewable and can be very beautiful and it is warm and soft on the feet. Marmoleum is a type of flooring that’s actually been made for quite some time using earth friendly methods and has a great industrial or retro feel that fits right in with today’s styles.

Even clothing can be eco-friendly. Choose items made from organic cotton, hemp and even bamboo. Even big name manufacturers are getting on the green bandwagon with Levi Strauss using recycled zippers and buttons as well as organic cotton. Today’s eco-friendly clothing can also be trendy so when you’re in the store pay attention to the labels and try to help out the environment while you are picking out your new wardrobe.

Even things like cosmetics and cleaning products can be eco-friendly. You want to choose items that are made from organic materials that don’t have toxic chemicals in them. In fact, using these products will be better for the environment as well as for your health so it’s worth your while to seek them out.

Some of the best eco-friendly products also help you conserve resources like water and electricity. Showerheads and faucets that help conserve water are great choice as well as compact fluorescent bulbs that lower your electric bill and help reduce the strain on energy worldwide.

Today there is a large demand for eco-friendly products so you will find more and more choices as time goes on. Look at your product labels carefully and take the time to make sure what you’re buying really is eco-friendly and you’ll know that you’re doing your part to keep the planet healthy.

Luckily, there are several things you can do to reduce your energy consumption and the bonus is that youíll also save money on your utility bill!

1. If youíre not using it, then unplug it. Many electronic devices today have LEDís that draw energy even if the device is not powered on. Your VCR, Coffee Maker and even your electric toothbrush all use a little bit of energy when plugged in. Those little bits can quickly add up, so when your appliances are not in use, try to get into the habit of unplugging them.

2. Shut down your computer. While itís nice to have your computer always ready for use, it also uses a lot of electricity. When you go to bed at night, power off the computer, monitor and printer.
3. Get a programmable thermostat. Getting an automatic thermostat can be a great way to reduce your heating costs, be it from oil, gas or electricity. With a programmable thermostat you can set it to the optimum temperatures and then forget about it. Set it to 68 degrees Fahrenheit for daytime use when people will be home and 55 degrees Fahrenheit when you are sleeping or at work.
4. Make your water heat more efficient. Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and get an insulated sleeve for it to insure it is working as efficiently as possible.
5. Use your lighting wisely. Switch to more energy efficient lighting like LED lights or compact fluorescent lights and be sure that you donít leave lights on overnight or when no one is in the room.
6. Energy efficient laundry. Even doing laundry can be an opportunity to save on energy. Make sure you always clean the lint basket after each load and be sure to set the appropriate water level in your washer. Doing these will help your washer and dryer run more efficiently.
7. Set the right temps in your fridge. Your refrigerator should be set to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for most efficient use. Also, make sure you clean out all the dust bunnies behind and underneath the fridge.
8. Donít run the dishwasher until it is full. Make sure there is a full load in the dishwasher before you run it and use the energy saving cycle.
9. Buy energy efficient appliance. Using energy efficient appliances can help reduce energy usage as well as your electric bill so the next time you are in the market for a new appliance, make sure you look at the energy star rating and buy the most efficient model you can afford.

The first thing you should do is switch to compact fluorescent lighting (CFL). Thatís those swirly lights that have a whiter glow to them than the incandescent lights. While these might cost a bit more than the regular incandescent lights, they use only about 25% of the electricity so they can have a big impact on your lighting bill. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs too so you wonít have to replace them as often.

LED light bulbs are a newcomer to the energy efficient lighting market and have a few advantages over CFLís. They have a brighter light and donít take time to ìwarm upî and reach their full lighting. They also cost less to run and last even longer than CFLís reducing your energy usage by 80-90% and lasting over 100,000 hours.

When it comes to lighting outside the home, the energy conscientious consumer might want to consider solar lighting. Lights for walkways, driveways and outside the front door can collect energy from the sun during the day and use it to power their lights during the night. A great way to light up your home without using any energy at all.

In addition to using more efficient light bulbs, there are some things you can do to help reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting. First of all, you want to be sure that you donít use lights unnecessarily. When no one is home or when a room is empty, be sure to turn the lights off. During the daytime, open the blinds and let the sunshine in instead of using indoor lighting. Using motion sensors can help to insure lights turn on only when needed.

When it comes to lighting, you need to have the right amount for the tasks you intend to do. While you donít want to skimp or have poor lighting in important areas like the kitchen, you also want to be cognizant of when to use the lights and when to flip the switch. Remember reducing your use of electricity helps to reduce CO2 emissions into the air since the plants that produce electricity are largely coal burning plants which can add to global warming. A little bit of prudence on your part can make a big difference in the stability of our environment.