The Energy Star label helps more than one third of Americans choose their appliances and electronics. In addition to being a more eco-friendly choice for home appliances, the US government also offers rebates and tax credits for many Energy Star certified products, making them very attractive choices for greener living.

Households are responsible for a large percentage of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. In order to help reduce your impact on the environment you can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by purchasing carbon offsets.

You have two options for washing dishes - hand wash or dishwasher. So, which is the most eco-friendly and efficient option?

The weather is starting to get warmer and with it comes barbecue season! Who doesn't love a nice cookout in the backyard with friends and family? While many people do cookouts for the fun of it, few are aware that grilling your food is actually more energy efficient than cooking with a kitchen stove. With a little bit of planning, barbecues can be one of the most eco-friendly things to do in the summer.

Running water has been used for decades to generate power on an industrial level and many homes across the world get their grid power from hydroelectric power plants. However, unlike the other renewable energy sources we've covered, hydropower is not a viable source of alternative energy for the majority of homes, as it requires a source of running water close by.

As you are pulling together your receipts to qualify for every last deduction you can get...remember if you did anything to your home to make it more energy efficient during the past year, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. For example, if you installed new Energy Star windows, you may be eligible for 30% of the total cost (not including installation), up to $1,500 cash back. Insulation, heating & AC systems, roofs, water heaters, and storm doors are other items that also qualify. Go to the US Dept of Energy's site to find out if you qualify.

Straw bale homes provide excellent insulation as well as an affordable and beautiful housing option. Straw is a renewable resource that can be used in the the wall of the home to cut down on the amount of wood used in the construction.

Between absorbing the sun's energy and the heat released by the decay of minerals buried deep, the earth generates twice as much power as humans currently consume, making it a very attractive sustainable energy source. Unfortunately, most of this power is hard to reach on an industrial grade level. For the home use, however, geothermal power is becoming a readily available alternative energy source to both heat and cool the home.

In the midst of solar power becoming the poster child for sustainable living, wind power is often overlooked as an energy source for the home. Like solar panels, wind powered generators harnesses a renewable resource that is found everywhere and in certain areas, wind power is more economically viable and can actually produce more electricity than solar power.

Supplementing your home's electricity usage with alternative energy sources is becoming easier and easier as the technology becomes more refined. While it has always been possible to "live off the grid" (power your home completely independent of the electric company), it's now more affordable than ever with a plethora of options. The simplest, of course, is harnessing the power of the sun. Once a far off futuristic dream, many people are not aware how easy it is to incorporate solar power into their homes today.

Insulation can be expensive. Thousands of dollars expensive.So how can you insulate your home and still have enough for the groceries? There are many small fixes that can be made at a fraction of the price of professional installation. Then of course, you can always do it yourself...

40% of the energy used to power consumer electronics is used when the device is switched off. (courtesy of: BigGreenPurse.com)...

With the winter months setting in, keeping the family warm is a top priority among homeowners. Whether you have poorly insulated walls, an unexplainable cold spot in the house, or just want to keep the bills relatively low, an electric space heater can solve all of these problems

Even though they are considered dinosaurs in the modern lighting world, incandescent bulbs and the warm light they create still have a wide appeal. So how can we reconcile energy-gulping incandescents with a greener home?

The NCFI (North Carolina Foam Industries) is the manufacturer of a line of flexible foams - polyurethane foam chemicals for spray 'foam-in-place' insulation. For their innovative achievement in SPF (spray Polyurethane Foam), the NCFI has been awarded the EPA Stratospheric Ozine Protection Award.

Selecting the right water heater for your home is a serious commitment- one that could last up to 20 years. Before you take the plunge, here's some extra information to help you decide between a conventional tank or a tankless water heater.

Gathering around the hearth to be near a good fire rather than a television can really warm the home, body and spirit. Building a safe fire can be simple and only requires a basic understanding of fire fundamentals. Here are a few tips on how to build a proper fire in a fire-safe environment.

As a typical American husband, I know a thing or two about hot water since I'm often in it. There are different home water-heating systems to choose from. However, when your conventional tank water heater fails, the easiest and more affordable option is usually to replace it with another tank water heater. But how do you choose one that fits your house, budget and eco-conscience?

Approximately 15% of each household's energy dollar goes to heat water. Using less hot water is one of the easiest ways to decrease your water heater's energy output and lower your bills.

Setting your water heater at 140 degrees F can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 annually--lower it to 120 degrees F to save energy and money....

Energy Star qualified room air conditioners use at least 10 percent less energy than standard models....

So you want to install solar panels on your home. You're tired for forking over big bucks to the electric, gas and oil companies. You're starting to think that global warming from greenhouse gases (emitted by power plants and vehicles) may be more reality than sci fi movie plot. You're progressive, darn it, and proud of it. Whatever you're reasoning, you want to go solar. So where do you begin?

Every month, Americans have to pay for the ability to light their homes, power their appliances and run their electronics. Two of the common types of power plants found in America generate steam to power turbines through burning fossil fuels or nuclear fission. As a result of these two electricity generators, the earth suffers pollution, a loss in fossil fuels and exposure to harmful radioactive materials. Depending on where you live, there is a chance to escape having to pay for electricity and stop relying on environmentally harmful power plants.