52 Cheap ways to go green

The Green Year

Jodi Helmer's book The Green Yeargives you 365 small inexpensive things you can do to make a big difference in saving the planet and making your home environment more eco-friendly.

The book features a frugal tip each day plus a space where you can write suggestions that are more practical for your lifestyle. In addition, each tip has an open circle that you get to fill in when you've done your green deed for the day.

Whether you do the tips on the designated days or when it's convenient for you, The Green Yeargives you an easy-to-follow green guide that you can refer back to anytime during the year – and years to come.

Here is one tip per week on the cheap ways to go green!

52 Cheap ways to go green

1. Turn down your thermostat during the winter to 68 degrees F when you're home and 55 degrees F at night. (70 to 80 degrees F is good for summertime.)

2. Turn your computer off at the end of the day. In addition, take steps to create an eco-friendly workplace.

3. Clean your refrigerator coils – vacuum out the dust and wipe with a damp cloth.

4. Research options for carpooling. Need convincing? Read why your green commute will save you money.

5. Rent a hybrid rental car on your next vacation. Here are a few more eco-friendly travel tips.

6. Add your fireplace ashes to your compost pile.

7. Support a green business.

8. Cancel your newspaper subscription and read the news online instead.

9. Buy rechargeable batteries. And here is what can you do with old batteriesto properly dispose of the batteries you've used.

10. Use cloth napkins, instead of paper napkins, at dinner. And consider serving fair-trade wine.

11. Recycle. Not sure what is recyclable? Check out this recycle chart.

12. Buy your dog a hemp or canvas leash instead of nylon.

13. Put your dryer lint in the backyard for the birds – they use it to feather their nests.

14. Share your magazines – read them then pass them on.

15. Take a hike. And take advantage of eco-friendly fitness gear.

16. File your taxes electronically to cut back on paper usage.

17. Donate old newspapers to animal shelters.

18. Shop for eco-friendly beauty products. Also consider eco-friendly fashion lines and eco-friendly home décor.

19. Take your own mug to the coffee shop. And find out if your coffee is triple certified.

20. Request e-tickets for your next trip. For more vacation tips, read How to take an eco-friendly vacation.

21. Buy a new houseplant. For a greener home, read 10 Eco-friendly ways to green your home and family.

22. Schedule your errands back-to-back to consolodate your trip and save gas.

23. Repair your leaky faucet. And then follow these five ways to dress your nest green.

24. Pack your lunch in an insulated lunch bag instead of paper or plastic bags. And make organic meals and try out new green recipes with these simple eco-friendly recipes from SheKnows.

25. Put a cover on your pool.

26. Invite friends to a summer BBQ with electronic invites. Then throw an eco-friendly dinner party.

27. Start a compost pile in your backyard. Here is your guide to compost gardening.

28. Get the junk out of your trunk – extra weight decreases fuel efficiency.

29. Have a yard sale – or visit one.

30. Switch to an all-natural dishwasher detergent. And make your own eco-friendly cleaning products.

31. Pick up litter.

32. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. And try these tips for adding exercise to a busy day.

33. Throw a couple of tennis balls in the dryer to speed up drying time.

34. Shop for used textbooks.

35. Join Freecycle www.freecycle.org to find items you need or get rid of items you don't. Here are few things you can do with your old clothing and linens.

36. Buy a bigger jug of milk.

37. Buy a refillable pen and, when in need of a pencil, use wooden instead of refillable.

38. For your kids, buy crayons made of soybean oil, not paraffin. For your babies, try eco-baby shops.

39. Wear an extra sweater before you resort to turning on (or up) the heat.

40. Buy eco-friendly pet toys (Fido and Fifi will never know the difference). Be sure you also raise an environmentally-friendly pet.

41. Call a mechanic to get a tune-up for your car to avoid excess wear & tear on your automobile, plus to save money on gas.

42. Pay your bills online (and shut off paper billing) to reduce paper usage and postage costs.

43. Switch to a manual can opener.

44. Buy refill packs of baby wipes. Then use these tips for creating an eco-friendly nursery.

45. Rake - and leave your leaf blower in the garage to cut down on emissions (not to mention get a good workout). Click to read more about eco-friendly fitness.

46. Smash your jack-o-lantern into pieces and leave it in your backyard for the birds and squirrels.

47. Keep your freezer full – it runs more efficiently than an empty one. For more money-saving tips, read 10 Frugal tips for cooking family-friendly meals.

48. Use chlorine-free feminine hygiene products.

49. Ask dinner guests to bring reusable to-go containers with them so you can easily pack them some goodies to go home. (Think about cooking a couple of vegetarian holiday dishes, too.)

50. Invest in a roasting pan instead of using disposable ones.

51. Borrow a formal dress from a friend instead of buying a new one. And if borrowing a wedding dress is out of the question, you can still plan a green and organic wedding.

52. Make a resolution to be even more eco-friendly next year. Here are 21 more ways to go green.