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Make the switch to organic household cleaners:

They are non-toxic and don’t emit dangerous fumes that affect your indoor air quality or leave residues on surfaces for you, your children, your pets and your food to be exposed to.

They are biodegradable and don't pollute water systems.

Due to lack of regulation, labeling can be tricky, so beware of products containing “inert ingredients”. Even if these products are labeled bio-degradable or green they still have harmful contents.

Money down the drain: Fix that leaky faucet or toilet

Even a small drip can add up to $50-$100 a month -- if it is hot water you can double that cost -- and add more to that cost for waste water expenses if your toilet flapper is leaking. The city calculates your waste water rates for the entire year by averaging three consecutive months sometime between November and March.

The City of Austin offers $50-100 rebate for installation of new High Efficiency Toilets.

You can also get free faucet aerators that cut down flow to one gallon per minute - great for the bathroom, especially if you have kids!!

Grow your garden greener

Use organic products for pest control and fertilizers which are biodegradable, non-toxic and won’t pollute the water table. (GARDEN-VILLE, NATURAL GARDENER)

Compost yard trimmings as well as vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and egg shells. Great for your garden and less waste to the landfill.

There are several rebates offered by the City of Austin for landscaping, soil and compost, and trees and shrubs. Be sure to plant native and perennial plants and grasses that can withstand our climate and require less water.

For every inch of rain, about 600 gallons of water can be collected from 1,000 sq.ft. of roof area. A typical home with 2000 sqft of roof area in Central Texas can yield up to 40,000 gallons a year. Install a Rainwater Collection System to water your landscaping or garden -- Austin Energy offers up to a $500 rebate on rainwater collection systems -- or at least get a Rainwater collection barrel which you can purchase up to 4 from the city for only $60 each!

The power of light

Harnessing the power of the sun is a great thing to do not only to produce your own power, but the extra power you don’t use feeds back into the Austin Energy Grid for others to use too. Austin Energy has one of the highest Solar rebates in the country at $4.50 per system watt -- 1000W is a small residential solar unit and runs about $6000-10,000 for installation -- the city will rebate $4500 of that cost. Austin Energy is now offering rebates of $450-650 for solar water heaters plus there is a 30% tax credit of $750-$1000.

Not everyone can afford to install solar panels to capture the power of the sun, but you can affordably install skylights and utilize the sun’s power by day lighting.

Another idea is to install Solar Screens and Radiant Barrier Window films which can significantly reduce your energy bills and keep out the rays that are not only bad for the skin, but bad for your furniture.

An easy way to reduce your energy use is to switch to longer lasting low wattage fluorescent bulbs -- they use 70% less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

Think Green when you build

If you’re looking to build a house explore your options of various types of building that utilizes more eco-friendly and energy efficient materials and building processes. There are even building styles that do not utilize WOOD in the framing of the house.

Remodeling or renovating your house? Check into the savings new windows or doors. There is even new eco-friendly and recycled flooring and countertops.

Building a fence or a deck: look into alternatives like bamboo fence, which is a fast growing renewable crop, metal fence or alternatives to wood like composite decking -- it is a product made of reclaimed wood (recycled waste wood) and plastic bags.

Recycle more

Did you know that Austin Area citizens produce enough trash to fill the Erwin Center every four months?

The City of Austin Solid Waste Services website has lots of great info regarding recycling.

Everyone should take advantage of the opportunity to recycle their glass, plastic, aluminum and paper every week as it’s part of your Solid Waste Services. If you don’t have a recycle bin - stop by your local fire station with a copy of your utility bill and get one for free.

This fall The City of Austin Solid Waste Service will begin accepting plastics 1-7 and box board (like cereal boxes) as part of your curbside recycling service.

All batteries are dangerous to throw away because of the metals and acids they contain - these contaminants easily seep into the aquifer. Recycle your batteries and buy rechargeables. Recycle your batteries at Hazardous Waste Facility in South East Austin off of Todd Lane -- or visit www.rbrc.org for a list of retailers that will recycle your batteries for free.

Recycle and Reuse and Construction Materials when you can -- check out Habitat for Humanities Deconstruction Program and the Habitat Re-Stores.

A single quart of oil poured down the drain can pollute 250,000 gallons of water. Recycle your oil, auto fluids, and car batteries either at the Hazardous Waste Facility or for a small fee many locations that provide these services will recycle drop offs. The Hazardous Waste Facility also accepts unwanted paint, thinners, pool chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.

Recycle your computers, monitors and TV’s at any Goodwill that which will refurbish or responsibly dispose of thru their E-Waste program. In 2005, Goodwill processed 3.6 million pounds (or 200 trash trucks) of E-waste which was re-sold in their Austin Computer Works retail location in North Austin, used in refurbishment or recycled.

The Austin Green Living & Home Products Expo is April 18-20 at the Austin Convention Center.