A green home is a healthy home, free of toxins, with fresh air and a clean environment. It's also an environmentally friendly home with reduced energy use, conscience recycling efforts and sustainable living habits.

Creating a green home is easier than you think.

1. Reduce your water heater temperature by 10 degrees. You'll save three to five percent in energy costs.

2. Reduce your thermostat by 10 degrees. Even for just the eight hours your family is out at work or school will save you another 10 percent on your energy bill.

3. Get a high-performance shower head. It uses 60 percent less water, and most are designed to produce the same feeling of water pressure.

4. Clean your lint trap regularly. It can reduce your home's energy use by 30 percent.

5. Use chemical-free, natural cleaners. Baking soda, salt and vinegar are just a few natural cleaners you can use to clean your home. You probably have them on hand already, and they're much healthier than the toxic chemicals in traditional home cleaners. Let’s put it this way: If you need to wear rubber gloves so you don’t absorb the chemicals into your skin, or if there's a warning label about using it in a well-ventilated area, there's a good bet that the cleaner isn't environmentally friendly or safe for your family, and may cause illness.

6. Replace major appliances with Energy Star appliances. It can be a big investment to purchase new appliances for the sake of having a green home, but they end up paying for themselves in the long run by reducing your energy costs and helping the environment.

7. Install double-pane windows. Also a big investment, but, again, it will pay for itself.

8. Remove all carpet. Drastic, I know. I’m not a fan of carpet, especially when there are renewable, sustainable, environmentally friendly alternatives that are much healthier and easier to keep clean. Bamboo, cork and reclaimed wood are far better to have in your home than carpet. Carpet collects dust, and no matter how great your vacuum is, it doesn’t get all of it. The air quality in your home will be substantially improved without carpet.

9. Buy house plants. Plants are nature's way of cleaning the air and producing oxygen.

10. Use green energy. More than 50 percent of U.S. retail customers have the option to choose green energy from their energy provider. Should you choose to do so, you’ll be using energy created directly from renewable sources like wind and solar power.

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