If you want to live green and save energy, there are many things you can do around the house and yard. Offer to rake the yard, walks, and driveway for your parents and neighbors so no one needs to use electrical equipment like leaf-blowers. Machines use a lot of energy and the wind will bring those leaves back anyway! If your yard is small, you can use a push mower instead of a gas mower. Raking and hand mowing is actually kind of fun and it is really good exercise, too.

Thinking green is about not polluting too. Try spraying soapy water on your houseplants or garden vegetables if they get pests on them. It can work as well as chemical pesticides and it is not poisonous. Ask your parents to buy biodegradable cleaning products so that cleaning your house doesn't hurt the soil and water system. Never, ever pour antifreeze, oil, or other chemicals on the ground, into storm sewers, or down the drain. Find out where your local waste disposal facility is and let your parents know. Also find out when the next toxic waste day is at your town landfill and talk to your parents about getting rid of old paint cans and other yucky stuff in your basement and garage. Throwing out toxic waste properly makes the world a safer place and your home should be the safest place on Earth!

According to the EPA, Americans have covered 25 million acres of our country with lawns. That is roughly about the size of the state of Pennsylvania. Lawns use tons of water, are often treated with chemical fertilizers and weed killers, and need to be cut every week or more. Lawn mowers, edgers, weed whackers, and hedge trimmers all are expensive and need gallons and gallons of gas to run. They are also noisy! Lawns replace natural habitats of native plants that are used by birds, butterflies, and other animals. Ask your parents if you could plant some native bushes. These bushes are good cover for birds and other animals, reduce the amount of grass to be mowed, and can be very pretty!