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Whether you’re doing it for the health of the planet, the amount of money you spend on your energy bills, or both, going green is a very practical, helpful decision to make. And no matter how green you plan on going, it all starts with making changes in the home. Some people cannot afford to make the really big changes, so in the article below you will learn about a few quick and easy changes you can make to go green.

A lot of people already know that Energy Star appliances use far less electricity and are thus the greener choice. But the reason many people don’t make the change is that they don’t have thousands of dollars available to them. You don’t have to change all at once, however. Start slowly. Begin with one appliance, witness the difference it makes, save up the difference, and then gradually make the other changes until you’re running all Energy Star appliances.

Just like with Energy Star appliances, you can make small, gradual changes using solar panels. Solar panels can be very expensive, but purchasing smaller solar panels one at a time is a great way to change on a budget. And if you’re a resident of the US, you can receive some great tax benefits by making these small changes. In fact, with today’s federal policies, smaller solar systems may allow you to recoup the entire expense with one return.

Although you may not realize just how much energy you’re using, a clothes dryer actually saps more power per usage than any other appliance in the home. Not only does the drum have to operate, but the machine needs to create enough heat to dry the clothes. You can cancel out these expenses completely if you dry outside on a clothesline. Unless it’s the dead of winter, your clothes will air dry in a few hours.

Did you know that planting trees has many positive energy benefits for the home? In the summertime, the sun bearing through the windows is going to create a lot of heat. But if the trees are there to block some of the sun, you’ll get the cooling benefits of the shade. And in the wintertime, that bitter wind will have a tough time blowing through the branches, even without the leaves there to provide extra cover.

One of the best ways to go green is to simply make small changes around the home. It sounds very trite and generic, but just try washing clothes and rinsing dishes with cold water, turning off your lights, and even unplugging appliances when they’re not in use. Over time, these small changes will add up to big savings. The gain you receive from the small changes may motivate you to make bigger changes.

As you can see from the above tips, there are many benefits you can gain by making the choice to go green. The best part is that you don’t have to make these changes all at once. Start slowly and work your way into a green lifestyle.