Tips for making your home green and healthy

Creating a green environment at home may sound challenging to some, but a few simple changes in household routines can benefit the environment, as well as the health of your family.

"Greening your home isn't as difficult as many people think," says Mike Kapalko, sustainability marketing manager, SCA Tissue North America. "By committing to make small adjustments in your daily life, you can make your home greener and healthier for you and your family - while helping reduce your environmental impact on the earth."

Simple steps to make your home environment healthier and greener include:

Add green
Bring the outdoors inside by adding a few plants around your house. Plants can help improve air quality and personal health as a result. If you don't have a green thumb, look for varieties that require minimal care, such as an Aloe vera plant.

Power down
Turn off lights in empty rooms. Unplug or turn off power strips for computers, electronic devices and kitchen appliances when not in use. You'll conserve energy, which will benefit both your pocketbook and environmental footprint. Encourage family members to power down devices by contributing a quarter to a special fund each time they follow the rule. Reinforce the behavior by treating the family to a fun outing when you reach your goal.

Purchase recyclables
Purchase 100 percent recycled and compostable paper products when possible, such as Tork brand napkins and paper towels. Place them in a one-at-a-time dispenser, such as the Tork Xpress Hand Towel Dispenser or the Tork Xpressnap Tabletop Napkin Dispenser, which will cut down on waste and also improve home hygiene.

Create compost
Compost can be used to fertilize your garden and reduce the amount of your trash. Composting may seem overwhelming, but it's easy to start small. Identify a place indoors or in the backyard. Gather key ingredients such as yard trimmings, food scraps, compostable napkins and paper towels and water. For simple instructions, visit www.compostingcouncil.org.

Avoid plastic
Plastic bags can be harmful to the environment and create unneeded waste. Use cloth bags to shop at the grocery store or farmers market. Another good way to avoid the use of plastic materials is to purchase glass containers to store and reheat leftovers.

For more ways to keep homes healthy and green, visit www.torkhome.com.