The ground temperate is a constant that you can use to heat and cool your house. Over the summer the deep ground temperature is warmer than the air and into he summer it is cooler. The ‘ground-source heat pump system’ uses underground water from a 1,000-foot deep well and pumps, that are basement heat exchangers to move the water.

The system uses no fossil fuels and provide comfort year-round, with zero CO2 emissions, for a fraction of the operating cost of conventional HVAC systems. Geothermal systems also have fewer moving parts than conventional systems, so they are more reliable and require less maintenance, so they last for decades. As a rule of thumb, complete systems run about $2500 to $3500 per 500 square feet of living space. So, a complete geo-thermal system for an average size 2,500 sq. ft. home would run between $12,500 and $17,500. Geo-thermal for larger homes could easily cost $25,000 to $30,000.

There are countless ways to reuse, from back packs to fire extinguishers, so here to help you on your quest to help save the environment and your cash is a condensed list of tips on what you can use around your home. (Keep in mind that if you have items that you just can’t use you can always sell them at a garage sale, donate them to a community organization or send them to an exchange program.)

Long ago, gardeners discovered shrubs require minimal maintenance and deliver maximum rewards. A variety of shrubs add greenery, flowers and fragrance to home landscapes.

Shrubs are easy to plant and if you buy them small, not very expensive. You can always plant a hedge all in one shrub, but it’s more fun and adds more seasonal interest to the garden if you choose a variety of shrubs. Go for a selection that has contrasting shapes, leaf textures and colors. And include plenty of flowering shrubs, which often make great cut flowers for indoors.

One exciting green design option that is slowly gaining acceptance in the U.S. is the natural swimming pool, which offers a refreshing, beautiful alternative to reliance on chlorine or other toxic chemicals.

On average, Americans recycle less than a third of our waste. If we doubled our efforts and recycled 60 percent, we d save 35 million barrels of oil a year. The best way to get your whole family involved in the recycling effort is to set up a system that s easy to use. Color-code and label bins with pictures if necessary, and post instructions where everyone can read them. Offer kids the incentive of keeping the refund for washing out, organizing and redeeming the bottles and cans.

Did you know that almost $2 billion is spent on the production of paint every year, and almost 60 million gallons of that paint becomes left over in the United States alone? Become apart of the movement and help save the environment by butting back your paint purchases.

Spend your hard earned cash on paint that pays for itself, like recycled paint. Recycled paint can cost half the price of new paint, and you help the environment by reusing.

Modern chemicals do many good things for us. But some also do harm — to us, wildlife or the environment. With U.S. industries now using some 75,000 chemicals, and as we discover more about their downsides, public demand for greater precaution is growing. The dramatic increase in organic food sales in the last two decades is one sign of this growing public concern.

In 2002, the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit watchdog, released the results of a “body burden” study that found 167 chemicals present in the blood and urine of nine volunteers. Then in 2005, the group reported the results of its tests of 10 newborn babies, in whom it found 287 chemicals present.

Hazardous ingredients are among the least expensive and most widely used in the paint & coatings industry, perpetuating a legacy of environmental damage for generations to come. Many paints and stains are petroleum-based, with toxic additives that are designed for a narrow benefit, such as killing mildew.

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Almost all Americans use household cleaning products — from dish detergents to bathroom cleaners and floor polish to scouring pads. Most of us are exposed to cleaners on a daily basis, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [source: Davies]. Even if we don’t use cleaners, it’s likely we’re regularly come into contact with them at work, school or elsewhere.

Unfortunately, cleaners often contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to our health and planet. Health effects associated with cleaning products include asthma, contact dermatitis, burns to the skin and eyes and inflammation or fluid in the lungs. Long-term repercussions may include reproductive problems, cancer, heart disease and other health issues.

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