This story from The Good Human blog proves that homeowners don’t have to install solar panels or spend a fortune to be more environmentally friendly on a daily basis.

There are some very small changes you can make that will go a long way toward a greener life.

Office paper and envelopes: Buy 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper products. They’re available everywhere and they are actually a little cheaper than the virgin paper version.

Sponges: Stop buying disposable ones and switch to washable ones that can be cleaned in the laundry.

Toothbrushes: Buy a recycled plastic one like this Preserve brand. They’re generally less expensive and they don’t use virgin plastic. The Preserve brand even takes them back when you are done with them and turns them into playground equipment.

Batteries: Buy rechargeable ones. Purchasing a charger instead of new batteries every month or so and waiting a couple hours for them to recharge will ultimate save money, time and energy.

Plastic bags: Buy the reusable brand from the grocery store. Most natural foods stores sell them for less than one-and-done bags.

This tip doesn’t come from The Good Human, but it’s one of the easiest ways to start incorporating some green habits into your life: Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Start by replacing just the bulbs in your home that burn out most often. You’ll be surprised by how much longer they stay lit and how much money you save. Lighting typically accounts for about 20 percent of the electric bill in an average home, and CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Photo courtesy of Mulad on Flickr