The phrase "going green" has taken on a life of its own. There are so many ways to incorporate eco-friendliness into your lifestyle that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Always keep in mind that baby steps and small improvements are a good start. Even if you're not ready to start composting in your backyard just yet, there are some simple ways to bring the new It color into your home.

- Bamboo blinds are a great environmentally conscious choice as opposed to regular wooden ones because bamboo is a renewable resource that grows quickly. They are also easy to keep clean by dusting or lightly vacuuming.

- Washing machines carrying the Energy Star seal use less power and even better, the front-loading models use 40 per cent less water and 50 per cent less energy than the top-loading varieties. More water is also removed from clothing during the spin cycle of a front-loading machine, meaning it will take them less time to dry.

- Reduce your water usage in a high-profile room in your home such as the kitchen or main bathroom. Installing an aerator is easy, inexpensive and increases water pressure enough to reduce use anywhere from 25 to 50 per cent.

- Zeolite, a mineral contained in volcanic rock, is not only odorless, it also gets ride of organic and chemical-based smells in a safe, non-toxic way. Deordorizers containing the mineral don't just mask a smell, they eliminate it.

» Energy Star (Official Site)