In a seemingly endless array of green tips for your home - the whole process of going green can seem quite daunting. Practically anything you do can have a more "eco" alternative - just where do you start when it comes to making the green switch.

When it comes reducing your impact, whether you're a green newbie or an eco enthusiast, sometimes it's just as important to remember to go back to basics. That's why in this article, we're focusing on the simple ideas for going green, with some helpful suggestions for taking the next step up and getting into a more intense carbon diet.

Switch off your lights - there are a number of eco friendly, energy efficient light bulb alternatives you can explore, but when it comes to a good environmentally conscious habit, one of the most important things to do is to switch off lights when they're not in use and when there's plenty of natural light available. Remember electricity accounts for about 40 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions, so every little bit counts.

Green Step up: After the lights, consider powering down and unplugging all your electrical appliances when they're not in use.According to CETDEM's energu audit studies in Malaysia, 42.2% of the energy used in the household are for cooling. Washing machines used up abuot 4,67% of our energy consumption and lighting at 7.29%.

Eco step stool: If you're likely to forget about powering down your appliances, consider helpful gadgets that make it easier to switch off appliances at power points. Extension cords with easy to access power boards are one solution. There are also a number of eco devices that help such as large button power boards with an easy tap switch, remote controlled switches or timer devices that you can set and forget.

Even cats know how to switch the lights off!

Source: The Green Pages