8 Green Do It Yourself Projects

The bathroom offers several easy do it yourself opportunities on the cheap. Take a few minutes to install a low flow showerhead or a faucet aerator to drastically reduce your water use. Other quick bathroom improvements include adding insulating wrap to your water pipes or for the slightly more advanced DIYer, installing a bathroom exhaust fan.

Taking stock of your home's energy use can help you prioritize your renovation projects, and it's a task that can easily be completed by yourself. Play detective and investigate your home's insulation, heating and cooling efficiency and identify possible air leaks. Whether you decide to do the actual work or not, you'll at least get a good idea of where your money is best spent.

Sometimes green home projects are as simple as changing a light bulb. Upgrade your incadescent bulbs to energy saving LEDs. Under or above cabinet lighting helps you find your way around the kitchen, and accent lighting in the living room or bedroom highlights interesting architectural features or prized collections.

One of the most common do it yourself projects is painting. A fresh coat of paint can completely transform a room for under $100, but it can also make your home smell like a chemical plant. That's why it's so important to buy low or no VOC paint, or use paint made from natural materials. Your lungs will thank you.

Picking out furniture is often the fun part of a remodeling project. Make sure to choose furniture made from recycled or renewable materials such as bamboo, or wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which ensures sustainable forestry practices. The greenest furniture? Gently used furniture or antiques. Hit up your local antique stores or surf Craigslist for good deals.

Cabinets are usually the most expensive part of a kitchen renovation, and installing them is no walk in the park. However, you can give your kitchen a complete facelift by repainting your cabinets or refacing them with new veneer. Another quick and relatively inexpensive update is adding new cabinet hardware. These projects are appropriate for beginner DIY-ers and prevent perfectly good cabinets from crowding our landfills.

One of the first strategies you probably think of when it comes to being green is recycling. Collecting and organizing all of your recyclables is a lot easier when you have dedicated bins. Invest in a set of attractive home recycling bins, or if you're up for the challenge, build your own custom recycling center.