Earth Day is this weekend, a day when people around the world think about their impact on the environment and find new ways to make a difference in their everyday lives. It can start in your own home, so here are 8 ways to make your home just a little bit greener:

1. Turn off the lights.

You can save a ton of wasted energy just by making sure you turn off all the lights when you leave a room. If your family tends to be a little forgetful, consider installing movement sensors or automatic timers on your lights.

2. Open a window.

If it’s a lovely day outside, you should take advantage of it! Shut off the air conditioner for a while and let the cool breezes in through an open window.

3. Use non-toxic cleaning supplies.

 Harsh chemical cleaners can be bad for your health and the environment. Look for brands that are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradable. There are also tons of recipes for DIY cleaners that use ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils.

4. Start a compost pile.

Things like eggshells, coffee grounds, and vegetable peelings that would otherwise end up in your garbage can make excellent additions to a compost pile. It makes great soil enhancer and can reduce landfill waste.

5. Cut down on plastic.

As much as we all hate doing the dishes, paper and plastic tableware can be wasteful and harmful to the environment, so try to avoid using them on a regular basis. Also, you can use reusable food containers instead of plastic wrap.

6. Go paperless.

Everything is online nowadays, so a paper bill in the mail is often just a waste. Talk to your financial institutions and find out if they have paperless options. Also, if you’re tired of receiving all of those credit card offers that just end up in the trash, you can call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT to opt out of receiving mailers for five years.

7. Leave your shoes at the door.

Believe it or not, your shoes can track in more than just dirt. Being out in the world all day means your shoes can get covered in all kinds of gunk like car exhaust and pesticides. Simply leave them at the door to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals brought into your home.

8. Make your home smarter.

Smart homes are non longer a dream of the future, and most smart-home gadgets such as smart thermostats can make your home a whole lot greener. They are designed to regulate the temperature in your home more efficiently, and they do so by learning your habits and building schedules. For example, it will automatically turn the air up or down accordingly when you leave and come home from work, thus saving a ton of wasted A/C while nobody is home.

Comment below if you have any other tips for making your home greener and more environmentally friendly!