If you're like most people, you've heard that there are actions each of us can take in our daily lives to decrease the pollution to our air, water and other resources. You may not know, however, that the actions you take to help the environment can also be beneficial to our health.

In many cases, there is a very direct link. Look at your own household, for instance. The ways that you use water and energy...the items you purchase, use and throw away...even what you do with your backyard can have a very significant health impact.

The National Wildlife Federation's Educational Outreach Department, with the cooperation of theNational Association of Physicians for the Environment and the Environmental Alliance for SeniorInvolvement, has produced this "A Green Home is a Healthy Home" guide to illustrate how dailyhousehold operations can affect the environment and our health.

Seniors (persons over 50) have considerable experience they can lend to the healthy home effort.Also, seniors are more at risk of suffering the effects of pollution than other adults because theirbody organs and systems, such as heart, lungs and immune system, become less strong over time.Polluted air and water can have a harder impact on them than others. In the sections that follow,you'll learn how easy it is to live a "greener," healthier lifestyle.

When you create a Green Home you do more than make the place where you live more livable.You do a service to your community, setting an example for your neighbors to follow.

You might want to experiment with one or two suggested actions to start with, and then more untilyou are doing something in each section that is covered here. If it helps to have specific goals inmind; some goals have been recommended for you to follow.

Thank you for your efforts to make our world a better place to live...starting with your own home.

16 Easy Steps to a Greener Home

What You Can Do