While your heart might be in the right place, admit it: There’s something intimidating about making the change to a greener lifestyle. What’s a socially conscious couple to do, and where should they start? With a few simple changes from room to room, you, too, can help make the world a healthier place to live.

BATHROOMS
Two simple fixes can make a world of difference: First, ditch that old, leaky shower head for a new low-flow style; and second, fix your leaky toilet. Think you don’t have a leak? Think again. “A lot of toilets have clean water from the well going into the base, but, because it’s clear, you can’t tell,” explains Danny Seo, author of Simply Green Giving (HarperCollins, 2006). He offers this test: Put food dye in the toilet for 20 minutes. If there’s no colour when you return, you’re wasting thousands of gallons of water every year—not to mention what it’s costing your pocketbook.

KITCHEN
The most efficient change can be the most expensive one, depending on how far you want to go. But your best bet for greening this room is to choose appliances that bear the Energy Star label. “When you’re deciding on a fridge and torn between two energy hogs, go for the one with the label—it will pay off in the long run,” says Seo.

LIVING ROOM
It all boils down to one word: paint. To ensure that you’re not going to waste any—and how many of us haven’t?—make sure that you measure the room and use a paint calculator to determine exactly what you need. Seo recommends checking the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the paint, which is what gives it its smell. “The major companies are making low-VOC paints that cost more but can be tinted every colour and don’t have any odour,” he says.

OFFICE
With more and more couples working from home these days, the home office has become a staple—and a black hole for greening. The best place to start? Ditch your fax machine and go paperless. “Get an efax number,” advises Seo. “If you have paper that you need to file, fax it to yourself and store it digitally.” Another suggestion? Opt for a more energy-efficient laptop instead of a desktop computer.