Accent your area. Lay a few area rugs down on hardwood, tile or linoleum for a carpetlike effect without harmful glues. Choose rugs made from natural fibers such as cotton, wool, hemp, bamboo and sisal, and look for vegetable dyes or no dye at all. Rugs made from recycled materials are another green option. Abundant Earth offers durable Recycled Cotton Rag Area Rugs in many colors starting at $55 each

Befriend your dishwasher. In general, a regular dishwasher cycle uses less water than handwashing. Skip the prerinsing and save even more. For caked-on food, soak in cold water (to avoid using energy to heat the water). Some dishwashers have a heated dry feature; turn it off and either towel or air dry. If you’re in the market for a new dishwasher, an Energy Star model is the way to go; they start at about $500

Tweak your throne. The first sign of a troubled toilet is the sound of running water between flushes. Malfunctioning toilets can leak hundreds of gallons of water a day, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Test your toilet’s water-tightness with a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if the bowl shows traces of color after 15 minutes, you’ve got a leak. An inexpensive toilet repair kit, such as the MJSI HFX120 Hydrofix, costs less than $20 (www.AceHardware.com).

Airtight, everything’s all right. A drafty home inflates energy bills. But it’s easy and affordable to plug those drafts with an eco-friendly sealant. According to the Energy Star website, if the job is done carefully and completely, it could save up to 10 percent on your energy bill.