Tips for a healthy nursery

1. Improve your nursery's indoor air quality by selecting paint, furniture and flooring that do not off gas hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

2. Select a crib that is certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) for safety. The crib construction should use water-based glues and finishes on hardwood. For cribs made with wood veneers, be sure that the underlying plywood or pressed board has reduced levels of urea formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen.

3. Select a crib mattress made of organic wool and organic cotton to avoid VOC off gassing. If you choose a mattress with a plastic cover, be sure that it is made of food-grade polyethylene rather than polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

4. Use organic cotton bedding to avoid pesticides and harsh chemicals used for standard cotton.

5. Install hard flooring (wood, cork or bamboo) with a rug that can be easily pulled up and washed to eliminate dust mites. For wall-to-wall carpet, the healthiest option is an undyed, organic wool carpet. Synthetic carpets should have the Green Label Plus certification for reduced VOC emissions.

For more tips and a more detailed explanation of these guidelines, check out the article "A Healthy Nursery for a Healthy Baby."

Tips for a greener home

1. Get an energy audit of your home. If an on-site audit is not an option, you can get a virtual energy audit of your home using the Home Energy Saver's do-it-yourself audit.

2. Set up a recycling station in your home, and be sure to check your city's current recycling guidelines, which change periodically.

3. Switch to natural, non-toxic household cleaners to protect your family's health and the environment. It's easy! Even Target is now carrying natural cleaning products.

4. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent lights.

5. If you paint, use no-VOC paints to keep hazardous volatile organic compounds out of your home.

6. Install dual-flush or ultra low-flow toilets to save water.

7. For more great no-cost, low-cost ideas on how to save energy, check out Coop America's "23 Steps Toward Energy Efficiency."