Living green doesn't have to mean candle-lit nights, raw food, and dirty floors, however. There are some simple, easier, and often, cheap, ways to make your home a little more earth-friendly, without overhauling your life, or making your landlord hate you.

Building the Nest:

After moving all your worldly possessions into your new apartment, you may be tempted to sit in your Lazy-Boy chair and watch reality TV for a solid week. Take a few commercial breaks, and follow these quick steps to set up your apartment for the greenest success on the block.

1. Arrange your electronics so that you can conveniently plug multiple devices into single surge power strips. Be strategic with the wiring, and pack the plugs in together like sardines. This way, when you're running late for work, it'll only take a few seconds to unplug all those power-sucking electronics. Make this part of your daily routine, and watch your electricity bill slim down faster than Heidi Klum after childbirth.

2. Install a programmable thermostat, and chill out on that pricey, all-day-long air conditioning! Programmable thermostats allow you to create a schedule for your apartment's heater or air conditioner. Giving your thermostat a daytime siesta means it won't be wasting energy on an empty apartment. Whether you're out around the town, or sitting in the cubicle, you'll be giving the planet and you wallet a break.

12. Sweating bullets? Teeth chattering? The weather may be your in-law's favorite thing to talk about, but the temperature indoors should be the real topic of conversation. That's because heating and cooling an apartment is one of the largest sources of energy consumption in your home. You can still feel comfy and room-temperature without guzzling energy like a Hummer, though. Think about turning on a fan during the summer, or setting up some black-out curtains during snowier times (these absorb heat and keep you toasty like a Boy Scout at a camp fire).

3. As you set up your swanky mood lighting, think about how you're going to brighten up your day. Instead of letting wasteful (and unflattering to every complexion!) fluorescent lights illuminate your new pad, invest in some CFL light bulbs. Not only are they cheap, but they're much more energy efficient than your common bulb. Lighten up your apartment without weighing down your carbon footprint.

4. Give some old furniture a new home! Consider adopting some furniture with a little more…history. Thrift shops and consignment stores often offer vintage furniture, at reasonable prices. Besides, the perfect vintage piece will give your place some quirk; let that '60s love-seat or wacky '80s couch separate your place from a sea of beige apartment look-a-likes.

5. Don't send limited water resources down the drain. Now's the time to install low-pressure water faucets in your shower and/or sinks. Many older apartments may have faucets with wasteful flow-rates. Replacing these faucets will decrease your water consumption, without cutting into your daily Whitney Houston shower sing-a-long. Also, add a faucet aerator to your sinks - they're little metal attachments that cut down on energy wasted every time you turn on the tap.

7. Don't flood the place! We pretty much waste enough water in our daily lives to fill the Hudson River! Be smart, and turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth and shave. Wash your dishes in a basin, rather than letting the faucet run the whole time. Also, only turn on the dish-washer load when there's a full load, and keep your garbage disposal usage to a minimum - both guzzle water like a marathon runner.

8. The drip-drop of your leaky sink driving you nuts? It's also spitting Earth's most valuable resource straight down the drain. Tell your landlord about any fluky faucets right away, and make sure it gets fixed.

6. When it comes to junk mail, just say "No, thanks!" Sick of being bombarded with coupons and credit card applications? Go paper-free! Check out https://www.catalogchoice.org/ to unsubscribe from mail-box clogging catalogues. Also, consider canceling your subscription to that magazine you're perpetually three months behind on. Clear mailbox, clear conscience!

9. You can't install solar panels or turn your whole rooftop into a waste-composite, but you do have control over what products you bring into your home. Products containing bamboo are on every greenie's wish list. Bamboo grows fast, so it's much easier to replace than a forest of trees. Cut down on waste by using a dish rag instead of roll after roll of paper towels. Also, as a general rule of thumb: think Costco. Buying non-perishable foods in bulk eliminates wasteful packaging. House looking empty? Adopt some green roommates: procure some healthy plants to improve air quality.

10. Think before you trash it - many plastic, cardboard, and paper products are recyclable. Keep that circle of life going, and use a recycling bin instead. If your building doesn't have recycling options, talk to your management about setting up a building-wide recycling program; the hippies next door will thank you!

11. Why coat your counters in tile cleansers that smell like a swimming pool when you can make your home sparkle using ingredients you already have in your pantry? Home-made cleaning supplies are an easy way to keep chemicals out of your home, make your place smell fresh, and save a few bucks. Check out some fantastic, aromatic recipes at http://www.natural-healthy-home-cleaning-tips.com/natural_home_cleaning_recipes.htm, and replace those toxic tile colognes with soothing lavender aromas.

Like starting a diet or learning Swahili, going green requires commitment and self-awareness. Soon, though, you'll find that small, strategic habits can add up to enormous long-term benefits! Before long, you'll find yourself saving money and contributing to the sustainability of the planet! Most importantly, you'll have something new to brag about at cocktail parties!