10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green
How can we live lightly on the Earth
and save money at the same time? Staff members at the Worldwatch Institute, a
global environmental organization, share ideas on how to GO GREEN and SAVE
GREEN at home and at work. To learn more about Worldwatch's efforts to
create am environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs, sign up here for weekly e-mail updates.
Climate change is in the news. It seems like
everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too.
Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our
lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more
sustainably. Let's start now.
We've partnered with the Million CarCarbon Campaign to help you find ways to save energy and reduce your
carbon footprint. This campaign is uniting conscious consumers around the world
to prevent the emissions-equivalent of 1 million cars from entering the
atmosphere each year.
Keep reading for 10 simple things
you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live
a happier, healthier life. For more advice, purchase State of the World 2010 - Transforming Cultures: FromConsumerism to Sustainability, a report from 60 renowned
researchers and practitioners on how to reorient cultures toward
sustainability.
1.
Save Energy to Save Money
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and
a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
Install compactfluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs
burn out.
Unplug appliances when you're not
using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when
appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy
use.
Wash clothes in cold water whenever
possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes
to heating the water.
Use a drying rack or clothesline to
save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
2.
Save water
to save money.
Take shorter showers to reduce water
use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and
the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive
appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
Plant
drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need
minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
3.
Less gas = More money and better
healt !
Walk or
bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving
your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
Consider telecommuting if you live
far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it
could save you money in the long term.
Lobby your
local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes.
With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your
health and reducing traffic.
4.
Eat smart.
If you eat meat, add one meatless
meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when
you consider the related environmental and health costs.
Buy locally
raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can.
Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
Watch videos about why local food
and sustainable seafood are so great.
Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true
for seafood.
5.
Skip the botled water
Use a water filter to purify tap
water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive,
but it generates large amounts of container waste.
Bring a reusable water bottle,
preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
Check out this short article for the
latest
on bottled water trends.
6.
Think
before you buy.
Go online to find new or gently used
secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate,
consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing
to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
Check out garage sales, thrift
stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
When making purchases, make sure you
know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases
have a real impact, for better or worse.
7.
Borrow
instead of buying.
Borrow from
libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves
money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
Share power tools and other
appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things
cluttering your closet or garage.
8.
Buy Smart
Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from
bulk bins can save money and packaging.
Wear clothes that don't need to be
dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
Invest in high-quality,
long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy
when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less
waste!).
9.
Keep
electronics out of the trash.
Keep your cell phones, computers,
and other electronics as long as possible.
Donate or recycle them responsibly
when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is
a growing environmental problem.
Ask your local government to set up an
electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.
10. Make your own cleaning supplies
The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products
whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking
soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
Making your own cleaning products
saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.
