Easy Tips for Saving Money (and the Environment)
By Jeffrey Hollender
It can be easy to go green, and cost-effective too. Here are a few of my favorite tips for saving money and the planet:
- Turn your computers off at night. If you turn off the computer every night before bed, you will save about $90 on your utility bill a year.
- Download computer software. Instead of purchasing a physical package, buy and download software online. You'll save time and resources.
- Steam your clothes instead of dry-cleaning. Save money and energy and avoid chemicals by steaming your own clothes at home.
- Avoid bottled water. Drink from a glass or from a reusable, safe plastic bottle instead.
- Use the toaster. When heating bread, you'll save energy by using a toaster instead of a conventional oven.
- Turn down the heat. By turning down your heating system a few degrees, you'll save a large amount of energy.
- Recycle your cell phone. Recycling your old cell phones helps keep hazardous chemicals out of the environment.
- Use a corded phone. Cordless phones use energy when they charge.
- Do laundry in cold water. The higher the water temperature, the more energy used.
- Use ground transportation. Overnight shipping uses more fossil fuels and creates more pollution.
- Eat food grown locally. The closer you are to the source of your food, the less energy is required to transport it.
- Borrow from the library. You'll save money as well as help reduce the amount of ink and paper it takes to make books.
- Invest in high-quality products and buy fewer of them. Although you may be paying more now, they'll last longer.
- Turn off the lights. Hit the switch if you plan to be out of a room for more than 30 seconds.
- Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
- Close your curtains. Heat and cool air loss from older windows can be significant. With the sun beating in, the AC needs to work harder.
- Pay bills online. Save on late fees and natural resources by signing up for online billing payment options.
- Carpool. Cut down on carbon emissions and save money.
Get more information at www.seventhgeneration.com.
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