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.

1. Save energy to save money.

Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.

Unplug appliances when you’re not using them.

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. Air dry after!

2. Save water to save money.

Install a low-flow showerhead. Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.

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 health!).

Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

Commute to work and save your gasoline for long trips instead. Try to wake up earlier than usual in order to avoid being late.

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.

Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.

5. Skip the bottled 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. Did you know that you can save up to P500.00 a month for every purchase of 1 bottle a day?

Start going ‘green’ at home. (Image credit: www.google.com)

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, you can also consider going to surplus shops to track down furniture, appliances, and other items at a low cost.

Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items. Make sure to properly sanitize these items after purchase.

7. Borrow instead of buying.

Borrow from libraries or friends 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 and in “family sizes”. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging. Buying bigger packaging of household and grocery items mean you’ll buy less.

Use fabric conditioner to minimize ironing time. Also consider that there are some clothes that don’t need ironing.

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. Research on the quality of a unit before making a purchase.

Donate or recycle gadgets responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.

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.(Adapted by Jessy Pearl)

Source: www.worldwatch.org