10 Tips to Go Green and Save Green

With the financial crisis looming over the country, and unemployment rates rising, it’s only natural for people to be less concerned about greening their habits and more concerned about keeping green in their wallets.

It’s important to note that the two are not mutually exclusive. You can have your green cake and eat it too with the following eco-friendly tips that will also save you money.

1. Conserve energy! This is an obvious one but necessary. Save energy by turning off unnecessary lights, lowering your thermostat, cleaning your refrigerator coils, unplugging unused electronics, and washing laundry in cold water instead of hot. Prep your house for winter by sealing drafty windows and doors.

2. Conserve water by taking shorter showers, watering your lawn less often, washing full loads of laundry, and fixing leaky faucets.

3. Organic produce is not always the most expensive option. Watch for sales when you shop – you will find some organic bargains. Maximize your food budget by opting for organic on the items that typically have the highest amounts of pesticides and herbicides including: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes.

4. Buy in bulk or in larger sizes to reduce the amount of packaging that goes to our landfills and lower your grocery bills.

5. Save on gas by going the speed limit, keeping your tires properly inflated, and avoiding the “idle” waiting. Carpool with neighbors when you can. Better yet, use mass transit, ride a bike, or walk.

6. Visit your local library instead of buying a new book.

7. Invest in a water filter and drink tap water instead of buying bottled water.

8. When it’s time to cleanup, use cloth towels, washcloths, or napkins rather than paper towels.

9. Skip the expensive and abrasive chemical cleaners and opt for more natural (and less expensive cleaning alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, and ammonia.

10. When a light bulb goes out, replace it with a CFL bulb. It does cost more than a regular bulb but it lasts ten times longer and uses a third less energy which will lower your electrical bill each month.

As you can see, you don’t have to spend green to go green. Tell us what you think! What do YOU do to save money and the environment?

Ten Water Conservation Tips

Water is a precious resource and I'm always looking for ways to conserve where I can. Here are some ideas to make the most of our water supply.

1. You may have glasses half full of water around the house (especially in the summer heat). Rather than dumping the water down the drain you can use it to water your houseplants, top off the dog's water dish, or give your outdoor potted plants a refresher.


2. Take shorter showers. This is easily accomplished by not washing your hair everyday (which is not good for your locks anyway). Just shaving 1-2 minutes off your shower time can save up to 700 gallons a month.


3. Water your lawn in the early morning so the water has time to soak into the ground before the sun evaporates it.


4. Use low-flush toilets or simply put a soda bottle full of water in your tank to reduce the amount of water used to refill with each flush.


5. Run a full load of dishes in the dishwasher rather than washing by hand. Newer dishwashers do not require pre-rinsing so cut that step out if you are able to do so.


6. Do laundry only when you have a full load and use cold water, which is just as effective as warm and takes less energy.


7. Bust out the broom instead of hosing down your sidewalks or driveway. We call all use some exercise anyway!


8. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving. This will save 4 gallons of water a minute!


9. Instead of using the garbage disposal for scraps (and using water to run it) start a compost pile!


10. Watch out for broken sprinklers, open hydrants, broken pipes and any other significant water losses in your community. Be sure to notify the property owner or the water district of the problem.