Go Green and Save Money with Eco-Friendly Tips

12 Easy Ways to Reduce Spending and Help the Environment

Sep 11, 2009 Lauren Flanagan

Everyone is supposed to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but that can be easier said than done. But don't fret, there are tons of easy ways to help the environment.

The fate of the environment is a very important subject, and it seems as though every day more information comes out about what people can do to help minimize the effect of the human race on the earth. While not everyone is able to purchase hybrid cars or live off the grid, there are a number of things that can be done, and many of them will also save money.

General Tips to Save Money and Help the Environment

  • Turn off faucets when brushing teeth. It couldn’t be any simpler.
  • Buy items such as paper towels and toilet paper that are made of recycled materials and free of perfumes and dyes. If everyone did it, millions of trees could be saved.
  • Rather than leave the car running when someone jumps out to run a quick errand, turn it off. An idle car wastes gas and is unnecessarily harmful to the environment.
  • Use rechargeable batteries instead of the disposable variety. Batteries are very harmful to the environment. The rechargeable ones can be used over and over again, so not as many will end up in landfills.
  • Use white vinegar and baking soda instead of harmful chemical-filled household cleaners. There are many books available about what concentration of each works best for each cleaning job. It’s a green cleaning alternative and very cost-effective.

Energy Saving Tips for the Home

  • Rather than leaving computers running (and being mesmerized by lava lamp-like screen savers) put them to sleep when taking a break. The energy used really adds up over the course of a year.
  • Instead of relying on air-conditioners during the hot summer months, try to use fans, or a combination of the two. The blowing air from fans makes it easier for sweat to evaporate and thus eliminate body heat.
  • Clean and/or replace heater and air conditioner filters regularly. When they’re dirty they have to work harder and use more energy.
  • If a dishwasher is used to wash dishes, make sure it’s totally full before turning it on. When the wash cycle is complete, open the door rather than using the heated dryer.
  • Washing machines should also only be used for full loads. It will save water and detergent.
  • Hang clothes outside on a drying rack or clothesline rather than using a dryer. It can even be done in colder weather (it just takes a little longer).
  • Unplug appliances when they’re not in use. Those little blinking lights on radios and DVD players use electricity even when the item isn’t turned on. To make it easy, plug these items into a power bar and then turn them off at night or when leaving the house.
  • Make responsible home decor choices and purchase energy star appliances and other certified products.

These tips are so simple and basic that there’s no excuse not to do them. It’s the little things that add up, so even if installing solar panels is out of the question, you can still help the environment. So give these suggestions a try.

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The copyright of the article Go Green and Save Money with Eco-Friendly Tips in Green/Simple Living is owned by Lauren Flanagan. Permission to republish Go Green and Save Money with Eco-Friendly Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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