Save Now for a Greener Tomorrow
We are taught from an early age to Save for A Rainy Day, Save For Retirement, Save In Case Of An Emergency… well you get the picture. All these examples are referring to saving money, a smart prudent thing to do. For most of us in recent times, unfortunately, our savings account has become our living account. Now they are asking us to Save The Planet. Did you know that doing your part cannot only help save the earth, but also save you money in the process? You can feel good about yourself and put cash in your pocket, or back into that savings account where it belongs. There are things you can do starting today, which will only cost you the effort to implement them.
Four Tips That Will Save Money
As with most changes, sacrifice can be a part of efficiency. Here are four essential steps you can start taking today to live green, save money, and it won’t cost you a dime.
1. Turn your heater thermostats down one or two degrees in winter, and turn your air-conditioning thermostats up one or two degrees in summer. If we all did this, the combined difference would be phenomenal. You will notice a significant savings in your electric bill.
2. Start washing your clothes in cold water. Modern powders perform just as efficiently in cold water as hot. Most of the energy that goes into washing clothes is in heating up the water. So you will save on electricity, live green and save money too.
3. On sunny days think about hanging your clothes on an old fashion clothing line. You will not only save money, but your clothes will smell fresher.
4. Try to consume a little less of everything, from electricity, to gas in the car, to the food you eat. Take time to write out a shopping list, and stick to it. If you feel the impulse to buy something you don’t really need, get into the habit of waiting 24 hours, then review it. The chances are you either won’t want it any more, or will have forgotten all about it.
Small Investments Will Payback Ten Fold
Ways to Cut Your Energy Bill
1.If you don’t already, look for leaks, this is a good place to start. I don’t mean just water, but also energy leaks. Yes, there are such things as energy leaks. If your house isn’t properly insulated, you are losing more money than perhaps you realize. You should not only make sure your loft is insulated, but any hot water pipes as well. This is a very small price to pay, but you will recoup this investment very quickly.
2. Consider getting a new toilet cistern that will use less than two gallons of water per flush. Standard cisterns use about three and a half gallons. Because of plastics, this is no longer a big expense.
3. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a dream come true for anyone who wants to live green and save money. They burn just 25% of the electricity that a standard light bulb burns, and they can last up to 10 times longer. Change your old bulbs today, or if you must be frugal, as the current ones burn out. The two drawbacks that critics used to discredit the fluorescent, that being the expense and the difference in lighting that the bulbs give off, have greatly diminished. The hue the fluorescent gives off, while still not the same has recently improved. I have seen these bulbs in the local dollar stores, so everyone can now take advantage of them.
Going Off the Grid
Renewable Energy Is Very Affordable
For those of you who have energy bills that are astronomical, you might consider solar or wind as a very cost effective solution. Whether or not you decide to go off grid or stay on and sell extra energy as some do, solar and wind as alternatives are more affordable than you think. Whereas contractors charge thousands to install, you can do-it-yourself for hundreds. Real people, not corporations, have come up with efficient and extremely affordable programs that walk you through step by step instructions, on how to build and install renewable energy for your home.
My own extensive research has helped me narrow down the best of the best instructional guides, complete with blueprints, photos, and even in the case of my number one choice, video instruction.
Besides renewable energy guides, I have found information on green car conversions, how to grow an organic garden, and also some opportunities to make money in the green movement. Obviously, I can’t go into great detail in this article, but if I have piqued your interest, you can get all the facts on these and many other ideas on how to go green at my site Possibly GREEN. There you’ll find the right ways to live a greener life, including information on how to find green jobs in your area.