Some Great Green Ideas that Save the Planet and Save You Money

Ever noted, wistfully, that here it is, Earth Day again, and you haven’t done anything to support the Planet? Thought that there wasn’t much you could do anyway? Considered doing something briefly, then gave up because environmentalism seems hard, inconvenient and even somewhat icky (all that compost . . . eewww!)?

Well, here’s a practical, EASY, money-saving list of things that YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO to contribute your part to support the health of our beautiful World. And, just to make things a little bit more motivating, the math on the economic impact has been included. Who couldn’t use an extra $2600 this year?

Happy, Healthy Earth Day to you and yours!

If you take action on the steps below you’ll save 6 TONS of carbon and about $2600/year!

1. Change your light bulbs. Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Just 3 CFL bulbs will save 300 lbs of carbon dioxide and approximately $80.00 per year.
2. Adjust your thermostat down, 2 in winter up 2 in summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide; approx. $98 to $200 a year.
3. Check your water heater; set it no higher than 120 degrees and save 550 lbs of carbon dioxide and $30. Then insulate your water heater and save approx $40 a year. Switch to a tankless water heater and save another $390 a year!
4. Take shorter showers, avoid full tub baths. Save 350 lbs of carbon dioxide and save $99 a year.
5. Install a low flow shower head. Save 700 lbs carbon dioxide and $150 a yea).
6. Buy retail items like clothing and cleaning products locally. Shaklee, Boden and other quality retail-to-the-home business create big savings on transportation costs. Not only does this help the local economy rather than sending profits away to mega-corporations, but reduces carbon emissions.
7. Plant a tree… trees suck up carbon dioxide save 2,000 lbs of carbon dioxide.
8. Unplug unused electronics (up to 1000 lbs; save approx $256 a year.)
9. Turn off your computer when not in use.
10. Air dry your clothes…. and save $75 a year.
11. Buy minimally packaged goods could reduce your garbage by 10%. Concentrated cleaners and detergents and bulk food reduce packaging significantly. You can save 1200 lbs of carbon dioxide a year and $1000.
12. Fill the dishwasher before running to fight water waste and save approx $40 a year. Run the dishwasher after 10 PM and save even more.
13. Install a programmable thermostat to save 700 lbs carbon dioxide and $150 a year.
14. Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner… saving 350 lbs of carbon dioxide a year and about $70.
15. Get a home energy audit… these are FREE through your utility company and can save about 30% of energy bills as well as over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide a year depending on home size.
16. RECYCLE FOR GOODNESS SAKE! It’s free, especially if you live in a town that Pays As You Throw (PAYT). Recycling is one of the top performing environmental options! Save 2400 lbs of carbon dioxide a year and who knows how much if you don’t toss it all in the town dump, at $2.50/bag!
17. Buy fresh instead of frozen… frozen food takes 10 times more energy to produce!
18. Eat less red meat… methane is the 2nd most significant greenhouse gas and, boy, can cows make methane!
19. Support and buy at your local farmer’s market.
20. Don’t leave an empty roof rack on your car… this can increase fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 10%.
21. Keep your tires inflated; improves gas mileage by 3%.
22. Unplug your electronics when you are not using them.
23. Use a lap top rather than a desktop as it uses much less power.
24. Install a ceiling fan to improve heat and cooling circulation.
25. Repair your leaky indoor and outdoor faucets.
26. Upgrade your toilet to a low flush model. Save about 1,200 gallons of water per year per toilet.
27. Buy low-VOC paint (all the major brands now make excellent non-toxic paints) and donate the leftovers.
28. Wash clothes in cold water; use biodegradable detergents that are manufactured for this use. Shaklee makes an incredible product that is highly concentrated and excellent for HE front-loading machines called Get Clean Fresh Laundry.
29. Carpool when possible. Bike when possible. Walk when possible.
30. Teach kids to be green by making them responsible for the recycling and match whatever they make in deposit.
31. Bring cloth bags to market. Avoid plastic shopping bags.
32. Share this list, do as many things as you are able to do, and talk to everyone about our environment. Let’s make a better world for current and future generations together, one household at a time.