7 Easy Steps to Go Green and Save
By Michelle Janosi
The news about global warming and how it's affecting us and our surrounding environment has more and more people wanting to go green but make it cost effective also. There is good news, it's very easy to do and it's hard not to save money while helping our environment. Here are 7 easy steps to going green and saving money too.
1. Lower your thermostat in the winter by 1 degree. If you can lower it even more say 2 or 3 degrees, you're doing even better. Doing this will save you money by using less energy but still keeping you comfortable. Do the same in the summer months. Increase the air conditioning by 1 or 2 degrees to save even more. This is a great way to start your way to going green.
2. Wash your clothes in cold water. Most laundry detergents don't need hot water and Tide even specifically makes a detergent just for cold water. Heating the water to wash your clothes is what consumes the most energy.
3. Hang your clothes out to dry instead of using your dryer. Your dryer uses a lot more energy than your washer and costs you more too!
4. Use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of your standard light bulbs. CFL bulbs uses only 10% of the energy a standard bulb uses.
5. Use less water. You can easily do this by first checking your faucets for any leaks. Take less time in the shower and turn off the faucet when not actually using it. I had a bad habit of leaving the water running when brushing my teeth. Using less water saves energy and money.
6. Walk or ride a bike for short trips. Only drive your care when you really have to. Gasoline prices fluctuate so much and can be expensive plus it pollutes our air. You'll save money as well as help our environment.
7. When you do have to drive, especially on the highway, keep your speed at around 55 MPH. Your engine runs most efficient at this speed and also uses less gas. Also, don't hit the gas from a standing start and avoid hard braking. This is a better way to go green with your gas guzzler. If you really want to go green and save your self money, use public transportation, ride a bike, or walk to your destination.
Adding these easy to follow steps to your daily routine will help you save money and also help our environment. It's amazing what little things like these can do to help us live in a greener world.
Michelle has more to show you about tips to living green at her Go Green Blog. Make sure to check it out for more great information.
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