Great Savingst Tip #100 - Go Green

Great Savings Tip #100 – Go Green

Published April 19, 2011

Today’s tip: Go Green

This post is part of our Great Savings Tip series, designed to help find ways to spend less and save more. With today’s post we’ve made it “All The Way To 100!”

Real Money

Tip #100) Go green. Going green isn’t always an easy choice to embrace. In fact, the decision to do something that’s ultimately better for the environment can sometimes cost more instead of less—at least initially. A green choice may also be inconvenient in terms of the time and effort involved. So why is going green a part of our Great Savings Tips series? The answer lies in understanding that (a) life’s choices aren’t always about money and (b) we’re all dependent upon one another for our survival. Besides, in many cases, you really do save.

The truth isn’t always pretty. To ignore the human toll on our environment is to risk a dark and troubling future. Yet we still have time to take action.

More people use more of everything.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the world is nearing 7 billion people. That’s an amazing statistic when you consider population has almost doubled since 1970 (see Wikipedia). Think of it: There are now twice as many people as there were 40 years ago! That’s 3½ billion more people to feed and cloth. That’s also 3½ billion more people who consume—people who need power to heat their homes or drive their cars or need fresh water to drink. And it doesn’t end there. Even though population growth rates have slowed, some estimates suggest world population will reach 10.5 billion by the year 2050.

With so many people putting pressure on scarce world resources our environment is being stretched to it’s limits. What can we do to make a difference?

Have you considered biking to work?

(1) Consider alternate transportation. Yes, we could all buy more fuel efficient cars, but the cost of many models runs into the tens of thousands. Doesn’t this beg the question about our choices? If each person could find alternative transportation to work just one day in five, that’s a 20% reduction in fuel consumption. Some obvious ideas: Take the bus, carpool or ride a bike to work, or work from home. By the way…just a couple days prior to posting this, the average price per gallon of gasoline is now over $4 in six states according to this article at msnbc.com.

Replace old appliances with Energy Star rated new ones.

(2) Buy Energy Star appliances. The energy savings you get from these appliances ultimately add up to savings once you overcome the initial cost of the investment. In the meantime, you’re helping the environment by cutting the consumption of power. That equates to less carbon-based pollution spewing into the atmosphere. For some great information on the advantages of Energy Star appliances see the government’s website here.

(3) Do a home energy audit. How do you know if your home is energy efficient? One way to find out is get a home energy audit. Or for ideas on doing your own audit audit see this post at the dailygreen.com. If that sounds like too much work, call your local utility and see what programs are available in your area.

(4) Make your own “natural” household cleaners. It turns out that vinegar, baking soda, lemon and a few other common household ingredients make terrific cleaners. Better yet, as these products are natural, you can use them without harming the environment. For more information on using natural household cleaners see this page at GreenFootsteps.com.

(5) Recycle, borrow or reuse. Are you doing everything you can to recycle? Many local utilities now provide containers for recycling, but if yours doesn’t call and let them know how you feel about it. Also, many of the things we end up buying new can be found for significantly less at garage sales or pawn shops. Good examples are items like bikes and tools. Curiously, many of the power tools we think we need to own may actually end up being used only once or twice a year. Why not organize your neighbors and create a tool exchange? That way everyone spends less on tools, we collectively use less resources on something that typically sits idle, and we can still take on those occasional household tasks without a big hassle.

(5) Review these 19 Great Savings Tips for more ideas to go green. We’ve been busy in the past few months bringing you tips on saving and many of these tips offer ideas to protect the environment. Check ‘em out!

(a) Tip #8 – Check the power setting on your computer.

(b) Tip #10 – Turn out the lights when not in the room.

(c) Tip #17 – Stop buying bottled water.

For more ideas on fuel-efficient driving click here.

(d) Tip #29 – Cut your gasoline usage.

(e) Tip #30 – Clean under your refrigerator.

(f) Tip #38 – Buy a swamp cooler.

(g) Tip #42 – Use your microwave instead of your oven.

(h) Tip #44 – Use less laundry detergent.

(i) Tip #45 – Heat the room you’re in and turn down the furnance.

(j) Tip #46 – Go to 100% fluorescent lights in your home.

(k) Tips #47 – Seal your home from air leakage.

(l) Tip #48 – Consider a ceiling fan.

(m) Tip #51 – Use insulated window coverings.

(n) Tip #52 – Dry most of your laundry naturally.

(o) Tip #53 – Add an instant shut-off to your shower head.

(p) Tip #64 – Turn down the thermostat on your water heater.

(q) Tip #73 – Insulate your water pipes.

(r) Tip #75 – Recycle the extra fridge.

(s) Tip #95 – Cut your water bill.

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By Bob Anderson