7 Ways to Go Green and Save Money Every Month
Every individual on the planet has a responsibility to look at ways of reducing their impact on environmental damage. Many people think that their own contribution will make little difference but from little acorns oak trees grow. If everybody made their own small contribution the reduced stress on the planet and its resources would be colossal. Still not convinced? What if you knew you could go green and save money every month? The average household could save hundreds of dollars every year and in some case thousands by observing a few simple tips.
In some cases the advice means laying out a small amount of cash which is recouped very quickly; in other cases no money and little effort is required to save you a great deal.
1.) Switch off lights
It isn’t necessary to have lighting in in every room of the house all at once. Get in the habit of flicking the switch every time you leave a room. About 11% of a home’s energy consumption is from lighting. If you would normally have on 5 lights and reduce this to 1 the savings would be quite significant.
Many people have outside lighting that shines all night long as a security precaution. Consider investing in a motion sensor that triggers the light only when necessary.
2.) Walk
It is often difficult when we are pressed for time to consider walking for 10 minutes instead of driving for 2. Short journeys in traffic use an enormous amount of gas and add significantly to the wear and tear on our cars. Walking will not only help the planet and your pocket but will help you get fit.
If walking isn’t an option then at least consider car-pooling. Even if you share with only one other person you are reducing your costs by 50%, by 66% if there are 3 sharers and 75% if there are four.
More food for thought – how often do you sit with your engine idling? It is estimated that 2.9 billion gallons of gas are idled away every year by Americans resulting in the loss of billions of dollars. Whenever possible turn your engine off completely.
3.) Don’t leave appliances or electrical items on stand-by
It is sheer idleness that prevents us from walking a few steps to flick off the stand-by mode on our TVs before we go to bed at night. Some TVs in stand-by mode will use as much as 2/3 of the electricity they would use if they had been left on so don’t be fooled into thinking that stand-by uses just a trickle of power.
Power is also used by leaving chargers switched on even when they are not charging any gadget.
It is estimated that an average household will have up to 12 separate gadgets on stand-by or charging at any one time. It doesn’t take a genius to calculate both energy consumption and the savings that can be made here.
In fact, so huge is the impact here that governments around the world are considering banning the inclusion of stand-by modes on all new appliances being made.
4.) Swap household chemical cleaners for natural and green alternatives
You probably aren’t aware that lying around your house and in your kitchen cupboards you have items that would not only do away with highly priced chemical cleaners but would actually do the job much better. The average household spends hundreds of dollars every year in the purchase of household, garden and automotive cleaning products. Consider switching to one or two natural cleaning products such as the humble household vinegar or baking soda that will do hundreds of jobs between them at a fraction of the cost.
5.) Computer savings
It is thought that as many as 9 out of 10 computers are not maximizing their energy savings. Have a look at your computer manual which will give you simple tips for optimum energy efficiency. This includes things such as turning down the screen brightness and initiating sleep and hibernation modes. Amazingly most people don’t turn off their computers at night. Not only is this unhealthy for the longevity of your computer’s life but would save you an estimated $90 a year.
Wherever possible use your laptop rather than a desktop computer. A laptop will use as little as 10% of the electricity that a desktop will.
6.) Buying new appliances
When the time comes for appliance replacement be sure to purchase energy efficient models. Rating systems have been introduced that aim to make it very clear to the consumer what savings they can make. It is estimated that a home that had only energy efficient appliances would use 30% less electricity and save themselves $600 a year.
7.) Think energy saving
Consider lowering your thermostat by only one or two degrees. You will probably not even notice it until the bills come and and you see your savings. Even better, for a small cost, install a programmable thermostat which will automatically switch off at night and regulate more even temperature and saving an estimated $150 a year.
It isn’t always necessary to wash laundry in hot water. 85% of your washing machines electricity consumption is due to water heating.
Fix leaking taps. As much as 3 gallons of water a day are lost this way.
Install low flush toilets. 30% of a household’s total water consumption is used in flushing the toilet. If you are on a water meter consider the savings you could make.
Going green and saving money every month can take minimal effort. It will take a little thought initially but gradually you will find that it becomes habit and before you know it it is just a way of life. You will be doing your bit in helping to save the planet and benefiting from the often very significant savings that can be made.
Article by Outofstress.com expert author ‘Deneice Arthurton’