Cheapskate's Guide to Going Green
It's become a revolution--celebs are going green. Leo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Ed Bagley Jr., and even Paris Hilton are driving hybrid or electrically powered cars. Though most of us can't afford such nice toys in today's economy, there are tons of other ways to be "greener" on the cheap!
Here are just a couple tips to become a little friendlier to Mother Earth:
- Soda is good for you. Use baking soda to clean your toilets and bathtubs instead of expensive cleaners that probably have harmful chemicals. Baking soda is all natural and non-abrasive. Sprinkle it on, and gently scrub with warm water and a cloth.
- Clean canteen. Invest in a stainless steel canteen for your beverages. Plastic is taking over our landfills and oceans--Americans alone trash over 38 billion plastic bottles per year; it takes more than 700 for plastic to decompose; and the water in plastic bottles can carry toxins. If all that doesn't convince you, imagine how much you'll save from cutting back on those flats of water bottles.
- Don't be so cold! Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of cooling costs. By changing the temperature by 2 degrees all year, you can save about 2,000 pounds of C02 a year!
- Use Mother Nature. The sun is nature's dryer! Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer and save loads! (pun intended)
- Smaller is better. Okay, so this one is not so inexpensive, but you can get awesome deals on laptops these days. Switching to a laptop instead of using a desktop computer can cut 3 quarters off your electrical use. Make sure to turn off the laptop at the end of the day.
- Click with the times. You know you hate it--piles of bill envelopes littering your desk. Many companies offer (even incorporate) customers to sign up for e-billing, so bills can be viewed online.
- Flush, flush, baby! Even if you don't have a low-flow toilet, you can cut down on water usage. Put in a full 20-oz (or larger) water bottle in the tank (no worries, it's not so gross back there). This will significantly reduce the amount of water wasted by flushing and over time, it can really add up.
- Let there be light! Switch to compact fluorescent from regular incandescent bulbs and you'll be using 60 percent less energy per bulb
- Don't be embarrassed to be thrifty. Face it, everyone shops at the same stores and know where you got that new top. Make a statement and buy clothes at a thrift store. You get a high from finding that unique item on the cheap AND you're recycling! You should also go through your closet and donate all those items you haven't worn in over a decade (come on, you probably never will) to the less fortunate.
- I want to ride my bicycle! If you're like me, you'll drive to a store less than a mile away. If you are not going to lug a bunch of stuff, ride your bike or walk--it's good for the environment AND YOU!
By the way... HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!
