The other day, I noticed that although gas prices are creeping up, my monthly gas bill has gone down. Why is that? The answer is simple; I haven't been driving nearly as much as I did just a few months ago. Not only is it better for my wallet but it is also better for the environment. (If I would start to ride my bicycle more often, it might even be better for my health)
This got me to thinking, as the American dollar loses a bit of its Green-ness, what kind of benefits might we see in the area of Green living? It has been said that Americans tend to think with their pocket book, so let's look at ways to save money while drifting over to the green side. Who knows? This might catch on!
Re-purposing things around the house - I have relatives coming into town later this week and I have a list of chores that, if written on paper, would decimate an entire forest! Sweep the driveway, clean out the garage, buy new patio furniture... wait just a second... several gallons of left over paint in the garage... Patio furniture that is in good condition except for fading and chipping paint? I have an idea. Total cost= $0.00 - Total benefit = I have new looking patio furniture, I saved over $350 by not purchasing new furniture, I saved a big space in a landfill by not throwing out the old furniture, and I didn't have to drive the old paint to the recycle center. PLUS I now have patio furniture that matches the trim on my house!
Conserve Energy - Power is expensive. If you don't believe me, ask anyone who has lived in California for the past 5 years and they will tell you that energy is REALLY expensive. Saving energy is saving money. Right? I don't have the time or space to address this one topic completely so I will just throw out these two cost saving ideas. First, Compact Fluorescent bulbs save money/energy. They new ones look just like the old incandescent bulbs and prices have dropped significantly. There are no more excuses. I am not saying to replace every bulb in the house all at once. That costs too much money. Buy a three pack of CF bulbs and just replace as needed. Secondly, learn how to use your thermostat! You know that you have never set it correctly! Get out the little booklet that came with it and start saving money. Use the timer function so that you aren't wasting money why you are at work or sleeping or whatever. You can easily save 30% on your heating and cooling bills by spending 5 minutes programming your thermostat.
Conserve Water- STOP DRINKING BOTTLED WATER! In the good old U.S. of A. we have the best water technology in the world. (We got it from the Germans! Lol) Why do we insist on drinking bottled water? The carbon footprint of a bottle of water is astronomical. Each bottle is filtered, bottled boxed, loaded on a ship, unloaded, loaded on a truck, unloaded... over and over... until you drink it and toss the bottle into a landfill! It is absolutely crazy. Your refrigerator probably filters water just as good as the water that comes from the store. Dare to compare and save a few bucks at the same time.
I could go one for ever but instead, I invite you to share your simple and easy ways to green up your life while saving money. Extra points will be awarded for ideas that are FREE or really cheap!
photo credits:
Gas pump - bradleypjohnson
Water - kazanjy
Mark Hall
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Mark - The whole concept of drinking bottled water was an ingenious marketing idea that's generated millions and millions of dollars for the bottlers, but at the expense of the environment.
I think that tap water using a Brita filter tastes just as good as bottled water. I do however, love refreshing sparkling water.
You raise an interesting point that I've been talking about for a while. Right now consumers are focusing on their cars to conserve energy- thats why the hybrids and high efficiency cars are garnering a lot of attention.
The next step I feel is the same movement towards greener...more energy efficient homes. Most of our homes are HUGELY(is that a word?) inefficient. Once consumers begin to realize how much they are losing through windows, floors, ducts, fixtures etc...they will suddenly demand energy efficient features.
Mark~
Thank you so much for this thoughtful post. ...for sharing your htoughts and hints for greenere living... You wrote..." ... as the American dollar loses a bit of its Green-ness, what kind of benefits might we see in the area of Green living? It has been said that Americans tend to think with their pocket book, so let's look at ways to save money while drifting over to the green side. Who knows? This might catch on!
Mike - You are so right about more energy efficient homes. I just attended a event where Earth Advantage announced plans to create a system that will measure how efficient a home really is. Go here for more:
My Post Regarding Green Living in the Pacific Northwest
HI Mark, I just dropped in to read this group's postings for the first time. Very interesting blog. If everyone just does a little bit, it can and will make huge inroads to conserving energy right from the bottled water example to the light bulb example.
I recently was certified as a trainer for Live Green, Live Smart in Minnesota. I visited the first LEED designated platinum level, renovated home that was done in Minnetonka. It is the first one in the world that has met and suprassed the Platinum level. Quite an accomplishment!
If anyone wishes to take a tour through the house, they can visit the website livegreenlivesmart.com to find out how they can renovate their own house and save energy and money. The house is being monitered by the university for a number of years to see just how much money and energy will be saved.
Hmm, I never thought about bottled water but I notice that it sometimes costs more to purchase in a machine than soda. www.tracysoussi.com
Good post Mark. I think you are right on with this observation. We are obviously driving a lot less as a society. People are tending to re use products. I am seeing an increase in the number of people who are growing their own gardens to help their grocery bill. When it comes down to it, going green makes sense and save more than just a few cents.
Great post, Mark! Here's my simple tip for people living in northern climates: on cold, sunny winter days, open your curtains and let the sun shine in. You'll be surprised how much warmth it can add to a room. Just ask your cat or dog. Aren't they the ones always laying in the warm sunny spot on the floor or furniture? Laugh if you want, but my family has reduced our January and February heating bills from over $800 per month to $550-600 per month just by opening curtains in three south facing windows.
Sharon - Isn't it funny how the simple things can make such a huge difference? I have blinds in a whole set of windows that I ALWAYS keep closed. I opened them after reading your message. Let's see what happens.
You hit the nail on the head with this story. I know my wife and I are walking to the store (which is only a mile away) a whole lot more these days, and combining multiple trips into one.
My tip would be to say goodbye to gasoline all together!
Did you know that you can pour used vegetable oil directly into the tank of a car and run it this way (and even get better mph sometimes)???
Any diesel (and yes, it has to be diesel) engine can be set up to run this way...check it out by googling SVO (i..e Straight Vegetable Oil) or SVO conversion.
The best thing about it is that you can collect USED cooking oil from restaturants, keep a "waste" product out of the landfill...and it is FREE!!! That's right...and endless supply of free fuel!
My second idea (which you touched on a little bit Mark) is to sell your car all together and RIDE A BIKE.
Not only is this FREE, but it pays YOU, and keeps paying over time. Not only can you buy a bicycle for a sliver of the cost of a car, but you don't have to pay insurance every month! Imagine that! One bicycle tune-up a year is all you need, and that costs about $50 (a month's worth of car insurance)!
And for those of you thinking, I don't have the time - think twice... How much time do you spend making a point to go to the qym and workout every week? Well, save this time and ride your bike instead -DONE!
YES, I think the poor economy is finally making smart people wake up to many of these practices. There is still a significant population of idiots who will continue to resist them though! There is an ancient mentality still around that apparently thinks wastefulness is a great way to show off how prosperous you are. How stupid.
One of the things I'm doing now is promoting GREEN BUILT homes in and around Columbus Ohio. I think the interest in the energy efficiency (and better indoor air quality) is only going to go up.