Go Green on a Budget

Go Green & save money at the same time you say?  Some say this is impossible, however there are ways to go green on a tight budget.  During the Great Depression people had to learn to be creative and discover ways to reuse things and get the most for your money. It is unfortunate that it sometimes take hard times to get people thinking about ways to save money, but it is the smart person who looks at these times as opportunities to become more eco-friendly while saving money.  You don’t have to say that you are riding the bus because gas is too expensive; say you are trying out some environmentally friendly alternatives. We will look at some practical ways to save your hard earned dollars, recycle, reuse, and reduce to become an environmentalist trendsetter!

Now I am not suggesting that you go out and replace every appliance, light bulb, light fixture, etc. in your home, however if you find that it is time to replace something consider the energy saving options that are available.  In the long run you will notice a considerable savings in your utility bill.  Let’s take a look at where energy is used most in a home.  The largest portion of your energy is generally used in cooling or heating your home, approximately 60%.  An average of 15% of energy is used in heating water; and 13% in running refrigerators; and 12% is used on everything else (such as TVs, lights, washer, dryer, cooking).

Reduce
•          Turn off lights when you leave a room.
•          Many appliances use energy even when not “on”, consider unplugging or using a power strip and turning off when not in use for these appliances:  televisions, VCR/DVD, stereos, computers, coffee pot; and cell phone charges.)
•          Water Heater- Turn your water heater off when not in use.  If you are in need of a new water heater, check into the tankless versions, they can save bundles of money (search “tankless water heaters” in your search engine and you will get loads of information).
•          Shorten your shower time; take showers instead of baths.
•          Wash clothes on the cold setting, and only wash when you have a full load.  Hand washing is still an option for a few items at a time.
•          Put up a clothesline outside, it does not use any energy and your clothes will smell like sunshine!  (Use liquid fabric softener in the wash and your clothes will not be stiff).  When using the dryer clean the vent after each use.
•          Turn up your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter.  This will be an enormous savings.  Keep fan on “auto” instead of “on”. Use fireplace in the winter; in the spring and fall open windows, air out the house & turn the thermostat off.  (Replacing older thermostats with a programmable one can add to your savings significantly).  When away from home, either for work or on vacation, go a little higher in the summer and lower in the winter to see additional savings.
•          In the summer close blinds & drapes to help keep your home cool and open in the winter to let more sun in to help heat your home.  Keep doors & windows closed while air conditioner is running.
•          Use ceiling fans, this keeps the air circulating making it easier to heat & cool.
•          Use your oven less and the microwave more, it uses less energy & does not heat up the kitchen.

Re-use-
•          Shop the second hand stores, thrift stores, flea markets, yard/garage sales for everything from clothing to furniture to household items.  You may also consider sending your gently used items to these locations for others to use and make a few bucks to boot!  You may find a good sturdy sofa that has some stains or wear and tear; give it a second life with a slipcover!  Or you may find the ideal kitchen dinette set at a yard sale that just needs re-finishing. These locations are also great places to look for linens, books, children’s toys, tools and much more! Before you run down to Wal-Mart ask yourself can you get that item for much less at one of these second hand stores?
•          Here are some suggestions that you can use reusable items as opposed to disposable one:
•          sponges or rags vs. paper towels
•          reusable razors vs. disposable shavers
•          coffee mugs vs. paper or plastic cups
•          washable plates vs. paper
•          cloth napkins vs. paper
•          cloth diapers vs. disposable
•          Before you toss that newspaper in the recycle bin (or God forbid the trash!) have you gotton all the use out of you can?  Newspaper is handy for much more than reading, here are a few useful tips:

Recycle-
Recycling is more than just cans, glass and newspaper- following are additional ways to recycle items that you may not have thought of.
•          Use in your garden under mulch to discourage weeds. Do not use the glossy paper.
•          Use comics for wrapping paper
•          Use for packing breakables
•          Cleaning glass instead of paper towels
•          Line litter box or birdcage
•          Drop cloth for painting

Replace-
•          Light Bulbs- Replacing old-fashioned light bulbs with the energy efficient bulbs (the curly ones-yes they are more expensive but they last much longer, up to five years) is easy and if you make yourself get one bulb each time you do your major grocery shopping (twice a month for most) it is not a budget breaker.
•          Replace leaky water faucets and fixtures with low water usage ones.  This can really add up if you have multiple showers, sinks and toilets.
•          Replace air filters regularly, once a month is the average suggestion.
•          Consider buying a laptop when you upgrade your computer, they use less energy than a desktop.
•          When replacing or upgrading any appliance look for the Energy Star label.
•          Use rechargeable batteries.  Unplug charger when not in use.
•          Replace old single pane windows with double pane insulated Energy Star windows.

Other Tips-
•          Check and replace/upgrade your home’s insulation.  Make sure drafts are covered; check all windows and doors using caulk and weather-stripping to seal leaks.
•          Check for air duct leaks, or disconnected ducts.  Duct leaks into the attic or under the house and double your cooling costs.
•          Close your fireplace damper.
•          Have your refrigerator heat pump checked; if it is low on refrigerant it will cause the pump to run longer and more frequently. 
•          Periodically check the dryer vent to make sure it is not blocked; this will save energy and may prevent a fire.
•          Use task lighting instead of lighting an entire room.
•          Install a skylight to make use of daylight and add warmth.  Select an energy efficient skylight and have installed by a professional to minimize your heating, cooling and lighting costs.
•          Plant trees to shade your air conditioning unit, but not block air flow.  Units in the shade use 10% less energy to operate.
•          Do not place lamps or lighting near your thermostat, the thermostat senses the heat and will run longer.
•          Insulate your hot water heater and pipes to avoid losing heat.
•          Landscaping your home for energy efficiency can reduce your costs.  Plant trees for shade.
•          When planting shrubs, bushes and vines near your home, make sure to leave 1 foot space between plants and your home wall.  This creates dead space which insulates the home both in summer and winter.
•          Choose concentrated juice, laundry soap & cleaners.
•          Purchase dry foods in bulk (health food stores have bulk bins great for beans, pasta, grains, et.) or else buy the larger sizes of products to reduce the packaging waste. When you are shopping in bulk - bring your own containers / bags and continue to reuse them.  If you don’t have room to store bulk items, consider going in with a friend to buy in bulk together & split the items.

For information on Energy Star products visit www.energystar.gov.  For more information on ways to save energy and get your home inspected for energy efficiency contact your local utility company.