Make Green Come True

Each time we leave the house, cook, or drive somewhere there is a simple tip to follow to save electric and fuel costs, while reducing your carbon footprint.  The 10 minute rule:

If you’re going to turn it off in 10 minutes, turn it off now.

This rule applies to several sitations.  First, consider the air conditioning in your home on a hot summer day.  If you are going to be leaving in ten minutes, you’ll probably never notice the difference if you turn the air off now.   The same applies when you are getting close to your destination.  You can switch off the heat or air in your car a few minutes early and most likely you won’t notice a significant change in your comfort level before you turn off the car.   When cooking, if you know that a dish needs only a few more minutes in the oven, switch off the power a bit before you take it out of the oven.  As long as the door is shut, most of the heat will be retained (Be careful to never undercook food though!).  By applying the ten minute rule, your savings will add up.  Over the course of the year, ten minutes a day is over sixty hours of energy and cash savings.

One surprising source of waste in our world in many developed countries is wasted food.  As we shop for groceries, we often make impulse purchases and after we get home, foods sometimes spoil before they are consumed.  As eco-conscious consumers we can learn to be more environmentally friendly by considering carefully the way we shop.  Next time you go grocery shopping, keep these tips in mind  to be more earth-friendly and to save on your grocery bill in the process:

1.  Consider packaging. If you have the option to select between two alternatives, choose the one with less plastic or less bulky packaging to reduce waste.  Often the cost of more expensive packaging is passed along to consumers.

2.  Shop with a list. Purchase only the items on the list.   Check which ingredients and supplies you need before you leave home and stick to it.

3.  Make it visible. Studies have shown that we eat what we can see.  Rearrange items in your fridge so perishable items are top and center.  Make sure the new milk sets behind the old milk in the fridge.

4.  Freeze it. If you know you will not be able to finish that loaf of bread or tub of cool whip, freeze it.   A suprising array of items can be frozen to greatly extend their shelf life.  If you are in doubt, search for ways to freeze your leftovers.

Before you make your next purchase, consider these three questions to determine whether you’re being eco-friendly.  You might even save money while being green.

1.  Do I need it?

We live in a world ruled by consumerism.  Shopping not serves as a way to obtain necessities in life, but it is also a popular pass time.  While one can hardly abstain from all shopping, it is always good to question whether you really need that extra item.   Purchasing something unnecessary today could prevent you from purchasing something you want or need more later on.  Every item produced has several associated costs that are not reflected in the price tag.  Many purchases require future purchases or time devoted to maintenance.  Items require energy and raw materials to be expended (often with waste) in order to produce them and to deliver them to a store or customer.   This is a difficult thing to consider, but can be helpful in your journey to green living.

2.  Is there a greener alternative?

If you are shopping for electronics, have you checked out Energy Star or greener alternatives?  If you are shopping for clothing or home goods, have you checked for organic cotton item?   If you are grocery shopping, have you considered all natural or organic items as well?

3.  Is there a better quality alternative?

Purchasing items that you love and that will last a long time is crucial to living a green lifestyle.  There is a huge impact if you will be able to use an item for several years versus a few months.  If you are buying clothing, stick to staples and a few modern accessories.  If you are buying items for your home, buy things that you will love and want to use for years to come.

When electronics are plugged in, they consume power.  Even when a TV, monitor, cell phone charger, or toaster is turned off, it is still consuming electricity.  You can take a few simple steps to save on your electric bill and avoid this phantom power usage.  Plugging items into a power strip and then powering it down when your electronics and appliances are not in use will reduce the power drain. Often however, you will need some items on the strip, but not others, or you will want certain items to power up together.  For example, consider a power strip that has a desktop computer, monitor, speakers, lamp, and wireless router plugged into it.  You may want the router to stay powered up at all times so you can access the Internet through a laptop.   You may also want the monitor, computer and speakers to power up together, but do not need the lamp.  Now there is a solution – the Energy Saving Smart Strip With Autoswitching Technology will let you do just that.  Users can set up groups of items to power up together, and can select items that will remain on, even when others are powered off.

1.  Look around your thermostat and move any electronics, large furniture, and lamps.   These can block airflow or warm the area and make the air run longer.

2.   If possible, arrange furniture, awnings, gazebos and plants in your backyard so that your air conditioner/heat pump is shaded.   Be sure to allow ample space around for airflow.  This will enable the unit to work more efficiently.

3.  Whenever possible, use ceiling or stand fans to circulate air while cooling your house.  They are generally more energy efficient and a breeze will allow you to feel cooler faster.

Refill printer cartridges.  Many photo developing centers, office stores, and pharmacies offer this option.  It is less expensive than purchasing a new cartridge and will reduce the amount of waste produced.   To ensure that you can refill the cartridge, seal it in an airtight container after it is removed from the printer.

Purchase reusable water bottles (with the plastic symbol #1,2,4 or 5 on the bottom) to wash and refill. You will save money on drink purchases and greatly reduce waste.

Installing a programmable thermostat is simple and affordable.  It will allow you to keep your home’s temperature at a comfortable level when you are awake and at home, while saving power while you are away at work or school.  Also, set the temperature a few degrees lower during winter and a few degrees higher during summer at night while you are asleep. With these steps, you will automatically saving energy and money.  Within a few months, your energy savings will easily offset the cost of the thermostat.  Some utility companies will even offer free installation of programmable thermostats or credits toward your monthly bill!