Ready to make a change? Add a little “green” to your life by following these ten environmentally friendly (and money-saving) tips at your home and in the office.
At Home
1. Laundry: Wash your laundry in warm or cold water, rather than hot. Simply switching from hot to warm can save you up to over $60 per year, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. Bonus: use an eco-friendly detergent, like Seventh Generation.
2. Air conditioning: Purchase a programmable thermostat to keep your home at a constant temperature. This can be especially energy efficient for those of us who are away from home during the day.
3. Light bulbs: Switch out conventional bulbs for compact fluorescents. Doing so will save you $85 over the life of each light bulb and can reduce your CO2 emissions by over 800 pounds!
4. Dishes: When it’s full, using your dishwasher with a natural detergent rather than hand washing a sink full of dishes can save nearly 20 gallons of water each time. Don’t forget to switch off the “heated dry” feature, which requires a large amount of energy.
5. Water: Use a water filter rather than relying on disposable plastic bottles. Switching to filtered water (and a reusable bottle) can save you hundreds of dollars each year and keep those pesky plastic bottles from clogging our landfills.
At Work
6. Commute: Consider carpooling with a co-worker or utilizing public transportation to eliminate the impact of one extra vehicle on the road. Sharing your commute can also be a great cost-cutting measure to add a little extra cushion to your budget!
7. Computer: If possible, don’t leave your computer running when you leave the office. If you must keep it on, remember to turn off the monitor.
8. Lunch: Pack a “green” lunch ““ bring your meal in an insulated lunchbox, with a reusable water bottle and silverware. As an added bonus, bringing a home-packed lunch can save you money and help you make healthier choices.
9. Email: Save trees (and cut down on office supply costs) by emailing documents within the office rather than printing them.
10. Lights: It’s one of the simplest things you can do, yet many of us forget to flip the switch. Turn off the lights when leaving an office or restroom to conserve energy and shrink your company’s utility bill.