Earth Day is meant to make us more aware of how our lifestyles impact the environment. Here are some tips that can save you stress and money, too.
Drive smarter: Studies show you can improve your miles per gallon by up to 30% a year, while you save more than a ton of CO2 per year by:
– Accelerating slowly and smoothly
– Driving the speed limit
– Maintaining a steady speed
– Anticipating your stops and start
Junk mail – Did you know that the energy used to produce, deliver and dispose of junk mail produces more greenhouse gas emissions than 2.8 million cars? Reduce your unwanted junk mail through the 41pounds, a nonprofit service that contacts dozens of direct mailers to remove your name from their lists.
Programmable thermostat – Costs about $50 or less and will save you that much or more in the first year, paying for itself.
Weatherstripping and Caulking – Costs almost nothing while reducing your energy use, reducing drafts and improving comfort.
Lighting – Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) save more than 2/3rds of the energy of a regular incandescent and can save $40 or more per bulb over its lifetime. Read the box or instructions for safe disposal.
Appliances – When it’s time to replace, do your research and look for ENERGY STAR. When my refrigerator died last year after 20+ years of service, my electricity bill dropped by $20 a month because the replacement is that much more energy efficient. Check out energystar.gov for lifetime energy costs and savings.
Water-Conserving Showerheads & Toilets – Reduce water and heating costs, even in your bathroom. To save even more water, turn the faucet off when brushing or shaving. These simple changes and steps can save thousands of gallons of water annually, plus the cost of heating that water.
Recycle your old electronic devices. Recycle or sell your old blackberry, PDA, laptop, iPad or iPhone to YouRenew.com and help support our clean air projects.
Buy locally if possible. Shipping burns fuel. A 5-pound package shipped by air across the country creates 12 pounds of CO2 (3 ½ pounds if shipped by truck).
Don’t waste food. Mom was right. About one-quarter of all the food prepared annually in the U.S., for example, gets tossed, producing methane in landfills as well as carbon emissions from transporting wasted food.
Click here to find more ways to reduce your carbon footprint and save money in the bargain. Because we are all connected
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