Archive for July 13th, 2009

According to the US Department of Energy, Americans waste $3 million (or 2,700 terra-watt hours) of energy every year. To help put this number in perspective, the amount of energy we waste every year in the US could provide energy to the entire continent of Africa – for five straight years.

While this number seems appalling, during these tough economic times it’s important to realize we can Go Green and $ave Green by making small, effortless changes to our daily routines. Going green doesn’t mean we need to invest thousands of dollars in SmartCars, or replace every appliance with an energy efficient one. While these big-ticket items are clearly groundbreaking advancements in the green movement, the reality of the situation is these solutions may not be in many of our budgets and SmartCars may not be the most ideal method of transportation for our families of four.

The beauty of this situation lies in the fact our green savings return at a much higher rate than our ailing stock market portfolios. For example, we need to invest around $43,000 in the stock market in order to realize a traditional industry standard return of $3,000, or 7%, in one year. However in the green market, a mere $20 can return up to $3,000 in a year! For all the non-financial experts in the room, that’s a 15,000% return. It’s as if we purchased a $20 share of GE today, and then sold it for $3,000 a year from now.

To make sure this $3,000 gets safely kept in our bank accounts, there a few simple steps we can take to Go Green and Save Green in our consumption, home, and driving habits.

Improvements to Consumption Habits

• Buy a stainless steel bottle & fill it with your coffee or water needs for the day. You’ll help reduce the 3.3 million plastic bottles the US goes through in an hour and save almost fourteen hundred dollars a year.
• Start making transactions online – You’ll save on stamps, paper, & envelopes.And, many companies offer financial incentives if you enroll in their paperless statements, such as Citizen’s Bank Green Sense program.
• Invest in green bags – At a dollar apiece, they are much sturdier than their paper or plastic alternatives and will help reduce the 12 million barrels of oil and 14 Million trees a year that go into their production.

Improvements to Home Habits

• Unplug household appliances and electronic items not in use. If an electric item, such as a cell phone charger, does not have an on/off switch, it’s consuming almost as much electricity as if it were actually charging our phones. Other appliances, such toasters, TVs, or coffee makers, still suck up energy in their off mode, so try purchasing a surge protector and connecting these items to it. This will reduce your energy bill by 40%!
• Turn your water heater down from the standard 140 to 120 degrees. Since water isn’t dispersed at this temperature, you won’ feel the difference.
• The next time your traditional light bulb burns out, replace it with a CFL. While these bulbs are pricier, they last up to 10x longer and use 75% less electricity.

Improvements to Driving Habits

• When driving, rapid acceleration and braking causes a 23% decrease in fuel efficiency.
• Obeying the speed limit of 65 mph – you’ll see your gas mileage improve 10 -15%.
• Keep your tires fully inflated and make sure your gas cap clicks three times after fueling to avoid gas evaporation.
• Combined, these four easy steps will save you $540/year in fuel costs.

Overall, the best way to Go Green and $ave Green is through small changes to our daily habits. We don’t need to take drastic measures such as building wind farms in our backyards or resorting to candlelight in our homes. All we need to do is slightly tweak the tasks we already perform. During his famous inaugural address in 1961, President John F. Kennedy wisely stated:

“All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.”

We all know we can’t eliminate those 2,700-terawatt hours of wasted energy overnight, but let us apply JFK’s head-on approach, and let us begin.

Laundry is one of those household chores that can really leave you feeling stressed. But by taking a few of these tips to the laundry room with you, you can be sure that your laundry experience is quick, easy, and hassle-free.

1. Want to preserve your darks? When you wash them for the first time, use cold water and add some salt. This will help set the color. Repeat as needed to brighten.

2. Dry Clean Only clothing can sometimes be cleaned just as well when you hand wash them in cold water with a very mild soap, like Woolite.

3. To clean and freshen your washing machine, run it through a normal cycle using hot water and a bottle of vinegar. This should rid your machine of film and scum.

4. To prevent fading, wash and dry your clothing inside out.

5. Always, always, always empty your lint trap!

6. To keep clothes from tangling while washing, close the zippers, button your buttons, and tie your strings before washing.

7. Have a wine, coffee, or fruit stain on your favorite shirt? Use club soda or moist salt soaked in milk to draw it out before washing.

8. When drying, separate your clothes and dry similar types of clothes together. This should cut down on dry times.

9. To make your clothes last, be sure to follow the care directions listed on the labels.

10. Never overload your washer. Your clothes will never get clean and you risk breaking the machine entirely.