Tip #1-Only drive when absolutely necessary.
Doing this will help you keep fuel in your car, reduce gas station visits, save massive amounts of money (over the long term) and help Go Green by reducing your carbon footprint (greenhouse gas)/Global Warming.
Example- If you bring your lunch to work opposed to driving somewhere for lunch, you may save 6 miles worth of driving. Do this 4 times a week you save 24 miles. In 52 weeks you save 1,248 miles. It may cost 0.40 cents per mile, that equals savings of $500/year! (that’s just lunch time).
Now think of other ways you can be more efficient with your driving.
try to work from home (telecommute) at least 1 day/week, carpool with a neighbor or colleague, use public transportation, have your kids ride the bus, ride your bike to work (if safe), Go Green!!!
Hypermiling (Some say it was the green word of the year in 2009). Hypermiling is “attempting to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one’s car and one’s driving technique”, according to Wayne Gerdes, the person who coined the phrase. How do you receive the best milesage? turn off your a/c and radio, do not accelerate fast, do not stop too quick, shut down at long lights, practice being conservative, anything you feel will help you save gas(money) and go green.
Tip #2- Turn your home A/C off (or at least down) during the day.
-Open the windows and get some fresh air (if it is fresh air – not LA or NYC). You immediately save on your electricity bill, use less of the city’s power, and reduce your carbon footprint/greenhouse gases, which reduces Global Warming and helps you Go Green!
Example- If you turn your A/C off during the day (6 hours) you may save 200 watts of power per day. If you pay $0.01/watt you will save $2.00/day. If you do this 300 days/year you will save $600/year!
If you follow Tips 1 & 2 alone, you will save at least $1,100/year! so Go Green!
Tip 3 – Unplug all items not in use.
Tip 4 – Source Reduction: one of the best ways to Go Green & Save Money simultaneously.
Source Reduction= Not Purchasing Item(s).
Source reduction is the “method of reducing the amount of unnecessary material brought into a building. Examples include purchasing products with less packaging and sustainable design.” (USGBC)
You can utilize Source Reduction for anything you consider purchasing.
Example 1- How many Starbucks junkies are there? Many people get their fix from Starbucks daily, spending anywhere from $3-7/day, for their special drink. Stop going to Starbucks, or at least lessen your visits, you can save anywhere from $500 to $2,500 a year! Other bi-products of this action are: reducing your Carbon Footprint (reducing Global Warming), create less trash and leave those un-needed calories back at the coffee shop.
Example 2- Many people purchase 24 packs of water from the grocery store, let’s say once a month at $6.00/case. Buying this item is an expense to you, creates waste (packaging + empty bottles) and increases your carbon footprint.
You do not NEED water bottles, you can fill up a glass of water from your sink. Water from your sink is safe and drinkable.
If you did not purchase this item you would save money, reduce waste (because you will not have any) and reduce your carbon footprint. You can save $72/year if you stop purchasing water bottles.
Think of how much you can save by not purchasing items you don’t NEED.
Tip 5: Ask your Home Depot employee how to save by chaning light bulbs
Example - Use for yourself and Download the spreadsheet here
Incandescent CFL LED
life span (in hours) …………. 1500 …………. 10,000 ….. 60,000
Watts 60 14 6
Cost …………. $1.345 ……….. $2.98 ….. $54.95
KWh used over 60K hrs 3600 840 360
Electricity Cost ……….. $821.72 ……. $191.73 ….. $82.17
Savings 0 $629.99 $739.55
Bulbs for 60k hours usage ……… 40 ………. 6 …… 1
Equivalent bulb expense $53.80 $17.88 $54.95
60k hr. lighting spend ……… $875.52 …… $209.61 ….. $137.12
In my opinion, LED lights are #1, CFL #2, Incandescent = Out of business.
Go Green and Save Money by switching to LED bulbs and benefiting financially from improved technology. There are so many benefits from switching it’s a blessing. Go Green!
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