How to Go Green: 15 Easy Eco Friendly Solutions to Save Energy & Money

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Going Green: 15 Easy Eco-Friendly Solutions to Save Energy, Money & the Earth

Are you living green? Going green and being more Eco friendly is something we all know we should do, but somehow most of us never quite get around to it. These Eco friendly tips and solutions will save you money, save energy and help save the earth.

You will explore ways to save energy and save the environment by taking simple steps around your home and by reducing energy consumption. By reducing energy consumption we can avoid construction of new power plants and other negative impacts; such as, carbon dioxide emissions (a prime cause of Global Warming), but many other environmental damages will also be equally reduced. Keep in mind that as you save energy, you also save money and save the earth!

You will also discover how you can go green with environmentally friendly and earth friendly products to reduce your carbon footprint and help prevent global warming.

Eco-Friendly Solution - Stopping Postal Junk Mail 

STOP JUNK MAIL


It's a fact of life these days. Almost every time we buy something, subscribe to a magazine, or newsletter, or even enter our name in a drawing for a spiffy new car, we get someone's mailing list.

Junk mail is more than just a nuisance: junk mail has a tremendous negative impact on the environment.

* At least 100 million trees are destroyed each year to produce junk mail

* 28 billion gallons of water are wasted to produce the paper

All of these resources are wasted to produce items many people don't even look at: about 50% of all junk mail is thrown out unopened or unread, and the rate of response to junk mail is less than 2%. The result is that more than 4 million tons of paper is wasted every year. Thankfully, there is something we can do about it.

GreenDimes was created to give you a choice about what gets into your home's mail box, and what doesn't. As the trusted leader in stopping unwanted junk mail, they've worked hard to develop effective, long-lasting processes and procedures that really can cut junk mail by up to 90%.

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Eco-Friendly Solution - Buy Earth Friendly Cleaning Products 

Green Cleaning is an easy step you can make towards becoming environmentally friendly. Using Seventh Generation and other earth friendly cleaning products and removing toxic ones - has a lot of paybacks; it does not create unpleasant fumes, will not leave harmful residues, and is safer for the environment.

Cleaner air in your home improves sleep and concentration, makes babies less fussy and gives a sense of well-being. Your household's toxic burden on the environment will be significantly reduced because their plant-derived cleaners are made from renewable resources rather than from petroleum. Studies show that making household cleaners from plant-derived materials uses less energy than making the same cleaners from petroleum. Using less energy helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Biodegradable, hypoallergenic, non-toxic and Kosher-certified, these cleaners contain no chlorine, harsh chemicals, petroleum based solvents, phosphates or dyes, and it has never been tested on animals.

If every household in the U.S. replaced their current petroleum-based cleaner with just one 32-ounce bottle of a plant-derived cleaner, we could save 7,500 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 430 U.S. homes for a year!

Seventh Generation Earth Friendly Cleaning Products 

Seventh Generation Paper Towels, Natural, 2-Ply Sheets (Pack of 30) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

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Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry 2x Ultra Concentrate, Free & Clear, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6)

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Seventh Generation Natural Fabric Softener, Blue Eucalyptus and Lavender Scent, Ultra-Concentrated, 40-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6)

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Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Gel, Lemon Scent, 45-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6)

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Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner, Free & Clear, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

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Eco-Friendly Solution - Save Energy: Wash Your Clothes with Cold Water 

If you usually use hot water for your laundry you can cut your energy consumption in half by choosing warm water, and up to 90% if you choose cold. Your current liquid laundry detergent should work fine. If not, special cold water detergents are available. Your shirts and pants should be just as clean, and you'll thank yourself when the electricity bill arrives.

Eco-Friendly Solution - Save Energy: Air Dry or Line Dry Your Clothes 

Clothes dryers are one of the top energy users in households, right behind washing machines, refrigerators, hot tubs and pool pumps. The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Web site estimates dryers account for about 6 percent of total residential electricity in America.

Air drying or line drying your clothes will prolong the life of your clothes, cut your energy bills and help the environment at the same time. If you have never line dried you clothes read here on How to Line Dry Your Clothes

Go Green - Outdoor Clothesline Drying 

Whitney Design 3000 30-Line Outdoor Parallel-Style Clothes Dryer with Aluminum Arms

Whitney Design 3000 30-Line Outdoor Parallel-Style Clothes Dryer with Aluminum Arms

1 Piece, 210' Rope Arm Aluminum Outdoor Parallel C more...1 point

Homz 1212109 Hanging Clothespin Bag

Homz 1212109 Hanging Clothespin Bag

Clothespin Bag, Holds Over 100 Pins, 11" x 15 more...1 point

Whitney Design 1600 12-line Outdoor Umbrella-Style Clothes Dryer with Aluminum Arms

Whitney Design 1600 12-line Outdoor Umbrella-Style Clothes Dryer with Aluminum Arms

Aluminum Umbrella Outdoor Clothes Dryer, 150' Of D more...0 points

Lehigh Large Capacity Deluxe Parallel Clothes Dryer #LA84P-1

Lehigh Large Capacity Deluxe Parallel Clothes Dryer #LA84P-1

Nobody will argue that a clothes dryer is a wonder more...0 points

Penley 027 50 pack Wood Spring Clothespin

Penley 027 50 pack Wood Spring Clothespin

50 Pack, Wood Spring Clothespin, 1 LB.0 points

Clothes Pins Rust-Free Softtouch Premium Clothespins Jumbo SET of 72 by Whitney Design

Clothes Pins Rust-Free Softtouch Premium Clothespins Jumbo SET of 72 by Whitney Design

This Clothes Pins Rust-Free Softtouch Premium Clot more...0 points

 

Clothesline drying is practiced by most of the world, but, in America many of us live in communities that are regulated by Home Owner's Associations that have rules abut what we can and can't do to the exterior appearance of our homes.

If you don't have a clothesline, you live in an apartment or your HOA won't allow clotheslines, below are a few ways to dry your clothes without an outdoor clothesline.

Indoor / Outdoor Clothes Drying 

Whitney Design 15-7 5-Line Indoor/Outdoor Retractable Clothes Dryer

Whitney Design 15-7 5-Line Indoor/Outdoor Retractable Clothes Dryer

Sunline, Retractable Clothesline, 5 Lines Extend U more...0 points

Lehigh 20-Foot Retractable Clothesline #RC20-3P

Lehigh 20-Foot Retractable Clothesline #RC20-3P

20-foot retractable clothesline. Hang it wherever more...0 points

Whitney Design 5147 Indoor Folding Drying Rack, Chrome

Whitney Design 5147 Indoor Folding Drying Rack, Chrome

Foldable Dryer Rack! Fold Your Clothes, Then Fold more...0 points

Whitney Design Wall Mount Telescoping Indoor Drying Rack

Whitney Design Wall Mount Telescoping Indoor Drying Rack

Save space in the laundry room and dry all of your more...0 points

Eco-Friendly Solution - Organic Gardening & Pest Control 

You can shop online for quality natural products for organic gardening and organic pest control for your home, business, lawn, garden, farm and pets. Below is some good organic gardening products to help you get started!

High Fuel Costs Will Mean Higher Electricity Bills 

On July 1, the Florida Public Service Commission approved an adjustment in the pass-through fuel charge on customer bills. This is a result of the extraordinary increase in fuel prices.

You will see an initial portion of the fuel adjustment on your bills for meter readings beginning August through December 2008 (which means beginning with the meter reading for your July energy usage). A 1,000 kilowatt-hour monthly residential bill will go from $102.63 to $110.77, which is an increase of $8.14 - or about 8 percent.

Read My Energy Saving Solutions 4 thru 12 to help you save energy and lower your electric bill

Eco-Friendly Solution - Save Energy: Adjust Your Heat or Air Conditioning Temperature When You Aren't Home 

According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes.

Programmable Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the simplest things you can do to save energy and money in your home. They eliminate manual setback, which is easy to forget, and will automatically adjust your home's temperature settings when you're away or sleeping. You'll save 1% on your electricity bill for every degree it's set up/down over an eight-hour period!

Save with a Manual Thermostat, Too!

Every degree you set your thermostat down in hot weather or up in cold weather will help you save on your overall energy bill.

TIP: During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in use later in the day.

More Info on Saving Energy with Thermostats

It's a common misperception that it takes more energy to cool off (or heat up) a house than it takes to keep it cool all the time. Turning up the thermostat in summer (or down in winter) will always save energy. It's best to only cool (or heat) a house as much as necessary, based on occupants and time of day.

It's easy to forget to adjust the thermostat when leaving the house or going to bed, and it takes time for the house to cool off (or warm up) once the thermostat is adjusted, which can be uncomfortable. Here's where a programmable thermostat pays off, because it automatically adjusts the temperature when your home is empty, and when you go to sleep. Total energy savings will depend on your climate and the efficiency of your house and heating and cooling system.

This will allow you to save about 10% a year on your home energy costs. If every house in America did this, our total greenhouse gas production would drop by about 35 million tons of CO2. This is about the same as taking 6 million cars off of the road.

Eco-Friendly Solution - Save Energy: Turn Off Computers Monitors & Electronics When Not in Use 

Computers and other electronics consume a lot of electricity, even when turned off. Forget what you've heard about how powering up equipment repeatedly wears it out. That's false information...New equipment can be safely switched off and powered back on when it's needed again.


hibernate-to-save-energy


  • Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. Most monitors consume only a few watts in sleep mode. In contrast, screen savers can use as much electricity as if the computer monitor were in full use. Its recommended to set your computer to sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity for maximum energy savings. In Windows, the power management settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under system preferences in the apple menu.

  • Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The hibernate mode turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch. When you're done for the day, shut down.

  • Unplug battery chargers and power adapters when they finish charging, or are not in use. Keep them unplugged until you need them.

  • Use a power strip that can be turned off at bedtime or when you're done using your televisions, home theater equipment, and stereos. Even when you think these products are off, together, their "standby" consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously!

Eco-Friendly Solution - Save Energy: Switch to Green Renewable Electricity 

Renewable Electricity

More than likely, most of the electricity you use comes from non-renewable sources like coal. However, there are some utilities that will sell you non-polluting sustainable renewable electricity like wind, biomass, or solar power if you ask for it. More than 750 utilities in 37 states offer renewable electricity products and signing up can be very easy. To find out which organizations offer renewable electricity in your state, check out the US Department of Energy Map or contact your local energy company directly.

Read more about renewable electricity here.

For more ways to save energy at home, visit EPA's Energy Star at Home Tips

Eco-Friendly Solution - Warm Up Your Home with Insulation 

Was your house constructed before 1980? If so, it could be one of the 80% of American homes built without enough insulation. This means your home heating costs could be going through the roof, literally. The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association has tips for both finding and getting the most out of a contractor to fix this problem and for doing it yourself.

Insulation Incentives

Did you know that insulation pays?

Sure, everyone knows insulation pays in terms of energy savings and lower utility bills. But, insulation can also put cash back in your pocket in the form of rebates and tax incentives. Federal and local government, manufacturers and utility companies are leading the way in offering consumers cash incentives for upgrading their insulation and making other energy efficient improvements.

To find out about financial incentives in your area, visit NAIMA's SimplyInsulate consumer Web site. This site offers up-to-date information on incentives and rebates for every state along with other useful resources.

Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

In August 2005, the first national energy bill in more than a decade was signed into law.

It contains tax incentives to encourage energy efficiency and conservation in America's homes and buildings.

It includes Energy Efficiency Tax Credits for making improvements to new, existing and manufactured homes as well as commercial buildings.

Eco-Friendly Solution - Save Energy: Choose Energy Efficient Appliances 

According to the Department of Energy, your appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20% of your energy bills. By shopping for appliances and and electronics with the ENERGY STAR® label and turning them off when they're not in use, you can save big bucks on your monthly energy bill while saving the environment.

Find out how much your refrigerator or freezer costs to operate in energy and money and how much you can save with energy star here: Refrigerator Savings Calculator

Because they use 20-40% less energy than standard products, EnergyStar appliances like refrigerators can reduce carbon dioxide pollution, and have a big impact on your energy bill. Plus, choosing energy efficient appliances is easy -- just look for the EnergyStar logo. EnergyStar products typically exceed the federal energy standards by at least fifteen percent. When buying appliances that use the most energy in your home, like heaters, air conditioners, water heaters and refrigerators, also use the Energy Guide card posted on the appliance to help you choose the one with the lowest annual energy consumption.

Eco-Friendly Solution - Save Energy: Make the Switch to Compact Florescent Bulbs 

Save Energy, Money & the Environment with Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

According to the government's EnergyStar program, if every American home replaced their five most-used light fixtures with EnergyStar rated compact fluorescent bulbs the savings would add up to $8 billion annually in energy costs. That would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars!

On top of that, replacing one regular light bulb with an approved compact fluorescent light bulb would save consumers about $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.

Compact florescent bulbs use about 75% less energy than standard lighting. Compact fluorescent light bulbs also generate 70% less heat, so they are safer to operate and can also reduce energy costs associated with cooling homes and offices. They also last up to 10 times longer!

The only real drawback to using compact fluorescent bulbs is that each one contains about 5 mg of mercury, a toxic heavy metal that can cause serious health problems if inhaled or ingested over a period of time or in large enough doses. As a result, many environmentalists and other experts recommend recycling compact fluorescent bulbs to make sure they don't end up in landfills.

How Much Can You Save by Using Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs?

For most people, switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs offers a lot of opportunity for energy and cost savings. Lighting accounts for 20% of the electric bill in the average U.S. home, and the average home has approximately 30 light fixtures. Calculate your personal energy and cost savings with this handy online calculator, and find out how much you will be helping the environment.

Go Green - Energy Saving Fluorescent Light Bulbs 

GE 16460 13 Watt Energy Smart Soft White Spiral T3 Light Bulb, 3-Pack

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Sylvania 29149 13-Watt 120-Volt Compact Fluorescent MiniTwist Lamp with Medium Base, Warm White, 12-Pack #CF13ELMTWSTCVP

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Globe 48526 23-Watt Mini Compact Fluorescent Spiral Bulb (100-Watt Incandescent Equivalent), Soft White, 4-Pack

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Amazon Price: $16.00 (as of 11/28/2009) Buy Now
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Globe Energy Saver 26-Watt Mini Soft White Compact Fluorescent Spiral Bulb (100-Watt Incandescent Equivalent), 3-Pack #278459

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Eco-Friendly Solution - Save Energy: Turning off the Lights 

I feel everyone should know this one, but, I feel compelled to say it anyway. Don't leave lights on when no one is in the room. If you are going to be out of the room for more than five minutes, turn off the light. If you start to turn off your lights, you will see how easy it is to make changes to your everyday behavior to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and help fight climate change.

We really can "Change the World" with just one light bulb. Together, our small actions can make a big difference to climate change.

SHOW THE WORLD YOUR CARE BY TAKING ACTION

There is an annual international lights out event that is happening on Saturday, March 29, 2009 at 8:30pm. The goal is to get as many individuals and businesses as possible to turn off their lights for one hour raise awareness about climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Earth Hour shows that, together, our small actions can make a big difference to climate change.

Participating in Earth Hour is a simple way to show that you want to be a part of the solution and sends a powerful message to others that together we can make a difference.

Sign up for Earth Hour

So on March 29, 2008 what happened? Earth Hour 2008 was the biggest voluntary power down in history. It inspired many people and businesses to change their energy habits and has influenced government policy in some countries.

* 50 million people around the world switched off their lights for one hour

* More than 370 cities, towns and municipalities took part

* The lights of the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta USA switched off as did the famous Coke sign in Kings Cross, Sydney as well as the Coke billboard in Times Square, New York. Google home page went black.

* Iconic buildings and landmarks went dark including the infamous Alcatraz Jail in San Francisco, The Sydney Opera House, The Sears Tower, Azrieali Tower in Tel Aviv, Tivoli in Copenhagen, The Coliseum in Rome, Italy, Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai and the lights of Brighton Pier in the UK.

Australia's city of Canberra took Earth Hour to heart....

canberra_earth_hour

Eco-Friendly Solution - Ride Your Bike or Walk 

As the oil prices climb, Americans are looking for more ways to save energy, and more to the point,
gas. Not only is riding a bike or walking a climate-friendly way to commute, it's good for your health, too! Ride your bike to work, or use it for short errands. Your local bike shop is an excellent resource for information on bicycle commuting, the latest bike gadgets and safety tools.

With oil prices climbing and environmental damage from car emissions increasing, bikes are becoming a more attractive form of urban transportation every day. Cleaner air, reduced congestion, safer streets, and lower noise levels are just a few of the benefits!

Eco-Friendly Solution - Take Public Transportation 

One of the best ways to reduce your impact on the earth is to take the bus, tri-rail, subway or train instead of driving. Since you don't have to keep your eyes on the road, you can read, talk with friends or relax while you travel. If just 10% of US passenger car travel were instead on mass transit, we would save 75 million tons of CO2. Give public transit a try for one trip a week to start. You may be surprised by how convenient reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be.

Eco-Friendly Solution - Carpool at Least Once a Week 

Sharing a ride to work is one of the most efficient ways to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Ask around...odds are someone else is heading in the same direction already.

You can also signup with carpool sites like eRideShare or ICarpool who connect commuters or travelers going the same way. Putting two people together in one car instead of separately in two cars, and the greenhouse emissions are cut in half. This is significant impact. You still get where you want to go, while saving plenty of cash. Maybe you'll even make a new friend or two.

GO GREEN Tips for an Eco-friendl Lifestyle 

Benefiting the Soldier's Angel Charity 

When you do your Eco Friendly shopping through this Lens, a portion of the royalties are donated to the Soldier's Angel Charity, a non-profit organization providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and their families.

"May No Soldier Go Unloved"

Doesn't that make you feel good?

Do You Have a Suggestion on How to Go Green? More Eco-Friendly Solutions? 

submit
  • Reply
    gonegreen gonegreen Aug 21, 2009 @ 2:11 am | in reply to InternetJunkie
    I have actually found a company that has comparable prices, and more often than not, actually cheaper.. if your interested. I have been using their products for over two years and love them! Feel free to check my site, http://workathomeunited.com/misselise or call me at 209) 923-3561.
  • Reply
    totalhealth totalhealth Jul 29, 2009 @ 4:20 pm
    great tips on going green and saving money, lets try to continue to find more ways on how to be eco friendly to help save and conserve our resources.
  • Reply
    Going Green Going Green Jul 17, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
    This is a fantastic set of tips. We have over 300 tips for going green on our site as well. The Canberra pic on this lens is fantastic as well. I hadn't seen that before.

    Thanks!

    Jonathan
    http://www.GreenJoyment.com
  • Reply
    QuestionAuthoriTees QuestionAuthoriTees Jul 13, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
    good lens.. thanks for sharing your tips.. i have also solution for green energy. Promoting Green energy through T-shirt, See how? go to this site: www.QuestionAuthoriTees.com
  • Reply
    Apr 23, 2009 @ 11:37 am
    I'm always keen on learning more about how my household can help reduce its impact on the environment while also saving money. It's a pity eco-friendly products seem to be the most expensive on my shop's shelves so I don't buy them but I have started using vinegar and water to clean my windows and I'm starting to reduce my consumption of bleach and other harmful cleaning products; I'm using bread soda and soda crystals to clean everything in my home.
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