Monday, April 19, 2010

Go "Green" to Save Some Green!

Courtesy of: FeedThePig.org


Go "Green" to Save Some Green!

The very first Earth Day was 40 years ago in the spring of 1970. At that time, it was a grassroots event that raised concerns about the environment. In 2010, estimates suggest that more than one billion people in more than 190 countries will participate in raising awareness for the environment and implement personal changes to be more "green" on April 22.

Implement these green ideas and save money at the same time.

  • If you are a homeowner and have access to your hot water heater, turn down the temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees or lower. This can reduce your home heating bill by 6-10 percent.

  • Have a computer at home? Take advantage of your computer's "hibernate" setting when you aren't using it to prevent the computer from wasting energy. Even better, use a surge protector to turn it completely off. Some computer and television models continue to draw energy even if they are turned off.

  • It may seem trivial, but turn off your lights! Now that days are growing longer and brighter, keep your lights turned off unless you need them. If you leave a room, switch the lights off as you leave. The savings may be slight but can really add up over time. Consider adding a timer or motion sensor to your lights to make it more convenient so you don't even have to think about it.