Going green can be easy and save money. Here are five easy tips to be green.
We have known for a while now that the Earth is warming. Granted, there was still some debate as to whether global warming was caused by human actions or not up until a few years ago. But now, it is generally accepted that mankind has at least contributed somewhat to global warming. That is why it was so shocking to see that in a recent survey in National Geographic, the U.S. ranked last in terms of green lifestyle choices.
With all of the advertised green household products we see in advertisements, and the campaigns for environmental sustainability and the drastic weather changes we have seen over the past few years, you would think that the U.S. would be on its way to becoming one of the leaders in global sustainability. Granted, the 2008 financial shock and lingering recession definitely dampened the ability of some U.S. families to be able to spend a little bit more for greener options. However, as we have noted in some of our other posts, being green sometimes does not have to cost anything. In fact, being green can save you money.
Here are five ways that you can save money and easily go green.
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What if global warming is a hoax?
Although there is plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise, many people still believe that global warming is a hoax. You cannot blame them. Those whose interests are impacted negatively by global warming being real definitely do their best to try to distract and confuse people and generally keep the global warming debate alive.
They are doing a pretty good job of it too. Just turn on the TV and tune to various news channels and you are likely to see stories on how global warming is real and how global warming is a hoax. All of the different channels are also likely to have pundits with credible backgrounds explaining why their point of view is the truth.
So, if you are a regular person just trying to get the facts straight and make up your mind, who are you supposed to believe?
We propose that, even if you don’t care one bit about the environment and believe that global warming is a hoax, it is still in your best interest to act as if it is real. Here’s why.
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Top five cheap and easy ways to improve gas mileage
Gas is expensive and just seems to be getting more and more expensive each and every year. Not only does gas take up a good portion of our incomes, but the burning of gas by automobiles is also the second largest contributor to global warming, releasing over 1.5 BILLION tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year according to the NRDC. So, how can we relieve some of the financial and environmental burden that driving our car creates?
Obviously, hybrid and electric vehicles are an option to drastically improve gas mileage, but they are expensive and the manufacturing process of those vehicles requires the use oil and gas, which means greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere when they are made. That is not to say you should not buy a hybrid or electric vehicle. If you are driving a very old car, especially one that does not get good gas mileage, trading it in for a hybrid or electric car can be a good choice. However, the best solution is usually to keep your current car and try to improve gas mileage so that you get the absolute best MPG out of your car as possible.
Here are our top five cheap and easy tips to improve gas mileage for your car. Read more on Improve Gas Mileage – Top 5 Cheap and Easy Tips…
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Green credit cards are a good way to go green without much effort
Most of us use credit cards. They provide us with a handy way to buy things without having to carry around a lot of cash. They can also help us track our expenses and create budgets. Some credit cards even provide bonuses and gifts to reward us for using them. You earn points with each of your purchases and, once you get enough points, can select from various rewards, like: air fare, electronics, tickets to shows and concerts, gift cards and more. However, there are also credit cards that provide rewards that can help you reduce your carbon emissions or otherwise help the environment. These credit cards are known as green credit cards. Read more on Green Credit Cards…
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I was trying to explain what electricity was to our daughter and thought of the old Schoolhouse Rock videos. We watched a whole bunch of the Schoolhouse Rocks videos, including “Electricity”, “Three is a Magic Number” and “Conjunction Junction”. However, I thought the best one was “The Energy Blues,” where the earth sings all about the history of energy and how and why we should conserve it.
Our daughter, who loves singing and music, quickly caught on to the tunes and was humming them. I think the songs and videos were pretty effective at explaining pretty complex issues to her in a fairly simple way that is easily remembered because it is set to a cartoon and song.
Apparently, in 2009, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released a Schoolhouse Rock: Earth DVD with ten new Schoolhouse Rock songs about water conservation, recycling and biodiversity. However, the reviews on it are mixed, so you will have to decide for yourself whether it is worth watching.
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The process of going green can be large, and somewhat overwhelming at times. When you are starting out, it is best to create a plan with some concrete actions to do. However, before you start coming up with actions you would like to take, it is helpful to know where you are starting. Once you know where you are starting from, you can more easily decided where you want to end up.
A good first step is to calculate CO2 emissions for you and your family. Read more on Calculate CO2 Emissions…
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Supporting environmentally responsible companies helps fight global warming
There are many ways to help fight climate change. Some of the most common ways are to use compact florescent light bulbs, reduce energy use, buy a hybrid or electric car or make other personal lifestyle changes that cut your carbon emissions. Making those personal lifestyle changes can make a big difference and also save you money. However, there is another change that you can make that not as many people talk about, and that is supporting environmentally responsible companies. Read more on Support Environmentally Responsible Companies…
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Solar Ovens are a great way to grill out without the carbon emissions
I love to grill out as much as the next person, so I was pretty bummed when I found out that grills are pretty bad for the environment. Tristam West, a researcher at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, did a study on how much carbon dioxide grills emit. He compared a charcoal grill, gas grill and electric grill that produced 35,000 BTU per hour (an industry standard). The charcoal grill released 11 pounds of carbon per hour. The gas grill produced 5.6 pounds of carbon per hour. Finally, the electric grill belched out a whopping 15 pounds of carbon per hour.
So, how can we still grill out and reduce the impact on the environment? Enter solar ovens. Read more on Solar Ovens…
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Do we really need a second fridge?
Like many families, when we bought a new refrigerator a couple of years ago, we kept our old one and put it in the garage to use for drinks and extra food. I knew that our old second fridge was not as efficient as a new one, but I thought that, if I kept the temperature settings way down, it would not use all that much electricity.
However, according to several articles I have read recently, having a garage fridge leads to pretty substantial extra power consumption and carbon emissions. Read more on Second Fridge Guilt…
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