Energy Saving Tips: Green Living Within Your Means

With high gas prices and global warming on manyestimated 10 percent of all greenhouse gases.
people's minds, consumers are looking for waysEncourage energy saving methods at your work
they can participate in energy conservation andby taking advantage of videoconferencing or
reduce their carbon footprint. And while you maytelecommuting if the business situation permits.
not be ready to buy a Toyota Prius or install solar• Take advantage of public transportation or
panels in your home, there a number ofcarpooling. The fuel you'll conserve will add less
everyday things you can do to adopt a greenCO2 to the environment and keep more dollars in
living lifestyle and contribute to energyyour wallet.
conservation.• Become an energy efficient home. Install
Learn how to be eco friendly and protect theenergy saving light bulbs and low flow shower
environment without breaking the bank with theseheads in your home. You'll save energy and your
10 Energy Saving Tips..energy conservation efforts will results will be
• Think green and plant trees [link to: NW Am.reflected in your bill.
Forests page]. If you're wondering how to be• Learn how to be eco-friendly in your home.
eco-friendly, one of the best - and greenest -Use eco-friendly cleaning products around the
ways is to plant trees around your yard or office.house and yard. The price difference is minimal
Trees are inexpensive, require little maintenanceand many of the eco-friendly products have been
and act as filters by constantly removing airshown to clean just as well as their less-green
pollution from the atmosphere.counterparts. Instead of cleaning with paper
• Recycle. Recycling is still one of the mosttowels, get into the routine of using old towels,
effective ways to reduce waste and lessent-shirts or rags to save on additional waste.
demand for the use of new natural resources. A• Buy reusable shopping bags. Considering your
growing number of communities now offer theenergy saving efforts, you should no longer ask
service for free or little charge and have recyclingyourself the question of "paper or plastic." Canvas
drop-off centers that are easy to access.totes are now widely available at most grocery
• Compost your fruit/vegetable scraps. Scrapsstores and are cheap, sturdy alternatives to
like melon rinds, banana peels, carrot scrapings,traditional shopping bags.
apple cores and tea bags are wonderful for• Green living and green entertaining. When the
composting. The average kitchen produces overnext opportunity to entertain presents itself,
200 pounds of waste annually, and bywhether it be a family function, backyard BBQ or
composting, you'll reduce waste and createdinner party, use real plates, cups and silverware.
wonderfully nitrogen-rich soil for your gardenYou'll reduce waste and create a more hospitable
• Shop at a farmers market instead of a chainenvironment for your guests.
grocery store. Buying locally helps energyRegardless of your current green living status,
conservation because it uses less fuel to get foodthese helpful tips on how to be eco friendly can
to market. Added green living benefits includehelp protect the environment without breaking the
fewer pesticides used due to shorter time frombank and can be easily applied to your daily
farm to table, all while supporting the localroutine. Start slow and try adopting a new energy
economy.saving method each month and the results will be
• Fly less. Airline flights account for angratifying.