Easy Green Guide

“Going green” is a movement that’s been gaining momentum for decades, but if you’re not already onboard this train or if in the hustle and bustle of busy life, you’ve let some of your green habits go, use this quick list of easy changes to discover or remember how just a few simple steps can help you live a more efficient, sustainable lifestyle. It will help protect and heal our environment. Plus, it does more than save the planet. It can also stretch your dollars farther and help you save some green.

Hitch a Ride
If you and your neighbor both work downtown, why not take turns driving every day? The savings in gas and car wear for you both will add up quickly, and you’ll be using fewer of our planet’s resources. Are there other folks in the neighborhood who work in the same area too? Or friends who live in areas you pass on your way? Start a full-fledged carpool and reduce the costs even more.

Eat In
You usually pay at least twice as much for your food eating out than you do when you cook at home and take your lunch to work, so a commitment to limit your family’s visits to restaurants can save some serious dough. Making meals yourself also increases your awareness of what you’re putting in your body, where your food comes from and how it was grown (organically? sustainably?), the first steps in “eating green.”

Eliminate Leaks
Ensuring your house is properly sealed can save you a bundle in heating and cooling costs every month. Look for spaces under and around doors and windows. Caulk them up or use a simple draft snake to keep your comfy air (and your money) from escaping.

Don’t Buy, Borrow
If there’s a tool or gadget you need for a project, but you doubt you’ll ever use it again, don’t buy it: borrow or rent it. There’s a good chance a neighbor or friend has one they’ll lend you, and if not, many home-improvement stores rent tools and equipment, particularly large items, by the day or week. Also check the internet. There are several online networks that connect folks wanting to get rid of items (and not deal with the hassle of selling them) with other folks looking for those items. And if you’re an avid reader, remember your local library. You can borrow all the books you could ever read for free!

Grow Your Own
In Alabama, we’re blessed with a climate that gives us long growing seasons for veggies, herbs and fruits. If you’ve got some sun in your yard, you can have a garden, and it’s not as hard as you might think. Produce you grow is far cheaper than what you can buy, and nothing tastes better than something you planted and tended yourself.

Watch Your Water
Your hot water heater can account for as much as 25 percent of your monthly energy costs. Consider turning the temperature down a little, and you could save big. Wash laundry that’s not heavily soiled in cold water for additional savings. Install water-efficient fixtures in your kitchen and bathroom, too. Today’s models help you conserve water without sacrificing performance.

Pass on Plastic
Drinking plenty of water is good for your health, but if you’re constantly buying bottled water, it’s not good for your budget or the environment. Invest in a reusable metal water bottle and a filter for your kitchen sink tap (if your refrigerator doesn’t have one) to save hundreds of dollars a year.

Pass on the Paper, Too
Take advantage of online bill paying options and digital statements now offered by most utilities, services and banks to reduce paper waste and your mailing costs.