Money-Saving, Time-Saving Ways to Make a Positive Impact on the Environment
This page contains practical suggestions for making a positive impact on the environment. Each suggestion meets the following criteria: It is easy to implement; it will save time and/or money; it will make a positive impact on the environment in a way that protects human health.
These suggestions are not meant to be applicable to everyone. Perhaps you already follow many of the suggestions. If so, good for you! On the other hand, implementing some of these suggestions might be impossible for you at this time. Our suggestion is to take a look at all the suggestions, and implement those that you can reasonably so now . For example, if we suggest living closer to your work, we're not advocating that you move tomorrow. Simply, keep the idea in mind the next time you're looking for a new home or apartment. These suggestions are mean to be "practical" and so you should be practical as well in choosing which ones to implement.
And now on to the suggestions!! Here's the ever-growing list of money-saving, time-saving ways to make a positive impact on the environment......
Tip #1: Choose A Home or Apartment Near Your Work- save $576 per year
Rationale: The air pollution caused by your weekday commute to work is probably your most negative impacts on the environment. In fact, in some cities the rush hour commute alone is enough to cause standard-exceeding concentrations of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, fine particulate and ozone.
Compare the Following: A 30-mile vs. 5-mile roundtrip commute to work.
Assume a vehicle with a fuel efficiency of 20 miles/gallon; an average of 21 work days per month; and gasoline at $1.80/gallon. The person with the 30-mile roundtrip commute will pay $57 per month in gasoline. This is $48 more per month ($576 per year) than the person with the 5-mile commute.
In addition: The money savings doesn't include the time you spend in the commute. If you value your time at $7/hour, then the approximately 40 minute longer commute is wasting $98 per month ($1176 per year).
Tip#2: Purchase a Vehicle With Good Fuel Efficiency- save $1,440 per year
Rationale: As described above, one of the most important ways we can protect the environment is to reduce emission from our vehicles. A fuel-efficient vehicle will require less gasoline per mile, and thus will emit less mass of pollutants to the air. Considering that the average vehicle lasts about 10 years, purchasing a fuel efficient vehicle is arguably the most important environmental decision you can make. And the saving in gasoline costs over the life of the vehicle will be enormous!
Consider the Following: Vehicles with fuel-efficiencies of 30 mpg and 10 mpg. Assume a monthly mileage of 1000 miles and gasoline at $1.80/gallon. In a month, the 10-mpg vehicle will require $180 in gasoline costs. By switching to the 30-mpg vehicle, the driver would save $120 per month ($1440 per year)
Other Factors: Standard shift vehicles are more fuel-efficient than automatic shift. Above 55 mph, driving at higher speeds means lower fuel efficiency. Running the air conditioner needlessly reduces fuel efficiency. Quick stops/starts caused by "gassing-it" or tailgating decreases fuel efficiency.
Tip #3: Use The Lower Octane Rating Gasoline- save $120 per year
Rationale: Almost all cars built in the last 20 years do not require Premium (high-octane) gasoline. Premium gasoline is not only expensive, but it means greater air pollution out your tailpipe! Save a few dollars ever time you fill up by choosing the lower octane gasoline. Check your vehicle's operating manual to verify that it doesn't require high-octane gasoline, then start saving.
Consider the Following: A-high octane gasoline that costs $0.20 more per gallon than regular gasoline. Assume a monthly mileage of 1000 miles and a vehicle with a fuel efficiency of 20 miles/gallon. A driver switching from "Premium" to "Regular" gasoline will save $10 per month ($120 per year) while emitting a smaller mass of pollutants out the tailpipe. Tip #4: Keep Your Vehicle Finely Tuned
Rationale: A car reaches maximum fuel efficiency when it is properly maintained. Proper maintenance not only saves in gasoline cost, but also increases the value of the car and can prevent large (expensive) repairs and breakdowns. In particular, fix any oil leaks, prevent air conditioning coolant leaks, keep your tires at proper air pressure. The short investment at the auto shop will likely pay off in the long run.
At Home
Tip #1: Turn Your Lights Out When You Don't Need Them- save $61 per year
Rationale: One of the major sources of pollution is the electric utility industry. Depending on the fuel they burn, power plants may pump tons of pollutants such as sulfate, nitrate and nitrite into the atmosphere along with other hazardous chemicals. Therefore, by reducing your electricity usage, you will decrease this pollution as well as save on your power bill. Of course, we are not advocating living in the dark, however turning out lights that are being used will go a long way.
Consider the Following: One 100-Watt lightbulb left on unnecessarily for 24 hours per day. Assume an average cost of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. Turning that lightbulb off would reduce your electricity cost by $7.30 per month ($88 per year). And that's just for one lightbulb!
Tip #2: Turn Down the Temperature on Your Water Heater
Rationale: Keeping a high temperature on your hot water heater wastes electricity and is costly. Scalding hot water temperature is also dangerous, especially with small children in the house. Some have suggested 120 degrees Fahrenheit as an optimal temperature, but you should consult an expert about the proper temperature for you. At temperatures below 120 degrees, there is the potential for bacterial growth, so don't adjust the temperature too low!
Also Consider: If you live in an area that offers solar heating, it is also always a money-saving option in the long run.
Tip #3: Replace incandescent bulbs with compact flourescents- save $26 per year per lightbulb
Rationale: Compact flourescent lighting is much more efficient that normal incandescent lighting. The light generated by a typical 100-watt incandescent bulb can be matched with a 30-watt compact flourescent. This is because the incandescent bulb generates a lot of heat which is wasted energy. Consider using a compact flourescent for light fixures that you use the most and see the decrease in your electricity bill.
Consider the following: One 100-watt incandescent bulb replaced by a 30-watt compact flourescent. Assuming that the light in on about 10 hours per day and an electricity cost of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, the compact flourescent bulb will cost about $2 less per month ($26 per year) in eletricity. And this is just for ONE bulb...you could easily save over $100 per year by replacing ALL your incandescent bulbs with compact flourescents.
Also consider: Don't be fooled by the price for compact flourescents. They are more expensive that incandescent bulbs, but they last up to 13 times as long. When comparing the prices, consider that one compact flourescent is equivalent to 13 incandescent bulbs. You can purchase compact flourescent bulbs online at
Energy Federation Inc.
Tip #4: Purchase a low-flow showerhead- save $120 per year per person
Rationale: The hot water you use during your shower requires energy (and money) to heat. One way to minimize the energy required in to install a low-flow showerhead so that less water is used for each shower. A low-flow showerhead will reduce the water flow to about 2.5 gallons per minute and costs only about $4.
Consider the following: Your water heater must heat water by an average of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on your climate). Installation of a low-flow showerhead can reduce your hot water use by about 15 gallons per shower. The energy saved by not heating the extra 15 gallons is about 3.5 kilowatt-hours. At 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, this is about 35 cents per shower. Doesn't seem like much, but it adds up to $10 per month ($120 per year) for EACH person in your home. A family of four could save $480 per year!
Tip #5: Donate Old Clothing, Toys , or Appliances to Organizations Like Goodwill or Big Brothers Big Sisters
Rationale: Instead of tossing out some of the old or outgrown stuff in your home, donate the items to a non-profit organization that will use them. It will save the items from taking up landfill space, and is tax-deductible. Goodwill and Big Brothers Big Sisters will usually agree to make the pickup from your home if that's what you prefer.
Tip #6: Have a Garage Sale
Rationale: They say that one man's trash is another man's treasure. You can make some money at a garage sale by getting rid of some items you don't want. In addition, those items don't end up occupying valuable landfill space.
Tip #7: Set Your AC/Heat to a Timer to Turn Off When Not Necessary
Rationale: You really don't need to have your heat and A/C on during most of the day, only those times when you are home. Purchase a programmable thermostat that automatically shuts off the A/C or heat during the hours while you are at work. In addition, have the thermostat turn off the heat during the night while you are comfortable under your blankets, and then turn it on an hour or so before you wake up.
Tip #8: Buy high quality products
Rationale: It may seem obvious to suggest buying products that are a good value and you will use, but the reality is that people buy many things that they didn't really want and thus never use. In a sense, the most expensive and environmentally costly is the product that you bought but goes straight to the landfill without any use. Use an online product review service such as
Epinions.com to make sure you are getting a product you will use.
Tip #9: Get a water heater blanket
Rationale: Chance are that your water heater is out in the garage or another unheated area of your home. Heat lost from water heaters is a drain on your energy bill and is useless to you. While some water heaters are properly insulated already, many could benefit from a water heater blanket around it. The water heater blanket will help keep heat inside the water heater...the only place it does any good for you.
While Shopping
Tip #1: Start Shopping Online
Rationale: Online shopping is a very promising and rapidly expanding area of commerce. You can generally get products cheaper online than you can find them in stores, especially when buying in bulk. And thanks to affiliate programs, companies now will give a percentage of your purchase to the website that referred you to the company. Check out
Igive.com,
GreaterGood.com, and
Care2.com, which are websites that donate the some or all of the affiliate program revenue to environmental organizations.
Tip #2: Buy in Bulk
Rationale: Wholesale outlets such as Sam's Club and CostCo offer products in bulk. Buying in bulk saves money and helps the environment because bulk generally means less packaging per item. The small membership fee to these wholesale stores will be more than paid for in cost savings.
Be Careful: Use your judgement when buying in bulk- a product that consists of individually wrapped single products in NOT better for the environment, and with all the packaging, there may not be much cost savings.
Tip #3: Purchase Energy-Efficient Appliances
Rationale: Much of your monthly electricity bill is due to large appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers and heaters. By making a point to purchase appliances that are energy-efficient, you will achieve significant cost savings over the life of the appliance. Look for the
Energy Star logo to be sure you are purchasing an energy efficient appliance.
Tip #4: Buy Fresh-food and Make Your Own Meals
Rationale: Try to break the habit of routinely buying frozen or refrigerated meals. These meals are generally individually packaged making them expensive and high in packaging waste. On the other hand, fresh foods have less packaging, are generally cheaper, and are better for your health.
On The Internet
Tip #1: Send Free E-Cards on the Internet
Rationale: Several internet sites now offer the ability to send e-cards to anyone with an email address for free. This saves you time, the cost of cards, and the cost of stamps. One of these sites,
Care2.com donates 5% of advertising revenue from these cards to environmental organizations.
In The Kitchen
Tip #1: Use Reusable Containers Instead of ZipLock Bags
Rationale: A Reusable sandwich container for packing your lunch generally cost about as much as a box of ZipLock bags. However, you'll need several boxes of ZipLock bags to pack as many lunch as you can with the reusable container. Save money and remove than ZipLock bag from your daily waste stream.
Tip #2: Use Cloth Napkins Instead of Disposable Paper Napkins
Rationale: For the small investment in cloth napkins, you will save years of paper towels or paper napkins. Cost of washing the cloth napkins is minimal, because you can toss the in with the rest of your laundry and they take up minimal space.
Another Thought: Many fast-food chains will give you napkins with your order.
Instead of tossing unused napkins in the trash, take them home and use them at your convenience.
Tip #3: Use a Water Filter Instead of Purchasing Bottled Water
Rationale: It is a myth that bottled water is always safer or cleaner than tap water. However, if you feel the need for purer water, consider purchasing a water filtration system instead. Water filters with carbon filtration can remove some harmful chemical like lead and organics, and it replaces the expensive bottled water. Water filtration can also remove taste and odor from water, making it more aesthetically pleasing.
Tip #1: Use a Reusable Mug Instead of Disposable Cups
Rationale: Almost all of us have a coffee mug sitting around from some
occasion. Use that mug instead of paper or styrofoam disposable cups. It will save money for you or your business and will prevent those cups from taking up space in our landfills.
Tip #2: Internally Recycle Your Paper Into Notepads
Rationale: Instead of tossing out paper with writing only on one side, toss it in the recycle box. Then when you need a notepad, cut a stack of these papers into quarters and staple in the corner. This produces a good sized notepad of scratch paper for making notes. It saves you a few dollars each year on notepads, and reusing paper is actually conserves resources more than recycling it!
Tip #3: Print on Both Sides
Rationale: Much of the paper that goes to the recycle bin is only used on one side. Consider putting a pile of this paper next to the printer so you and your coworkers can use it for printing. It is the printer equivalent of "scratch" paper. Also, remember to save paper by selected the double-sided option at the copy machine.
