Last of the April Green

From Doing It Green, Minnesota:

Tips for Going Green and Saving Money
DRIVE EASY. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon for gas.

USE ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs (e.g. compact fluorescent lightbulbs) use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

RECYCLE. One aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours. Check with your city, county or recycling hauler about rebates or incentives they may offer residents for recycling.

BUY IN BULK. Packaging makes up 30 percent of the weight of trash and 50% of trash by volume. You can save money by buying in bulk. For example, Gatorade powder is priced at $4.29 and makes the same amount of drink as eleven of the single-serve 24 oz .bottles priced at $12.45.

SWITCH TO NON-TOXIC CLEANERS.An estimated 2–5 million exposures to household poisons occur every year. Non-toxic cleaning products do the job safer and cheaper. You can make your own non-toxic cleaners using simple, ordinary ingredients you probably already have at home – baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. Vinegar, while it kills bacteria and mold, does not harm the environment. A 5% vinegar solution kills 99% of bacteria and 82% of mold. To make a 5% solution, add three ounces of vinegar to half a gallon of warm water. Making your own cleaner only costs about .20/refill.

REUSE BAGS. An average American could save 22,000 bags in our lifetime if we use reusable bags when shopping! Many stores will also offer a credit if you reuse bags.

SAVE ENERGY, SAVE HOT WATER. Save up to $51 and over 5,000 gallons of water annually by using low flow shower or sink devices.