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May 30, 2009
"Going Green" Doesn't Mean Spending More Money Anymore
"Going green" can be cost effective and in some cases even improve a company's bottom line. Going green can be broken down into three key words: recycling, reusing, and reducing. As an example, recycling one aluminum can generate enough electricity to power a television for up to four hours. An example of reusing: the collection of roof water from a 1-inch rain fall from the roof of a 3,000 square foot house can save almost 1,900 gallons of water. Calculated for an area that typically sees 20 inches of rain per year and you'd have almost 38,000 gallons of reused water.
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Recently, solar energy has become more affordable. Before it always cost more than traditional electric power sources. A research project in South Africa has come up with a solar film that measures half the width of a human hair. A section of the film measuring 30ft.X10ft. Could power a typical American home. And, it costs less than using coal for electricity. Reducing what you use can be rather simple. Repairing a faucet that drips can save a dollar a month. Low flow showerheads and faucets can cut water usage by more than 57%. Using appliances with Energy Star technology can save 20% to 30% in utility costs. LG laundry machines, for example, use just 16 gallons of water per cycle compared to 60 gallons used by other machines. If a family does 8 loads of laundry a week, they would save over 18,000 gallons of water over a year's time. Also, these machines save on electricity costs by generating some of their own electricity as they spin. Energy Star power strips can also save money.
There are also many rebates available for when you replace appliances, upgrade to energy efficient windows, or remodel your home. Details on these rebates can be found at the Energy Star website. One of the primary goals in "going green" is to achieve sustainability, where you create just as much energy as used. This is supreme in living in
harmony with the environment. Product selection when grocery shopping can also help you in going green. Using Borax instead of bleach is good for the environment. Instead of using chemical cleaners on windows, mix 2 cups of water and 1 cup of vinegar. You can reduce household pollutants by simply removing your shoes when you enter the house. Also, if you find the need to dust on a daily basis, it can be indicative of a mold problem. Instead of using air fresheners, you can use spider plants to clean the air. Several spider plants, sealed in a box with one person, would produce ample oxygen for that person to survive. Also, you can "green mortgages" to help the environment. These mortgages allow the buyer to borrow 17% or more of the purchase price to make environment-friendly improvements to the home. Many major banks and credit inions have allocated billions of dollars to loan to environment-conscious buyers and businesses.
Not every aspect of "going green" is safe, however. There are companies that engage in "green washing", or falsely claiming their products to be "green". To determine the authenticity of a company's "green" claim, look for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) logo. Avoid being victimized by green washing companies by researching the products you buy thoroughly.
"Going green" can benefit the environment and, if done properly, can lead to tremendous savings for you and your family. So why not start right now!
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