Earth Day Money Saving Tips

Okay, "I ain't no tree hugger', but I do like to save money and I really am rather fond of Earth. Here are a few thing we can do to help out the environment and save ourselves a bunch of money.

1.  Seal up your house.  Air leaks can account for up to 25% of the heat loss in your house every year.  Seal up the drafty windows and ceiling cracks, and you can save a few hundred a year on your utilities.

2.  Use smart power strips.  Most appliances and electronics still use power when they're completely turned off.  You can buy smart power strips that cut off electricity completely whenever your appliances aren't being used.

3.  Get a new fridge and air conditioner.  Okay, this one does represent quite a cash outlay. but either one is more than five years old, a new one will be so much more efficient that it could pay for itself in three years, just on the energy you'll save.

4.  Switch to LED light bulbs.  Yeah, they still cost about ten times as much as the old incandescents.  But they use less than a quarter of the electricity, and they last for 20 YEARS.  For a typical house they'll save you about a hundred each year.

5.  Wash all your clothes in cold water.  Modern detergents can get clothes just as clean either way.  One hot water load uses five times as much energy as the same load washed in cold water.  It's only a savings of about $100 a year, but that's a hundred bucks you can use for something more fun than paying the gas/electric bill.

6.  Get better fuel economy out of your car.  If you can't buy a new car, change a few driving habits.  Keep your car tuned up . . . drive a little slower on the freeway . . . and quit trying to be the first off the line at every stop light.  You could save $500 a year.