Save Green by Being Green

Green - it's definitely been a popular term for awhile. Buying all-organic, free-range, pesticide-free, chemical-free...it can be spendy trying to do better things for our environment. So here are some inexpensive ways to go green and save some money:

• Use a reusable bag to do your shopping. Most grocery and retail stores are selling them now for pretty cheap prices. When you do your grocery shopping, most stores take a 3-5 cent deduction for every reusable bag you bring. I keep 2 bags in my car, so I always have them on hand if I have to pick up a few things from the store. One reusable bag will keep hundreds of plastic bags from being used (fact: the petroleum used to make 18 plastic bags could drive a car for one mile). Basically, you're doing a great thing for the earth, but saving yourself a few cents every time you shop. It adds up!
  
• Get compact fluorescent light bulbs - these energy efficient light bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than traditional bulbs. They are a little more expensive than other light bulbs, but pay for themselves in energy savings in about 6 months. If you wanted to know more about how to use CFLs or what makes them different, go to: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls
• Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products. These can definitely be expensive...what I tend to do is buy one regular sized container of, say, dish soap. After that, I buy my products in the largest sizes (cheaper by unit pricing) or in bulk at Costco. The Kirkland brand "green" cleaning products are very good. You can also make a lot of cleaning products with items you have around your house. Start using old dryer sheets to dust instead of buying specific dusting cloths. You can mix equal parts white wine vinegar and vegetable oil to clean wood floors. Find more homemade green cleaning solutions at: http://www.sideroad.com/Budgeting/homemade-cleaners.html

How many of you have "green"-ed your routine? What changes did you make?