8 Ways to Save Money by Living Green

Living green doesn't have to be a daunting proposition. By making even a few small switches around your house, you can benefit the environment while benefiting your wallet.

1. Switch to Halogen Light Bulbs. While halogen light bulbs may cost more up front (perhaps four or five dollars as opposed to a dollar or two), they do last several thousands of hours longer than their cheaper incandescent counterparts, so you actually end up spending less in the long run on replacement bulbs alone. Halogen bulbs are also more energy-efficient than incandescent, and cut down on your energy bill. Some states and companies even offer rebates to those who replace old incandescent bulbs with halogens.
2. Buy a Programmable Thermostat. By using a programmable thermostat to lower (in the winter) or raise (in the summer) the temperature of your house during the night while you sleep or during the day while you are at school or work, you not only save energy but also a considerable amount of money each month on your energy bill. While certain models can be expensive, expect them to pay for themselves in just a month or two.
3. Turn off the AC. Living in Minnesota, my husband and I cherish the warmth of the summer. That said, the humidity can really get to be too much at times, and we do enjoy the air conditioning. But, in order to save money (and energy) we have installed a governor on our air conditioning unit that automatically turns the AC off when it has run for too long, and doesn't let us set the temperature below a certain point. Our energy company gives us a percentage off of our energy bill each month during the summer to have it, which is also nice. We also have an unwritten rule that until we have a stretch of hot days in the 90s, the AC doesn't get turned on. Needless to say, we enjoy paying our energy bill in the summer much more than we do during the winter.
4. Watch Your Water.This is a biggie for me, since I love love LOVE taking baths. According to @livinggreenstore (http://www.livingreen.com/), a shower only uses 10 to 25 gallons of water while a bath takes up to 70 gallons, and letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours. Taking showers instead of baths, turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth, and (while I have yet to employ this tactic, my sister-in-law is religious about it) abiding by the rule, "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down," can save a lot of water—and a lot of money.
5. Plant Your Own Vegetable Garden. Tending your own garden is not only great for the environment (by upping the number of carbon dioxide-consuming plants as well as reducing the gas/oil required to ship fruits and vegetables grown elsewhere) but also great for your family (as your veggies will likely have no pesticides and fresh produce is always a better option than processed foods) and your wallet. Seeds are cheaper than buyer fresh produce shipped in from elsewhere. Gardening is also a great, stress-relieving hobby, and is great for fostering relationships with neighbors and coworkers, as any extra tasty produce can be shared.
6. Make Your Own Compost Pile. Whether or not you plan to plant your own garden (see number five above), you can use compost for any lawn-related purpose. This saves on the hundreds of thousands of tons of chemical waste that go into water supply each year, and there is no need to spend money on expensive potting soils and fertilizers (which themselves are generally hazardous to our environment).
7. Walk or Bike to Work. Finding alternate means of personal physical transportation (i.e. walking, biking, or skating) not only saves on the carbon footprint caused by your car, but it saves your wallet (gas in Minnesota is again up to $3.49/gallon and rising) and your health (and with your new method of exercise, perhaps you can ditch your expensive health club membership!).
8. Make Your Own Safe Cleaning Supplies. Vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda (as well as many other common household items) can be used for safe alternatives for chemical cleansers. By making your own cleaning supplies, you not only prevent chemical-laden liquid waste from entering our rivers and waterways, you keep your kids chemical free and save money each month on products.