How You Can Make a Difference

Here are some suggestions for preserving the environment and cutting your expenses.

Transportation

Environmental Impact:Transportation accounts for about 30-50% of the air pollution we see in the environment.

Impact on your wallet:The average person spends over 20% of their budget on transportation expenses.

• Buy a green car and get up to $2000 in tax deductions
• Check your air filter. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by 10%.
• Maintain tire pressure. Properly inflated tires can improve fuel economy by one mile per gallon.
• Drive slower. Each 5 mph over 60 mph is the same as paying 10¢ more per gallon
• Drive instead of flying.
• Combine chores.
• Get some exercise:
  • Jog to work and burn 600 calories/hr.
  • Bicycle to the store and burn 240-660 calories/hr.
  • Walk to your neighbor's house and burn 210 calories/hr.
• Carpool.
• Eat at the office.
• See our Transportation Fact Sheet

Food

Environmental Impact: Water used to grow food accounts for nearly half of our water use. Agriculture also impacts wildlife areas and often involves the use of pesticides and fertilizers that can damage the environment.

• Eat lower on food chain. Predator fish contain higher levels of mercury and PCBs.
• Eat moderately. Overeating raises your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, and cancer of the breast, prostate and colon.
• Buy organic.
• Buy local. The average food travels 1500 miles. Buying local ensures you get fresher, healthier food, while lowering your costs, and reducing the impacts from transportation.
• See our Food Fact Sheet.

Home Energy Use

Environmental Impact: Energy use by the average home contributes more to air pollution and climate change than the average car.

Impact on your wallet: The average home spends about $1400 on energy costs every year.

• Reduce your Cooling Costs - Heating and cooling account for 50% of the average households energy use.
  • Go to the pool.
  • Turn down AC a few degrees.
  • Use Ceiling fans or whole house fans.
  • Modify roof design (soffet vents, insulation).
  • Install Solar screens and shutters.
  • Shade the southern side of house.
  • Shade the AC unit.
  • Perform an energy audit.
  • Improve insulation.
  • Maintain and Upgrade your AC unit.
  • Install a programmable thermostat ($20-$40).
• Appliances and Lighting account for about a third of the average household's energy use.
  • Use high efficiency lighting (fluorescent, halogen, LED).
  • Turn off and unplug appliances when not in use.
• See our Home Energy Fact Sheet.

Other ideas

• Reduce dry cleaning or use green cleaners.
• Reduce Junk Mail. Use Junkbusters.com
• See our Green Money Options Fact Sheet.