Buttonedup: Save money by going green

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that levels of organic pollutants indoors -- where we spend 90 percent of our day -- are two to five times more polluted than the air outside. That's an alarming statistic. But unlike most other alarming statistics floating around these days, this is actually one you can do something about.
Not only will going green improve indoor pollution, it can also fatten your wallet. We've outlined 10 simple things you can do to become a little greener -- all you have to do is organize your errand and shopping lists accordingly. Combined, these ideas could save you more than $1,000 this year.
1. Ditch the Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning uses harsh chemicals and it's expensive. And don't kid yourself -- you bring those harsh chemicals home with you on your dry cleaned clothes. Try to steam your clothes as much as possible while you're in the shower and buy fabrics that are washable. Use the dry cleaner for professional pressing only -- or find a cleaner who uses organic cleaning products.
2. Buy Green and Concentrated
What you spray on surfaces in your home interacts with your body in some way. Many household cleaning products have toxins and are dangerous, causing serious skin reactions and even asthma. Look for products that are organic, toxin free, and do not say dangerous. Products like Clorox Green Works are at least comparable in price to other toxic products on the market. To save money, check out concentrated cleaners, where you simply add the water yourself. They use less packaging, saving on resources and lasting longer than non-concentrated products.
3. Use a Water Filter
Americans use 3.3 million plastic bottles every hour but recycle only 1 in 5. Skip the $2 bottles of water and instead, purchase a water filter system and a metal water bottle (to take your filtered tap water to go). In doing so, you'll not only prevent plastic from entering landfills, you also will save a few bucks a day by refilling your own bottle. Or go one step cheaper, and just drink from the tap.
4. Break Your Paper Towel Habit
Paper towels are so easy to use, and downright addictive if you have messy kids to clean up after. But they are far from a necessity. Rather than sacrificing more trees and adding to our landfills, use sponges and rags made from old cotton t-shirts or towels. They're great for cleaning up little ones, spills, and your house. Keep rags and sponges right near the sink to prevent temptation. Zapping a sopping wet sponge or rag in the microwave for 30 seconds once a week will keep them smelling fresh.
5. Visit Your Local Library
You don't need to buy so many books when you've got public libraries. Visit on a Saturday, pick out a good book or two, and return it in the next week or two when it is due. It's free and it's green. Most libraries also carry new releases of movies on DVD and books on tape.
6. Reduce the Paper Trail
Sign up for electronic bills for your business credit card, bank statements, electric bills, etc and pay online. Then print only the confirmation of payment page. Still need the individual transaction documentation? Print it off on the recycled paper yourself instead of the credit card company sending you 20 pages of bill on regular paper with envelopes. Also, you save money on postage and envelopes. Sometimes you can actually get a credit by having the money automatically deducted from your account every month. Student loans may even lower your interest rate if you use the automatic payment option online. Money and environment saved.
7. Make Your Own Cup of Joe
If everyone in your office drinks a grande latte every morning from the local coffee shop, think of how many paper cups are tossed in the trash AND how much money you're spending on that overpriced cup of coffee. Buy coffee in bulk, make it at home, and use a travel mug because $3 per day, 5 days a week adds up to a whopping $780 per year.
8. Turn On the Energy Saving Lights
Energy Star-rated light bulbs and fixtures use at least two-thirds less energy than regular lighting, so yes they truly do save you money. Another option is to use motion sensors that automatically shut off lights when no one is in a room, saving energy for the planet and money for the company. If you don't have motion sensors, turn off the lights when you leave the room.
9. Inflate Your Tires
Proper tire inflation can improve your gas mileage up to 3 percent. That's no small figure when you consider the average American drives 15,000 miles a year. On your way home to work one morning this week, stop by the local gas station to see if your tires are optimally filled. It's fast and free if you have a tire gauge.
10. Get Power Strips for Your Rooms
Even when turned off, things like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy. In fact, the energy used to keep display clocks lit and memory chips working accounts for 5 percent of total domestic energy consumption. Cut down on your own electric bill and do something good for the environment by getting an energy strip. Plug in all your phones, chargers, and small appliance into the strip, and unplug the strip when you are not using the items.

The writers are co-founders of Buttoned Up, a company dedicated to helping stressed women get organized. Send ideas and questions to yourlife(at)getbuttonedup.com. For more columns go to scrippsnews.com.)

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