Stay Green to Save After the Holidays

With the holiday season fading behind us, we’re left with fond memories of friends and family. However, what we’re often not left with after the holidays is a full bank account. Holiday spending can take a toll on even the most frugal person’s bank account. One of the easiest ways to help watch your pennies after Christmas is to stay green. Not only will you be helping the environment and making your house more environmentally-friendly, but you’ll be helping your wallet, too, by saving money on your electric and water bills. Here is a list of some appliances that consume less energy and use sustainable sources. This list can also have some great ideas if you’re looking to exchange some gifts that you might be less than fond of!

1.)        Recycled USB Flash Drives: Green computer products are the new electronic rage. From recycled computers to solar chargers, there are a number of ways to make your computer environmentally-friendly. Recycled USB flash drives are one great way to do it. Technology now allows computer accessories, as well as actual computers, to be recycled with the parts being used for new products. The products are still produced at the same quality and sold at the same price as their non-green counterparts – they are just eco-friendly. Recycled USB flash drives are a great way to utilize this. Using recycled items generates less consumer waste, the recycled flash drives contain less toxins, and they can decompose faster than their non-green counterparts.

2.)        PC Power Savers: Standby power – when an appliance is plugged into an outlet when in standby mode and thus using unnecessary electricity – is responsible for approximately 12% of consumers’ electricity use. However, a PC power saver can help you cut that number way down by stopping standby power created by your computer. PC power savers plug into your outlet and stop the flow of standby power when any PC appliance is in standby mode. It also senses when your computer is off and then shuts down all appliances connected with your computer, eliminating all possible waste energy. Think about what you could with that 12% back on your electric bill each month!

3.)        LED Bulbs: LED (light emitting diodes) bulbs are incredibly energy-efficient, meaning that when you use them, you could cut down on your electric bill by an incredible amount. These light bulbs last approximately eight times longer than “long-lasting” CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) bulbs. Some LEDs can even last up to 20 years. That means that not only will you be saving money on your electric bill, but you’ll be buying a lot less light bulbs and rarely having to ever replace them.

4.)        method Smarty Dish: method has created a non-toxic dishwasher detergent that, as they say, “really works.” In fact, they say that, in tests, method worked better than most leading dish detergent brands. The detergent is created entirely from biodegradable ingredients and contains no toxins like phosphates or bleach. That means that each time you clean the dishes and wash the soap down the drain, you’re not dirtying the environment with all the leftover chemicals. You can also use them as an alternative to chlorine bleach in laundry – it removes the stains and keeps clothes white. One container ($6.50) does 20 loads, and when it comes in fun scents like pink grapefruit, how could you say no?