Going Green Tips… Save Money and Our Future

August 12, 2010 | By In living green | Comments(0)

Save Now for a Greener Tomorrow

We are taught from an early age to Save for A Rainy Day, Save For Retirement, Save In Case Of An Emergency… well you get the picture. All these examples are referring to saving money, a smart prudent thing to do. For most of us in recent times, unfortunately, our savings account has become our living account. Now they are asking us to Save The Planet. Did you know that doing your part cannot only help save the earth, but also save you money in the process? You can feel good about yourself and put cash in your pocket, or back into that savings account where it belongs. There are things you can do starting today, which will only cost you the effort to implement them.

Four Tips That Will Save Money

As with most changes, sacrifice can be a part of efficiency. Here are four essential steps you can start taking today to live green, save money, and it won’t cost you a dime.

1. Turn your heater thermostats down one or two degrees in winter, and turn your air-conditioning thermostats up one or two degrees in summer. If we all did this, the combined difference would be phenomenal. You will notice a significant savings in your electric bill.

2. Start washing your clothes in cold water. Modern powders perform just as efficiently in cold water as hot. Most of the energy that goes into washing clothes is in heating up the water. So you will save on electricity, live green and save money too.

3. On sunny days think about hanging your clothes on an old fashion clothing line. You will not only save money, but your clothes will smell fresher.

4. Try to consume a little less of everything, from electricity, to gas in the car, to the food you eat. Take time to write out a shopping list, and stick to it. If you feel the impulse to buy something you don’t really need, get into the habit of waiting 24 hours, then review it. The chances are you either won’t want it any more, or will have forgotten all about it.

Small Investments Will Payback Ten Fold

Ways to Cut Your Energy Bill
1.If you don’t already, look for leaks, this is a good place to start. I don’t mean just water, but also energy leaks. Yes, there are such things as energy leaks. If your house isn’t properly insulated, you are losing more money than perhaps you realize. You should not only make sure your loft is insulated, but any hot water pipes as well. This is a very small price to pay, but you will recoup this investment very quickly.

2. Consider getting a new toilet cistern that will use less than two gallons of water per flush. Standard cisterns use about three and a half gallons. Because of plastics, this is no longer a big expense.

3. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a dream come true for anyone who wants to live green and save money. They burn just 25% of the electricity that a standard light bulb burns, and they can last up to 10 times longer. Change your old bulbs today, or if you must be frugal, as the current ones burn out. The two drawbacks that critics used to discredit the fluorescent, that being the expense and the difference in lighting that the bulbs give off, have greatly diminished. The hue the fluorescent gives off, while still not the same has recently improved. I have seen these bulbs in the local dollar stores, so everyone can now take advantage of them.

Going Off the Grid

Renewable Energy Is Very Affordable
For those of you who have energy bills that are astronomical, you might consider solar or wind as a very cost effective solution. Whether or not you decide to go off grid or stay on and sell extra energy as some do, solar and wind as alternatives are more affordable than you think. Whereas contractors charge thousands to install, you can do-it-yourself for hundreds. Real people, not corporations, have come up with efficient and extremely affordable programs that walk you through step by step instructions, on how to build and install renewable energy for your home.

My own extensive research has helped me narrow down the best of the best instructional guides, complete with blueprints, photos, and even in the case of my number one choice, video instruction.
Besides renewable energy guides, I have found information on green car conversions, how to grow an organic garden, and also some opportunities to make money in the green movement. Obviously, I can’t go into great detail in this article, but if I have piqued your interest, you can get all the facts on these and many other ideas on how to go green at my site Possibly GREEN. There you’ll find the right ways to live a greener life, including information on how to find green jobs in your area.

At 57, I consider myself to be a Jack Of All Trades And Master Of Nothing. I was a struggling actor for 25 years. During that time I learned a little about a lot of things, and would like to pass along some of that knowledge. I live in California with my beautiful wife and a menagerie of pets.
Article Source

Related Blogs-Sorry script doesn’t always get the right sites

Please Note... All links within articles are placed by their author-owners and not by this blog.Products with in those links may or may not be the best in the world.If it sounds too good to be true it could be a scam.Articles are posted for their info,ideas and or entertainment value only.

Powered By WP Footer

Filed under: living green

Virtual Offices are Green

August 11, 2010 | By In living green | Comments(0)

Reducing overheads is often the best solution for businesses looking to survive in this tough economic condition. One way of doing so is to switch from occupying premises to running a business from a virtual office-an option an increasing number of Americans are doing. Businesses are becoming greener, because it makes sense.

Today’s technologies make it possible to communicate with staff and members instantaneously from any point on the globe at any time. The use of new technologies-such as the ability to share files and documents while traveling or telecommuting has saved both time and energy.

By adopting virtual office’s eco-friendly office procedures and providing an infrastructure, which allows for a greener approach to running a business, the serviced office providers enables its occupiers to automatically slot into an existing sustainable culture rather than starting from scratch.

While the advantages of working from home may seem obvious to you-more flexibility, more freedom, and the opportunity to be your family, there are probably even more benefits which you have not thought of.
1. Environmental benefits from not driving a vehicle and polluting the air
2. Reducing traffic congestion
3. Saving time, money and oil by not commuting
4. Reducing the stress level from not having to drive in congested traffic to and from work
5. Benefits of living a more balanced life
6. Going green virtually- building a green company instead of brick and mortar office.

The corporate world is uniquely positioned to go green unlike never before. With constantly evolving technologies, the connectivity of the Internet and mobile devices, the corporate world is able to run more efficiently with less paper and minimal physical resources. Businesses are going green virtually-no office, no commute, and no paper.
Virtual offices are undoubtedly a major component of the greening of the business world and they are having positive impact in this arena. Many businesses are finding increased productivity and cost savings by allowing workforce to telecommute. This trend makes the leasing and maintenance of physical office space environmentally unwise.

Of course, large companies in heavily polluted urban areas are not the only businesses that can enjoy the green benefits of a virtual office. Small offices that use a virtual office space are also able to be green saving on utilities, while their employees save on commuting costs and use less gas. The productivity level has also gone many folds with a virtual office or telecommuting arrangement because employees work in their respective familiar surroundings and save time, otherwise would have spent traveling to and from the office. The benefits of going virtual are many, though it does require businesses to change their way of thinking a bit.

Depending on the number of employees in your office, you can eliminate multiple cars that commute to work everyday. Allowing employees to telecommute from home could cut costs significantly. You are also no longer paying the energy costs and other expenses involved with running an office building. Commuting wastes time and fuel, degrades the environment, contributes to climate change and increases congestion on roads. Imagine how different things would look if every worker who could telecommute did so. The technology exists today to support this. However, you need a concerted effort to realize people the benefits of virtual offices.

In eliminating the concept of the physical office, virtual companies get rid of all the waste that goes along with it. Energy consumption is slashed, as you only need enough power to run you computer and a lamp. Paper consumption becomes negligible. Further, the health benefits-individual and collective- are enormous.

In addition to potential health and productivity gains, widespread use of virtual office environments reduces highway congestion and save money for both the employer and the employee. Many companies are now eliminating the need for physical office and thus the cost of leasing, lighting and maintaining that space.

Technology has truly changed everything over the past few years. You must feel blessed that you get the opportunity to build your business virtually and proud to share your wisdom as you grow and evolve.

David Nikolic is the owner of United Virtual Office which provides Virtual Office Services to business owners making a prestigious address affordable with all conveniences of a traditional office. These virtual offices are equipped with Live
Virtual Receptionists and telephone answering services.

Article Source