| More and more people are becoming aware of the | | | | example, replacing a pre-1994 washer with an Energy |
| need to give something back to the environment and | | | | Star model can save a family $110 a year on utility bills. |
| take positive steps now to avoid serious environmental | | | | Energy Star washers use 50 percent less energy than |
| problems later on. Unfortunately, there are some green | | | | other standard models, and only 18 to 25 gallons of |
| initiatives that simply are not worth the time or the | | | | water for a full-sized load, compared to 40 gallons for |
| money because they do not provide enough of an | | | | standard full-size washers. |
| impact or no impact at all. | | | | 6. Going ga-ga for green gadgets. Green gadgets do |
| 1. Buying because you see green. Perhaps one of the | | | | not always work that well. A prime example is buying |
| worst initiatives at the current moment is simply giving | | | | a low-flow toilet that takes multiple flushes to work |
| in and buying something just because it is labeled | | | | correctly. In this case you really are not saving any |
| green. While your heart is certainly in the right place, it | | | | water if you need to flush a low-flow toilet more often |
| just does not make sense to buy something just | | | | than a regular toilet in order for it to work right. |
| because it is labeled green and particularly when you | | | | 7. Window shopping. If you have single pane and not |
| do not really need it. Unfortunately the word green has | | | | double-hung windows, sealing your old windows is a |
| become a marketing tool. The best way to make an | | | | more cost efficient choice than purchasing new |
| impact is to actually use fewer items. | | | | Energy Star windows. Replacing all the windows in a |
| 2. Buying a new car simply to get better gas mileage. | | | | home rarely saves more than 10-15% of the home's |
| While this may sound like a good idea in theory, the | | | | heating bill. It usually takes 20 years or more to |
| most environmentally friendly car you could possibly | | | | recover the cost of the new windows in energy |
| drive, if you are going to drive a car, is the one you | | | | savings. The Efficient Windows Collaborative has a |
| already own. As long as your existing car is in good | | | | helpful guide for calculating your savings. |
| repair, keep in mind that it would take a long time to | | | | 8. Investing in solar panels for your home. While solar |
| break even by buying a car simply for better gas | | | | panels will probably make sense for most of us in the |
| mileage. In the meanwhile, you might actually be making | | | | future, at the current time they are often |
| matters worse by buying something new rather than | | | | cost-prohibitive despite the tax credits and in most |
| sticking with a perfectly usable item you already own. | | | | instances will not save enough energy to offset the |
| Letting up on the accelerator petal is a simple way to | | | | amount of energy that was needed to manufacture |
| make your existing car perform like a green car. | | | | them for a single family home. Great strides are being |
| 3. Buying 'green' cleaning products. In theory this one | | | | made however, to generate power from solar |
| sounds like you would be doing something positive but | | | | sources on a much larger scale i.e, to power a whole |
| in reality you can actually do much better by making | | | | city. |
| your own cleaning products with just a few simple | | | | 9. Buying organic clothing. Many designers are now |
| ingredients you probably already have at home. For | | | | marketing "eco-friendly" clothing made with organic |
| example you can make an all-purpose cleaner by | | | | cotton. This sounds environmentally friendly but just |
| mixing 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 | | | | because the cotton may have been organic to start |
| gallon water. This formula used in conjunction with | | | | with doesn't mean that the tee shirt you are buying is |
| micro-fiber cloths which lift off dirt and grease is an | | | | not laden with processing chemicals and dyes. If you |
| ideal green cleaning solution. | | | | really want environmentally friendly clothing buy vintage |
| 4. Buying from a Farmer's Market. In some cases, | | | | clothes and wear the ones you've already got. You |
| making the effort to purchase produce from a | | | | can always repurpose those old MC Hammer pants |
| farmer's market may not be the best choice if you | | | | into pajamas or a yoga outfit. |
| need to drive a long distance in order to do it. Always | | | | 10. Purchasing carbon offsets. Carbon offset programs |
| balance out the initiative with the amount of fuel you | | | | have many proponents such as Al Gore. However, in |
| need to expend in order to accomplish it. | | | | reality, this is probably the least effective green step |
| 5. Buying a new Energy Star appliance. If there is | | | | you can take. Critics often liken it to the old Catholic |
| nothing wrong with the appliance you already own, you | | | | practice of buying indulgences for the forgiveness of |
| might be helping the environment more by waiting until | | | | sins. You can't undo something bad you have done for |
| you actually need a new appliance to purchase one | | | | the environment by buying some green points. You are |
| and then purchasing an energy efficient model. | | | | better off simply taking more steps to be |
| However, if your appliance is over 15 years old, it | | | | environmentally friendly in the first place. |
| makes both eco and financial sense to replace it. For | | | | |