The Sacred Hearth

Walking softly on the Earth goes hand and hand with living Green and living Green takes effort. It can mean shopping around for organic products, going out of your way to recycle and maybe using less-than-convenient means to get from point A to point B. It is, in short, a way of life. One that isn't suited to everyone. But even the laziest among us can take solice in the knowledge that they are reducing their footprint just going about their business by making a few small changes and then forgetting all about it. It's easy once you know how.

You can significantly reduce your ecological footprint by making wise energy choices that continue to make a difference even while you're napping. One option is to visit http://www.green-e.org/base/re_products?cust=r or http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml to find an energy company near you that provides a Green energy option. Here in Michigan we have Green Generation. For just a few extra dollars a month on my electric bill, I am assured that a portion of my energy is coming from renewable sources, like Wind and landfill gasses. And if you can't find a Green-e company near you, you can purchase Renewable Energy Certificates or Green Tags.

Okay, so it costs a bit of cash and maybe you're broke. No crime in that. But green living can save money too, if you know how, and in the end, it can balance out. Whether or not you use renewable energy or RECs or Green Tags, you can reduce your environmental impact using these simple tips-

Buy Energy Star Approved Appliances

Okay, so maybe you're not in the market just yet, but one day you may be. If you're looking for a new washer, choose a front-loading model. These are gentler on clothing and spin out more water than toploaders, so you need to use less energy to dry. New dryers are now available with humidity detectors that automatically shut off when clothes are dry, not only saving you energy, but saving wear on your clothing. If you hate shopping for clothes as much as I do, this is a big deal! These machines cost more up front, but the long term savings is worth it.

Air conditioners and heaters are huge energy drains in the house, but depending where you live, one or the other is a necessary evil. Buying energy efficient models is just the first step. Even if you're stuck with the dinosaur that came with the house, you can improve your efficiency by making sure the filters are changed regularly and having your unit inspected at least annually. If you have forced air, making sure your ducts are cleaned regularly will not only improve energy efficiency but also improve air quality in your home, leading to fewer doctors bills and missed worked days from sinus infections and allergy symptoms. Have them check your seals while they're at it. You could be losing heat through poorly sealed ducts and not even know it. You should also adjust the temperature according to your activities. The house needn't be as warm or as cool while you're sleeping or away from home. Take your pets into account when making these adjustments, of course. Modern thermostats make this easy.

Change your bulbs

The new flourescent lightbulbs do cost a bit more, but they last alot longer and they use far less electricity than the traditional light bulb. Some estimates say each bulb saves $100 in electricity bills for the life of the bulb. My flourescents don't last 5 years (as the package says they will) but they do last alot longer than a regular light bulb and they don't get hot like a regular bulb does, that's got to make a difference in my air conditioning situation.

Turn it off

I mean, really turn it off! Not many people realize that alot of your appliances and computing equipment continue drawing energy after they've been turned off. Chargers drain electricity long after they stop charging and DVD players, cable boxes and computers continue to drain too. Plugi them into a power strip so you can turn off the whole lot when you're done with them and save up to 40% of your energy use! That's huge. If you're just stepping away from your computer for a minute, turn off the monitor. Most of the energy drain from computer use comes from your screen.

Do you have more suggestions? Use the comment feature to share them!