Whether you’re sad the kiddies are heading back to campus, or you’ve got brew on ice (mostly the latter?), either way they’re going to head off. The following ideas can help you save over $500 dollars an year and still help the environment!!

1. Britta filtration system or something similar—Have you seen some of the brown sludge that comes out of the faucets on some campuses? Just nasty. The only other alternative? Bottled water? But let’s say that your kid drinks two bottles a day (not nearly enough, by the way) at a buck each, and he’s in school for nine months (on average). That’s 270 bottles a year….AND $270 dollars! $270! On something that you already pay for! And if they complain, there is always healthier water in the cafeteria!

2. Water bottle—A necessary item when you buy the filtration system. This $12 dollar item (if she says she needs a fancy one with cool designs) will allow her to get the eight cups a day, keep her awake (hydrated individuals are more alert and healthy), and giver her something to play with during physics when the teacher is droning on and on.

3. Energy-saving light bulbs—Late night cram sessions require lots of light. Why spend money on nine light bulbs a year when one energy-saving bulb will last longer and cost you and your kid less in the long run?

4. Canvas bag—This will come in handy when he goes to the school store, either for books or groceries. This will reduce Junior’s waste, because he won’t bring the items home and trash the paper/plastic bags. And, now there are great options for something he’d actually want to be seen in public with. I mean, you could torture him and go to extremes, with and put puppies and hearts on it, but the point is for him to use it!

5. Notebooks of recycled paper—Really, this is just an obvious one. No need to go into detail here!

6. Timer for the house lights—Especially if it’s your daughter at school, you don’t want her coming home to a dark house. It’s just not safe. But leaving the lights on all day (because she’s a rock star and taking 5 classes a day and working) wastes electricity and sends the energy bill skyrocketing! Instead invest the few bucks in a light timer. She’ll save money. You’ll feel comforted that she’s not walking into a pitch black house!

7. A bike—If Junior doesn’t have a bike already, now is the perfect time to set him up. For large campuses, like Penn State, getting from one class to another can be a real hassle. This is especially true when the university limits how many cars can be on campus. By using this alternate mode of transportation, you save gas money, parking fees, and his stress of finding a spot! (Oh and don’t want to spend a fortune? Check out the many police auctions that have very nice bikes for really inexpensive prices!!)

8. A basic dish set—Maybe she’ll wash it, maybe she won’t. But giving your student a couple bowls, plates, and utensils will come in handy when she wants to make a sandwich or heat up takeout (microwaving those Styrofoam containers releases all those plastic chemicals!). This is a better alternative to plasticware, as she won’t be loading up the landfills, and you won’t be shelling out $20 bucks a month. You easily save $240!! Pretty much cost of one textbook!

9. Surge protector—Not so much about saving energy as saving the life of his computer, though not an issue on a global scale, still important, nonetheless.

10. Clothes drying rack—This especially works well if your kid is living off campus and has his/her own washer and dryer (yes a miracle in the college scene but not unheard of). Energy bill amounts will lessen. Good for your wallet. Good for the environment!

Ah, tomorrow is September 1 and while the kids will be gearing up for school, the adults will be bracing themselves for the ever-increasing costs of running a home during the cooler months. With rising unemployment and decreasing job opportunities, everyone will be looking, even more than before, to save month without layering themselves in 12 sweaters. While some of you may like this over-zealous, cash-saving approach, there are other ways of saving money without turning yourselves into a waddling pumpkin.

Try these 5 no-brainer tips this autumn to not only save energy, but save money!

1. Use Energy Star-approved energy-saving light bulbs: According to It’s All Green (www.itsallgreen.wordpress.com), if every home in the US replaced just ONE incandescent bulb with a low-E compact fluorescent bulb our nation could cut the emissions of greenhouse gases to the equivalent of 800,000 cars. Not to mention that the bulbs last more than 9x longer than the standard bulb!
2. Use your ceiling fan to circulate to push down the rising heat and circulating it around you by putting it on the lowest setting instead of turning up the thermostat!
3. Put heavy door jams in front of all the exits, where door seals may not be in the best condition. This will prevent hot air leaving through the imperfections of construction.
4. Close blinds and curtains at night. If possible, hang heavier material during the cooler months.
5. Check the seams of the window to ensure no air is escaping. A simple caulking job will fix this!

Home offices are one of the major culprits of wasting energy. Even when we aren’t using them, computers and printers suck up energy and money! Follow these tips and techniques to slash your spending!

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Washing your clothes doesn’t have to be an expensive and wasteful process. Ease up on your energy bills with these simple tips:

1. Wash your clothes in cold water.

2. Fill the machines to full capacity.

3. Put a towel in the dryer. This will help soak up the moisture and cut down on drying time.

4. Keep the filters clean at all time (this will also help prevent fires).

5. Set your water thermostat temperature at 120°F.

6. Dry clothes only halfway and then hang them on a drying rack for the remainder of the time.

7. Hang clothes worn only once in the fresh air (unless of course they are pretty rank!). This will eliminate the need to waste water and energy, yet freshen up your wardrobe easily and cheaply.

(Picture source from LGE.com)

The National Wildlife Federation put together this awesome energy-saving video series that helps the average Joe like me save hundreds of dollars every year! From where to plant trees to how to set your thermostat, these videos give you great tips to making a difference!
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Originally, when my friends told me I should think about making my house green, I ended up standing in Home Depot in the paint aisle trying to figure out which was better–evergreen or sea green. Turns out, they were talking about using energy-efficient appliances and materials. Who knew? And, according to the video below, by spending money on eco-friendly items, you can actually save more in the long run!

The great things about kids are their curiosity and their uncanny ability to pick up on every little thing. Yet, as we age, we are less likely to break our habits. This only emphasizes the importance of teaching children ways to reduce waste and think globally.

1. Teach them to turn the water off when they brush their teeth and take baths. The best way for youngins to learn this is by you setting the example.
2. Make turning off the lights a game. Every time they do this, they get a nickel or dime (depending on the age of the child). Show them how much they’ve saved at the end of a month!
3. Set up a compost pile in the back yard and give each child a specific task for which they are in charge.
4. Grow a garden. This is a great way for kids to take a personal interest in how things grow and value the process.
5. Decorate canvas shopping bags and take them every time you go to the store, grocery or any other. Kids will love toting their personalized carrying cases, and they’ll learn a valuable lesson about saving plastic and paper bags!

(Photo borrowed from Abceeds.com)

Could paying attention to your water heater make a difference in your energy bills?? Find out below!

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