In addition to environmental benefits, making your home and lifestyle more "eco-friendly" can also save you a hefty chunk of change. Here are a few tips to help you create a greener home, and save.
Upgrade and get credit where it counts (your wallet)
Energy efficient home improvements could earn you a nice-sized tax credit from the government.
Brighten up
Changing your light bulbs to new Energy Star bulbs will save you money in the long run - these bulbs use about 75% less energy than standard lighting, produce 75% less heat, and last up to 10 times longer.
Get smart with power strips
Even after your TVs, computers, stereos, etc. are turned off, they still suck up electricity. An easy solution is to plug them all into a Smart Strip. When it senses a device is turned off, it then shuts off the power, eliminating the idle current.
Water 'bout it?
Conserving water is easy when you have the right tools. Luckily, there is a wide variety of water filters for your kitchen, bathroom and yard that make it simple to both reduce your household's water intake, and makes the water you do use cleaner.
For more information, visit our favorite "Go Green" websites:
The Daily Green
Provides quick, simple tips and advice - including recipes, eco-friendly cleaning and how to "live green" at home.
The Green Guide
Provides green living tips, product reviews and environmental health news.
ZipRealty's awesome online buyer tools - including street views, aerial maps, neighborhood stats and more make it easy for you to narrow down your home search online, instead of wasting gas (and time) by needlessly driving around.
