Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

There has never been a better time to try to reduce your carbon footprint. Whether you believe in global warming or not, is it ever wrong to do something good for the environment? Many of the things you can do to make yourself and your home more eco-friendly will end up saving you money, too. Surely you could use some extra cash in times such as these. If you haven't already started to go green, let the recession be the motivation you've been waiting for.

Going green doesn't have to mean shunning the comforts of modern life, and it doesn't even require that you make any sacrifices. There are some easy steps you can take that will have a big impact, both on the environment and on your utility bills.

Perhaps the simplest change you can make around your home is switching out your lightbulbs for energy saving lightbulbs like compact fluorescent lightbulbs, or CFL's. CFL's cost a little bit more than regular lightbulbs when you initially purchase them, but a CFL will last on average 8-15 times longer than a regular incandescent lightbulb. At the same time, a CFL will use between just one third and one fifth of the energy required by equivalent incandescent bulbs. If you switched all of the lights in your home to these eco-friendly bulbs, you could save up to 7% off your electricity bill -- just for making this simple switch.

Another way to cut a big chunk off your electricity bill is to get a programmable thermostat. This is an investment that will pay for itself within its first year of use, and over time will save you hundreds, or maybe even thousands of dollars. Programmable thermostats can be set to adjust the temperature of your home based on your schedule, so that your heating and cooling systems can take a break while you're out of the house or asleep. Programmable thermostats can store lots of different settings, and you can set them up to run differently depending on the day of the week. They tend to be more accurate and precise than regular thermostats, so you'll be more comfortable in your home. When you program your thermostat to ease up while you're not home, you're saving a huge amount of energy that would otherwise be spent regulating the temperature in an empty house. This is not only great for the environment, but it can help reduce your electricity bill by around 20%. Think about how fast that kind of savings can add up -- all while you're doing your part to keep the planet healthy!

When it comes time to switch out your bathroom fixtures, you should look into water-conserving products like low flow toilets and low flow shower heads. These products are comparable in price to regular toilets and shower heads, but will save you money on your water bill as they use less water compared to the toilets and shower heads that are probably in your house right now. The toilet is the biggest water user in your home, as flushing accounts for about 38% of household water use. Switching to a low-flow toilet will reduce water use by 25% or more. Showering represents about 17% of household water use, so when you switch to a low-flow shower head, you can cut your water consumption (and water bill) by another 20% or more. When you're using less water for your shower, you're also using less electricity from your hot water heater, so you'll save money there, too!

If you think that switching to a low flow shower means compromising on comfort and performance, forget about it. Older low flow shower heads worked by simply restricting water flow, which did mean that your shower felt more like a drizzle. Newer technology has made low flow showers much more satisfying, though, by controlling droplet size, focusing the stream, and increasing the blast by mixing in air. Chances are, it will feel the same as your old shower.

One last super simple step you can take in your home is starting a compost bin. When you compost your biodegradable waste, you reduce the amount of waste that you send to landfills while creating a substance you can use to fertilize your own lawn and garden. So simple to do, composting is one of the easiest steps you can take toward a greener home.

When you think about all the ways that going green saves money, you realize what a win-win situation it is. It's never too late to start doing what you can to benefit the environment, and you'll be rewarded in savings when you make the effort. Going green is simpler than ever -- getting started is all about simply shopping for the right products. Most of these products look and act the same as the things you're already using in your home; they just work more efficiently, which is better for the environment and better for your wallet.

We can't make you believe in global warming or even care about the environment if you don't want to, but there's absolutely nothing controversial about saving money. The bottom line is that all these products that are great for the planet are great for your wallet, too. So what are you waiting for? It's time to go green.