OXFORD, Miss. – Let’s talk green. Yes, money. And yes, the environment.
Many people think you can have one or the other: green in your pocket
or green in your lifestyle. However, the myth dies here; you can have
both.
The following simple green changes can result in a happier Earth
and bank account:
More money, less electricity
Reducing the amount of electricity used in your home is a sure way to save money, and a quick electricity saver is to replace old light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, said University of Mississippi Sustainability Director Jim Morrison. Not only do CFLs use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, but they also produce more light and less heat, he said.
Because CFLs are brighter and cooler, you’ll need to use fewer lights and less air conditioning.
An even better solution is to avoid turning on lights whenever possible.
“It’s great that people are becoming aware of turning off lights when they leave home,” Morrison said. “But a more important question is, ‘Why turn them on in the first place?’”
An easy solution is to take advantage of natural light, use lamps and avoid using overhead lights whenever possible.
Also, consider using your air conditioner less, especially when you are not home. For every degree you turn up your thermostat, you can cut energy use by 3 percent. Decreasing your water heater temperature will also translate to savings.
If you follow these steps, expect to save up to $350 a year on your electricity bill.
Use less, save big
Because of the amount of raw materials and energy needed to produce disposable water bottles, they are harmful to the environment and your wallet. Opt for a reusable water bottle instead.
Plastic bottles cause several serious environmental hardships, said Ann Fisher-Wirth, UM professor of English and environmental studies.
“You think you are getting something cleaner, better with bottled water,” she said. “But you just aren’t.”
Plastic bottles can take up to 1,000 years before they even begin to decompose. And recent studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate that plastic water bottles may leak harmful toxins throughout their lifetime.
Save a tank, save the Earth
Ditch your car three days a week. Instead, ride a bike or walk. The gas money saved over a year, or even a month, adds up to huge savings.
“Walking or riding a bike is a win-win,” said Patricia Stewart, a UM Physical Plant training specialist and environmental enthusiast. “It helps you relax and feel good about yourself, while also being a good steward of the Earth.”
If driving is unavoidable, watch the time you idle and drive steadily. If you idle more than 30 seconds, you will use more gas than it would take to restart your engine.
“When people idle for long periods of time, it’s like they are taking oil out of the ground and just throwing it away,” Fisher-Wirth said.
Avoiding sudden stops and quick starts also saves gas.
Stacks of money, not books
In this instance, perhaps money does grow on trees. Instead of buying books and magazines that are rarely, if ever, used, go to the public library and check them out. The average American throws away about 700 pounds of paper a year, making paper a third of all the material in landfills.
Stewart has been frequenting libraries for years.
“When I have a free Saturday I go to the library and read to my heart’s content,” she said. “Reading magazines in the library and checking out books is a great and easy way to cut down on spending and save trees too.”
Also consider checking out CDs and DVDs, which are both made of nonrenewable petroleum products that are difficult to recycle, rather than buying them.
Power up your wallet, shut down your computer
When you are not using your computer, shut it down. One desktop computer left on all day can cost between $115 and $160 a year to operate, Morrison said. Making an effort to turn off your computer after work or at night can mean big savings both for you and the environment.
“My hope is that the Ole Miss community will collectively embrace the notion that we can make a big difference by doing the little things in our daily lives, such as turning off our computers at the end of the day,” Morrison said.
Retiring your computer at the end of the day also reduces heat stress and mechanical wear, which helps your computer last longer.
For more information on saving energy and the environment, go to http://green.olemiss.edu .