Okay, so the headline has managed to grab your eyeballs and woken up the penny pincher in you who keeps you from buying those fancy CFLs for your home, a printer for your office which prints both sides of the paper, etc, etc, to the question – HOW. Is it possible to go green and also have some of that hard-earned cash back into your pockets? Well, the answer is YES. And, what’s more – you don’t have to lead a completely frugal life too!
So, here’s a low-down on how to do your bit for the environment without spending a bit, and also making some hay in the process. Reads like a good bargain? Go on and read further…
> Don’t leave electronic appliances such as computers, printers, televisions, music systems, etc. on stand-by. Switch them off when you’re done. It will help cut down your electricity bills manifold.
> Surely you don’t need the air-conditioner when it’s lovely and breezy outside. Try keeping your AC usage to a minimum – they’re power and money guzzlers!
> Want to scribble or make rough notes? Use that single side printed page which you are about to throw away. Next time, don’t discard such pages. Simply, staple them together and voila! You have a ready-to-use writing pad!
> Only print if it is absolutely necessary. (No, the paper industry won’t sue you!)
> Paper cards are passé. Send e-greeting cards to your loved ones. Also, pay your bills online. This would save you hundreds of thousands of bills and yeah, thousands of trees too. (On second thoughts, the paper industry will sue me!)
> Correct people who litter. Tell them, even though public places may not have a dustbin, that’s no excuse to make a mess! (Ah, we love to give advices, don’t we?). But we can’t be hypocrites and must practice what we preach. So, make it a point to put your garbage back in your bag and take it home with you if you don’t see a dustbin around. Walk the talk, folks!
> If you have plants at home, put their waste to work. Sweep the fallen leaves and flowers back into the plant pots. This will increase soil fertility and also reduce the need for frequent watering.
> What happens to the cooking oil after you fried some delectable puris? Is it no longer any good? Wrong. Can it be reused? Right. Strain the used oil to clean it and store it in a separate container to fry puris later. Now don’t get too carried away with saving money, using it twice or thrice is plenty.
> “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” Trivia: Unlike human beings, mobile phones don’t take 8 hours to charge up! 3-4 hours can do the trick. So, don’t leave your mobile on charging while you snore away to glory.
> Don't pre-heat the oven - unless needed. Just turn the oven on after you put the dish in it.
> Plan ahead and combine all your errands into one trip to save on emissions.
> Reuse the water used to wash veggies and fruits for watering your plants.
> Remember the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
> Plant a tree – it cleans the air, can keep you cool, and can increase your property’s value.
Have your own list of green tips? Write back and share with everyone, your ideas, suggestions, practices, etc.
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