Talking About Green

It’s easier to say you’re green than to be green. When it comes down to your impact on the earth, it’s important to try and lessen that blow. Here are some ways to effectively use energy to move yourself from eco-trendy to eco-friendly through an effective investment in energy conserving products.

Get Down and Dirty

Gardening can be a great way to lessen your impact on the environment. Whether it’s a flowerbed or an organic vegetable garden, plants simultaneously add oxygen to the atmosphere and reduce carbon dioxide. Maintaining that garden, however the size, can be an expensive chore. Investing in a water conserving hose or sprayer can reduce the cost on your water bill.

If you really want to save money in the long run, consider the purchase of a rain barrel, a composter, or a combination of the two. Rain barrels collect valuable rain water than can be used to irrigate your garden; a composter makes the recycling of plant matter to use as fertilizer a very easy experience.

Challenge Your Commute

Americans have a special bond with their cars, opting to drive whenever the opportunity to travel arises. If you live in a heavily metropolitan area, consider using public transportation. Buses and subways are a great, cost-effective way to travel through a city while contributing a comparably smaller amount of pollution.

If public transit is neither reliable nor accessible enough, consider trading in that gas-guzzler for a newer, fuel-efficient car. Maybe a new hybrid is out of your price range. It’s always possible to purchase a new bicycle and get some exercise during those shorter commutes. If a new car or bicycle isn’t in your fiscal realm, scour your local paper for garage sales. You may be lucky enough to strike gold in the form of an old, well-worn ten speed. And if all else fails, walking is always a solution to get you from Point A to Point B.

Swap Your Bulbs

The news about the massive energy wasted with incandescent light bulbs seems as old as the invention itself. Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs have made their way into the sockets that once cradled Edison’s most successful project. In reality, CFLs are neither the safest nor the most efficient form of lighting. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have been used in computers and telecommunications for decades due to their incredible efficiency.

It’s important to compare CFLs and LEDs to understand the benefits of using the latter. A standard LED fixture uses 329 KWh/yr while a CFL uses more than twice that amount at 767 KWh/yr. The same ratio applies to the cost of each unit, as an LED will average $32.85 a year and a CFL will cost around $76.65 a year. Cost isn’t the lone reason to switch to using LEDs: the cheaper units are more environmentally conscious. CFLs contain between one and five milligrams of mercury, a natural yet toxic element if consumed or introduced into the ecosystem. LEDs contain no mercury, making them a much safer alternative in your home. CFLs also produce an average of 1051 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year, an amount over double the 451 pounds of carbon dioxide from LED sources.

Many steps can be taken to reduce your impact on the environment. The changes seem small, but if everyone takes steps to reduce their impact, the change will be big. In all, it is essential to correctly investing in the right products that can effectively make your life, and the planet, a lot greener.

This is a guest post by Rodney Warner, a full time SEO specializing in promoting LED Light Bulbs & LED SIgn Supplies.