\nOXFORD, Miss. \u2013 Let\u2019s talk green. Yes, money. And yes, the environment.\n<\/p>\n
\nMany people think you can have one or the other: green in your pocket
\nor green in your lifestyle. However, the myth dies here; you can have
\nboth.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe following simple green changes can result in a happier Earth
\nand bank account:\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nMore money, less electricity<\/b>\n<\/p>\n
\nReducing 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.\n<\/p>\n
\nBecause CFLs are brighter and cooler, you\u2019ll need to use fewer lights and less air conditioning.\n<\/p>\n
\nAn even better solution is to avoid turning on lights whenever possible.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s great that people are becoming aware of turning off lights when they leave home,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cBut a more important question is, \u2018Why turn them on in the first place?\u2019\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nAn easy solution is to take advantage of natural light, use lamps and avoid using overhead lights whenever possible.\n<\/p>\n
\nAlso, 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.\n<\/p>\n
\nIf you follow these steps, expect to save up to $350 a year on your electricity bill.\n<\/p>\n
\nUse less, save big<\/b>\n<\/p>\n
\nBecause 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.\n<\/p>\n
\nPlastic bottles cause several serious environmental hardships, said Ann Fisher-Wirth, UM professor of English and environmental studies.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cYou think you are getting something cleaner, better with bottled water,\u201d she said. \u201cBut you just aren\u2019t.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nPlastic 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.\n<\/p>\n
\nSave a tank, save the Earth<\/b>\n<\/p>\n
\nDitch 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWalking or riding a bike is a win-win,\u201d said Patricia Stewart, a UM Physical Plant training specialist and environmental enthusiast. \u201cIt helps you relax and feel good about yourself, while also being a good steward of the Earth.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nIf 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen people idle for long periods of time, it\u2019s like they are taking oil out of the ground and just throwing it away,\u201d Fisher-Wirth said.\n<\/p>\n
\nAvoiding sudden stops and quick starts also saves gas.\n<\/p>\n
\nStacks of money, not books<\/b>\n<\/p>\n
\nIn 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.\n<\/p>\n
\nStewart has been frequenting libraries for years.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen I have a free Saturday I go to the library and read to my heart\u2019s content,\u201d she said. \u201cReading magazines in the library and checking out books is a great and easy way to cut down on spending and save trees too.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nAlso consider checking out CDs and DVDs, which are both made of nonrenewable petroleum products that are difficult to recycle, rather than buying them.\n<\/p>\n
\nPower up your wallet, shut down your computer<\/b>\n<\/p>\n
\nWhen 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMy 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,\u201d Morrison said.\n<\/p>\n
\nRetiring your computer at the end of the day also reduces heat stress and mechanical wear, which helps your computer last longer.\n<\/p>\n