Go green and get green!

Don’t you love it when you stumble upon a win-win situation? This is precisely what happens when you take steps to be environmentally conscious.

Not only are you doing good works for Mother Earth, you are also helping that other kind of green (your dollars) go further. Win-win all around!

Earth Day

If you’re not already employing environmentally friendly practices, today’s a good day to start – it’s Earth Day!

Like all good habits, they stem from small, sustainable changes to behaviour that can fit seamlessly into your life for the long term. There are a number of ways you can cut costs around your home by scaling back on your energy use.

Watch the clock

Did you know that, depending on where you live, it costs more money to use energy at different points in the day? If you use things like dishwasher and washing machines during peak hours (7-9 am and 5-7pm in Ontario) you are paying hefty premiums on energy use.

Cheapest time? The middle of the night. Now no one is suggesting that you watch the late-night movie to run the dishwasher, but you can set your timer to run while you snooze.

Hand wash

Speaking of dishwashers, what if you went retro and hand washed your dishes a few nights a week? Little known fact- if you have kids, you have dishwashers. And you can pay them in ice cream.

Unplug it

How many small appliances and electronics are plugged in and running at all hours of the day? This adds up to a surprisingly large amount of energy usage- and a bill to match.

Heat up/cool down

Depending on the season, turn that thermostat down a couple of degrees or turn that A/C up a notch or two. Even a small amount can make a big difference.

Cold water

Not in the shower (although taking a shower instead of a bath will save energy)!

Switch to the cold water cycle on your washing machine to save money. There are cold water detergents out there that produce good results.