How To Go Green And Save Some Green

In today’s news, it’s all too common to see features about green (environmentally friendly) housing, green products, and green ways of living. But what I really like to see is ways folks can go green and save money, too. After all, with the high cost of home ownership, every little bit helps. And if you’re saving for a down payment, changing a few things in your lifestyle that can save you thousands over the next few years is a good thing.

I spotted this article on Yahoo! recently. It’s got some good tips in there. And most of them are things that we can easily do. I’ll give a recap of four of my favorite tips and just how much you can save in five years. But do take a look at the original list for the full story.

1. What you can do: Keep up with your regular car maintenance.

How much it costs: $130 for every 15,000 miles

How much you’ll save in five years: $1,186.52

2. What you can do: Keep your foot off the accelerator. (Speeds over 60 mph and frequent braking and accelerating blow your gas mileage.)

How much it costs: Not a cent

How much you’ll save in five years: $2,236

3. What you can do: Keep the hot water at 120 degrees F.

How much it costs: Nothing

How much you’ll save in five years: $2,242

4. What you can do: Keep the thermostat low during wintertime and high during summertime.

How much it costs: Nothing

How much you’ll save in five years: $1,200