A study mentioned on the U.K.’s Money News website this week provides evidence that some folks are turning to green living measures purely for financial reasons.  According to the British study by Norwich and Peterborough, 69% of people are more likely to install energy-efficient devices such as kitchen appliances and turn to alternative energy sources than they were one year ago.

What about you?  Are the constant pressures of high gas prices, and soaring energy bills causing you to adopt greener habits and look for energy-saving home products? Whether it’s for economic reasons or otherwise, going green is always a good idea.

Here are a few quick energy saving tips for saving money and living green:

• Set your washing machine to cold water wash.
• Buy an insulated blanket for your water heater.
• Avoid running your dishwasher until it’s full.
• Change your furnace filter monthly.
• Buy a reduced-flow shower head.
• Shut the water off when you brush your teeth.
• Stick to weekly or bi-weekly shopping trips to avoid wasting fuel on multiple trips to the store.

Making your own green household cleaners is an environmentally-friendly practice that can save you money. Here are a few ideas for getting started.

Green Furniture Polish: According to The Sideroad, you can add an all-natural shine to wood furniture such as end tables, bookcases and dining room sets by filling a spray bottle with 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1/2 cup of lemon juice . Here’s another green furniture polish recipe from Green Guide.

Green Dishwasher Detergent: For a family of 4, it’s not uncommon to run the dishwasher twice a day. Here’s a green dishwasher detergent recipe from Suite 101. Simply add a tablespoon of super washing soda and a tablespoon of 20 Mule Team Borax to the soap dispenser in your dishwasher. Add vinegar to the rinse compartment for streak-free dishes.

Here’s a convenient way to prevent endless trips to your outdoor compost pile. Recycle kitchen waste in a compost jar. This ceramic compost jar has a tightly sealing lid and a built-in filter to prevent odors. Plow & Hearth recommends using biodegradable kitchen bags with the compost crock to allow heat and moisture to escape. Counter top compost jars and compost pails are also available in brass and stainless steel.

Preventing you kitchen waste from being sucked down the garbage disposal or washed away by the dishwasher is beneficial to the environment. Composting enriches soil, helps absorb pollutants and heavy metals, and reduces the need for pesticides. Find more information on the benefits of composting from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Whether you use a dishwasher, or you do your dishes the old-fashioned way, there are a few things you can do to conserve energy and save water in your home.

Dishwashers:  If you use a dishwasher, you can save water by scraping your dishes rather than rinsing them before you put them in the dishwasher .  If your dishwasher has a heat dry option, turn it off to save energy, and allow you dishes to air dry.  Also, wait until you have a full load of dishes before running your dishwasher.  Your dishwasher uses the same amount of energy and water regardless of the load size, so make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.  Choose a phosphate-free dishwasher detergent to reduce pollution. Need a new one?  Here’s help for selecting a  green dishwasher.

Kitchen Sink:  If you do your dishes in the kitchen sink, fill one side with soapy water, then one side with rinse water, and rinse by dipping the soapy dishes into the water on the rinsing side.  Avoid letting the water run the entire time you are doing dishes.   You can also install a sink aerater on your kitchen faucet for conserving water. Phosphate free dish soap for doing dishes by hand is widely available.

Source:  Care 2 Make a Difference