There has been a lot of fuss about global warming and saving the earth. But this has become a serious topic, and you don’t need to be a complete tree hugger to “go green.”  It doesn’t take buying a $20,000 Smart car to protect the planet.  There are many efficient ways to “go green”, and save some money in the process.

An important concept in this movement is conserving energy. Less energy also means less money. We can easily change everyday habits to become beneficial for our planet and our wallet.

One step we can take is unplugging appliances when they are not in use.  Forty percent of household energy is used to power appliances that are turned off. This includes toasters, irons, lamps, and phone chargers.

“After knowing how much energy I waste by just leaving my phone charger plugged in the outlet everyday, I am making a conscious effort to remember to unplug it every time I am finished using it” said Jake Filyo, a senior at SJCP.

Try using cold water as much as you can around the house.  Next time you wash your hands or brush your teeth, only turn the cold water faucet. Ninety percent of the energy used to wash clothes is spent heating up the water.

Replace single paned windows with double paned windows. This will keep the heat in during the winter and cold air in during the summer. Also set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer.  Your heating and cooling costs will drop dramatically.

The average American commutes 16 miles every day. To save money and reduce pollution try carpooling with a friend or neighbor. If you split the gas costs every week, each of you could save about $650 dollars a year!

Next “green” tip: stop eating out. You need to consider how your food is made, the working conditions, and how locally it was grown. Not only will you be more environmentally sound, but brown bagging your lunches or cooking at home will save you thousands of dollars.

“I eat out everyday, whether it’s a stop in the morning or Chipotle after school,” said Shannon Curtin about her eating routine.

Now, we all have that drawer at home where we store our old phones, chargers, or other electronics. No one quite knows what to do with them. Do not throw them out. Some parts of these electronics can be toxic if not disposed properly. Also sites such as Gazelle.com or YouRenew.com will allow you to recycle them for cash.