10 Ways to go GREEN and SAVE GREEN

How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time? Staff members at the Worldwatch Institute, a global environmental organization, share ideas on how to GO GREEN and SAVE GREEN at home and at work.

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let's start now.

We've partnered with the Million Car Carbon Campaign to help you find ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. This campaign is uniting conscious consumers around the world to prevent the emissions-equivalent of 1 million cars from entering the atmosphere each year.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life.



1.Save energy to save money.
State of the World 2009:
Into a Warming World ◦Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
◦Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
◦Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
◦Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
◦Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.


2.Save water to save money.
◦Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
◦Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
◦Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
◦Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.


3.Less gas = more money (and better health!).
World Watch Magazine ◦Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
◦Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
◦Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.


4.Eat smart.
◦If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
◦Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
◦Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
◦Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.


5.Skip the bottled water
◦Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
◦Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
◦Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.


6.Think before you buy.
Low Carbon Energy Report ◦Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
◦Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
◦When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
◦Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.


7.Borrow instead of buying

◦Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
◦Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.


8.Buy smart.
Climate Change Reference
Guide ◦Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
◦Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
◦Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).


9.Keep electronics out of the trash.
◦Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
◦Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
◦Recycle your cell phone.
◦Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.


10.Make your own cleaning supplies.
Join the Million Car Carbon Campaign by purchasing your Earth-Aid kit today.
◦The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
◦Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

Notes from Nathan: Money Making Month!

When I told a friend that I was declaring March, money making month, she laughed in my face.  She asked why I was making such a declaration and I told her that it was what I needed to do. I find that I often say that I am going to do something, but allow the hustle and bustle of my lifestyle to keep me from my own promises.

Growing up, I was never taught what to do with money other than spending it or placing it under the mattress.  Whenever grown folks were engaged in conversation, I was given a dollar to exit the room.  "Go and get yourself some ice cream, and get out from under grown folks," my grandmother would say in her Augusta Georgia drawl.  An hour later, my tongue would be purple and green from consuming several pieces of grape and apple Now & Later candies.

As I got older, my mother started making me buy my own clothing with my $25 per week allowance.  I was given an allowance for doing chores such as washing dishes, washing clothes and taking out the garbage.  When I saved for a month and spent 90 percent of my earnings on one pair of jeans, I realized that I needed more of this green stuff if I were to fit in.

Today, I feel that money should be a subject just like English, Math and Science.  I don't believe that urban America is being taught the value of the oh mighty dollar.  When I see young adults rushing to purchase designer labels and the latest pair of sneakers, I am alarmed and curious to know what type of savings they have.  We allow money to become a sticky conversation amongst us.  So many of us want it but none of us really want to talk about it.  We dance around it.  We whisper about it.  Sometimes we brag about what we spend it on, other times we are ashamed to admit how we spent it.  And the list goes on.

This month my focus is money. Why? Because I intend to attract more of it into my life.  What's in your wallet?  Visit www.themoneymaestro.net

Playing The Bigger Game - PART 6

Step 6: Surround Yourself with People Playing A Much Bigger Game.

Once you realize that intimidation is for suckers, it’s time to use that newfound knowledge to surround yourself with people who will force you to play a bigger game every single day.

If you’re not actively working to add more of these people to your social / professional circle, then you’re in trouble.

Here’s why:
As humans, we tend to live up to the expectations of our direct peer group. In fact, for the most part, it’s a limit – an average of maybe our five closest connections. Don’t believe me? Rich people hang out with rich people. Overweight people tend to have an overweight social circle. Health nuts chill with health nuts. We tend to hang around with people who reinforce our current set of behaviors, and we don’t deviate much.

Because of that, a small-game crowd can actively pull you down. Yeah, this is the sad part. Hanging with struggling business people? See what happens when you tell them you’re taking a daring risk. (”Are you crazy?”) Trying to lose weight? See how people react around you when you try to eat more sensibly. (”C’mon, live a little.”) If you decide to up your game, you’re rocking the boat for your own crowd, and they will – with the best of intentions – try and draw you back to “safety.”

It’s a tough world for those hanging with small-game crowds. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not advising you to ditch your friends and associates – far from it. Instead, you I’m saying that you need to be working on expanding your own circle to include more bigger-game people and be open to helping your current peers come along for the ride.

If your current peers aren’t willing to play a bigger game, be gracious and understanding. It’s not easy. You may even be squirming thinking about it. But nothing motivates like a good example, so focus on being one.

How do you find people who are playing a bigger game? It’s simple. Look for the people at the top of the food chain in your niche and consider their type of game. Does the thought inspire you or terrify you? If it’s the latter, there’s no shame in that. Maybe it makes no sense for a one-person operation to try and jump to the game of someone with a staff of hundreds.

So go one level down. Who’s one tier down from them? Can you play your game on their level? Inspired? Run with it. Terrified? Drop down another rung, and lather/rinse/repeat until you get to a point where that feeling of terror softens into the sense that “Oh crap, I might actually have a snowball’s chance of pulling this off.”

A snowball’s chance is good enough. It’s a start. Find people at that level and start networking your way onto their radar (more on that in upcoming Tuesday’s when I’ll give you notes on networking). Start stepping out and risking some public failures and they will do what they can to keep you from failing.

There’s nothing a successful person loves more than giving a boost to someone with chops, because they remember when someone a little higher up did the same thing for them. Leverage the hell out of that.

When you hang with people who play a bigger game, they actively pull you upwards. To continue hanging with them, you’ll feel a positive pressure to push yourself in all the right ways and to stop making excuses. They’re not going to accept your excuses and fears of failure. They’ll understand them, and they’ll empathize with them … they just won’t tolerate them.

And when that happens, you’ll push past your limiting beliefs and play that bigger game to the max so you can keep hanging with that group of real players. I’ll step you through how to start the ball rolling on. Game on.

For The Love of Money

The MEGA World of Lil Mogul

Some people got to have it,
Some people really need it.

Listen to me y'all, do things, do things, do bad things with it.

You wanna do things, do things, do things, good things with it.

Talk about cash money, money, talk about cash money- dollar bills, yall

For the love of money, people will steal from their mother.

For the love of money, people will rob their own brother.

For the love of money, people can't even walk the street because they never know who in the world they're gonna beat. For that lean, mean, mean green.

Almighty dollar, money.

For the love of money, people will lie, Lord, they will cheat for the love of money.

People don't care who they hurt or beat for the love of money.

A woman will sell her precious body for a small piece of paper it carries a lot of weight.

Call it lean, mean, mean green. Almighty dollar I know money is the root of all evil. Do funny things to some people. Give me a nickel, brother can you spare a dime, money can drive some people out of their minds. Got to have it, I really need it. How many things have I heard you say? Some people really need it. How many things have I heard you say Got to have it? I really need it. How many things have I heard you say lay down, lay down, a woman will lay down? For the love of money. All for the love of money. Don't let, don't let, don't let money rule you. For the love of money. Money can change people sometimes. Don't let, don't let, don't let money fool you. Money can fool people sometimes People! Don't let money, don't let money change you, it will keep on changing, changing up your mind.