Changing some cleansers, using fewer utilities, and smarter shopping can help reduce your footprint on the planet and it sure will save you money too!
Gas prices are high, electric bills are high, heating bills are high, food costs are high…etc…etc..etc…
Earth Day comes once a year but you can celebrate it 365 days a year…and while celebrating the Earth – you can save enough money to buy yourself something nice [and useful of course ]
Here are some things I do that you might consider for your home. And I've even gotten some friends to also reduce their electric consumptions when they found out how low my bill is compared to theirs. [Comparing utility usage is a neighborly thing to do.]
Wash and rinse clothes in cold water – I can't remember the last time I washed with warm or hot water – and yes my clothes are very clean.
Make you own laundry detergent. Use the ingredients in the photo – Borax, Fels Naptha and Washing Soda. It's easy to make, it's fun to make and it washes better than store-bought stuff. [Even in my very cold winter water.]
Use vinegar as an all purposes cleanser. I wash my floors with vinegar – and – nope – there is no odor.
Hang clothes out to dry or hang them inside as often as you are able to do so. Sun dried clothing has a great fresh smell – and it sure beats the one from machine additives.
Unplug most of your small kitchen appliances when not using – do you really need all those reminders of what time it is?
Unplug the TV set. That instant on means it's always on – even when it's off.
Run your dishwasher only when it is full. You can make your own dishwasher detergent but I've had problems with it not getting glasses clean.
Do as many errands as you can in one car trip and plan out your route.
Better – start carpooling with pals for those shopping excursions.
And even though I've added light bulbs – please turn yours off when you leave a room [unless of course someone else is in that room 
Turn down the thermostat and add a layer of clothing.
All the above will save you on your utility bills too!
Put the green back on the planet and in your wallet.
How do YOU save the planet and save money??
Thank you for your comments……
WOW! All these things I found out for myself and here you are, listed them and all. Great stuff.
I use vinegar when I can, unfortunately my husband does complain about the smell – he’s a sensitive soul. With a supernose : )
Washing: I’ve used these ionized balls (ecoballs), adding some detergent for smell. Works for me. If you want to make your own the way Lynn describes, you may consider adding that blue stuff to the whites. Optical whitener, they call it I think.
What else… of course! Consider using your bike for errands!! We do overhere in Amsterdam all the time. But I hear they’re putting up bike paths in NY, too. You can use a foldup bike to combine subway and bike transport. Join or start a local community to endorse biking, put up bicycle paths or lanes, and engage in dialogue with car drivers on how to share the road safely.
Thank you for your comment. I do lots more than what I listed here – maybe I should do another post. And yes biking is a good mode of transportation and tho I use my bike for fun – I am thinking of using it for shorter errands. Portland is a popular biking city.