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Community Corner

Summer Going Green Tips

Ways to go green for the environment and save a bit of green for your checking account.

It’s almost summer, which means it’s time to get hot and to start thinking green...not just environmentally speaking, but to start thinking about ways to save money. 

Every penny matters and doing the environmentally friendly thing can also mean spending less money on your electricity bills, water bills and other household items.  It’s what I call a greening of your pocket book and your lifestyle.

First off, one of the best purchases I made was a window fan for the upper floor of my house.  Hot air rises and we find the upstairs is always warmer in the summer.  I fixed this by buying an inexpensive two fan window fan that allows you to send your warm air back outside or have one fan sucking hot air out and the other pulling cooler air in.  It’s great when the temperature gets cooler in the evening and your house has yet to catch up. Or if you just want to get some warmer air out of the house to save your air conditioner some hard work.  These fans can be found at Target, Lowe’s or Home Depot for around $35.

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If you are looking to invest more, a ceiling fan can really help, but only run them when you are actually in the room. Think of them like lights and turn them off when you leave.  Or even a roof fan, especially the solar powered kind (which can also qualify for a tax credit). They can be installed for around $500 and help lower your air conditioning bills.  If installed properly they can bring down the temperature in your house up to 10 degrees.

If your really ambitious, planting a shade tree can also help with those bills and provide some amazing curb appeal, especially if you stick to something edible or native.  

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With summertime also comes more sunny hours in the day.  If you haven’t adjusted your sprinkler timer, it might be time to do so.  Watering your lawn during the hottest part of the day is just a waste of water and money. I see it all the time in my neighborhood.  Early mornings are best and daily watering isn’t necessary, even during the summer. It’s best to water for a bit longer only a couple of times a week, allowing your lawn to grow deeper roots.  

Don’t forget the little things this summer like changing the filter in your air conditioner, checking your faucets for leaks and generally go over the house for any of those things you’ve been putting off, like me!

Some other green ideas for summer savings:

  • Program your thermostat for your kid’s new summer schedule.
  • Set your thermostat to a little higher than you usually might when it’s warm out. Even just a couple of degrees can help.
  • Try grilling more of your meals, it burns cleaner and can save more energy than using your oven...and it’s cheaper than eating out. It’s probably healthier too!
  • Plan on doing a lot of picnics and outdoor dining? Get reusable plates for your summer fun!  There are a lot of options now available that are made from recycled plastics that are durable and dishwasher safe. My favorites come from Preserve Products.
  • Got bugs?  Try an alternative to the usual bug killers.  Cedarcide is just one alternative that uses natural cedar oil rather than pesticides to keep fleas, ticks and other bugs away from your house, pets and yourself.  Citronella candles are another popular summer purchase that doesn’t include having to lather yourself or your family in toxins.

Summer is coming fast and there are many things you can do to not only save some money, but make better choices for your and your family. 

I am so excited to be back at Aliso Simply Green and look forward to sharing some of the ways I try to make better choices in the things I do everyday.

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