January2007 Edition
Topics: Green Living Money Savings Tips, Eco-Green Energy Savings, Save Money Living Green, Organic Food, Green Sustainable Energy Tips
"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard."
— Gaylord Nelson (former governor of Wisconsin, co-founder of Earth Day)
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Money-Saving Tips for Going Green and Going Organic
In this edition, you’ll find tips for saving money while going organic and going green, as well as ways to live earth-friendly. Discover tasty healthy recipes, organic gardening tips, and information on saving money on your food and energy bills. Included are some great resources, tax credit offers for Going Green, and sustainable eco-friendly living tips that help conserve the earth’s resources and save you money.
Food:
Quite a few years ago, when health and organic foods were being introduced into our modern culture, and many arguments and persuasions were offered regarding its benefits, one seemingly preposterous theory emerged: it's more economical than the standard American diet. True enough, a salad grown in your own garden will certainly save you more money than a salad bar in a fancy restaurant. Certainly, eating a simple diet of beans, grains and greens can save money on your food bill. But, now with the widening array of healthy food choices and ingredients, it can be both easy and cost-saving to eat healthy and organically while enjoying simple and delicious meals.
A diet of whole foods and organic vegetables can fit anyone's budget. With some planning and saving tips, you can eat well, frugally, and wisely. Luckily, the growing concern for good health has not been lost in the information age. Now green shopping, healthy eating tips, and organic recipes are a mouse-click away. Furthermore, with the increased availability of organic foods in local supermarkets and farmers markets, we now have greater choices at our disposal. Looking at food choices and the benefits of eating wisely, one can clearly see the health benefits far outweigh the cost of poor nutrition to one's body and the environment. With some planning you can save money while living greener, and eating healthier and organically.
By purchasing organic foods, which are healthy and sustainable, it benefits your health, farmer’s health, and the environment.
Our favorite money-saving tips to shop for organic items:
- Make a meal plan and shopping list.
- Go food shopping after a meal.
- Bring Mambo Sprouts coupons! (printable instant savings, coupon mailer booklets, or in-store coupons)
- Look at weekly sales flyer’s and plan your list to include sales and coupon items.
- For extra savings, buy multiple quantities to stock up on select items on sale.
- Buy organic produce on sale—cut up and freeze what you don’t use.
- Look for reduced packaging, packaging that’s recyclable and made from recycled materials.
- Buy in bulk or larger sizes to reduce packaging.
- Buy earth-friendly household cleaning products. These are often concentrated so you can get more for your money.
- Look for organic health and beauty products on sale or with coupons, and stock up on your favorite products.
Try vegetarian recipes:
For low cost protein nutrition, try to include meals with beans, tofu or protein-enriched pasta.The health benefits of vegetarian meals can be enjoyed by one and all, with new food products that are easy to make and available in a variety of flavors. This can be an effective way for anyone to stay healthy, save money, and conserve the earth’s resources at the same time. We invite you to try some Mambo Sprouts healthy recipes and visit Meatless Mondays website for more tips and recipes.
For cost-effective produce, consider joining a vegetable coop or try growing your own organic vegetable or herb garden. City dwellers can join a community garden, make a windowsill herb garden, or grow a container vegetable garden.
Click here for information on container gardening for small spaces
 
Organic seed link: http://www.seedsofchange.com/default.asp
To buy a herb garden kit, click image:
 
Overall, as the saying goes, "where there's a will, there's a way." With the proper
knowledge, a little frugality, and ingenuity you can take steps to Go Green and have an organic lifestyle that fits your budget!
Coupon links
Mambo Sprouts coupons instant savings
Sign up for coupon mailer http://www.mambosprouts.com
Go Green - Healthy Living Tips
Here are some ‘tried and true’ and new ideas to save money while making your home healthier and greener.
Heating-Cooling-Power:
- Keep your heat down to a reasonable temperature in winter.
- Try not to overuse air conditioners in hot climates.
- Install ceiling fans.
- Dress in layers of organic cotton for cold climates.
- Turn off computers at night from the power-strip.
- Use energy-saving light bulbs like compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Turn off lights when not in use.
- Use rechargeable batteries, or solar powered devices.
- Make use of natural daylight.
- Install double glazed skylights to take advantage of natural light.
- Make sure your weather-strips are working correctly.
Learn about conservation and efficiency tax credits:
- Tax Incentives Assistance Project
Visit this website to find out how you can claim a federal tax credit of up to $500 by making your home more energy-efficient, including installing windows, insulation, roofing, furnaces, central air conditioning, water heaters, and fans.
- Energy audits
Check for free home energy audits: Free ‘energy audit kit’ by mail http://www.energyright.com/savingenergy/evaluation.htm
- The Home Energy Saver is designed to help consumers identify the best ways to save energy in their homes, and find the resources to make the savings happen.
http://hes.lbl.gov/
- Northeast Energy Free Audit info: http://www.nerc.org/documents/freenrgyaudit.html
- Tax breaks for fuel efficiency improvements to your home.
See if your state has money saving incentives here: http://www.dsireusa.org/
- Energy Star model appliance products
http://www.energystar.gov/ or call 800-YES-1-CAN
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2005 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 23 million cars — all while saving $12 billion on their utility bills.
If you own your home, explore alternative home energy options:
Kitchen & Bath:
- Eat organic healthy foods.
- Try some vegetarian meals.
- Try simple meals with less cooking.
- Cook in toaster-oven rather than oven, when possible.
- Cook enough to store leftovers, which can save oven-cooking time.
- Use cloth napkins and towels instead of disposables.
- Clean refrigerator gaskets regularly and vacuum coils for increased energy efficiency.
- Wash and dry dishes by hand.
- Don't turn on the ‘heated dry’ of your dishwasher.
- Install a ‘low flow’ showerhead.
- Shower instead of taking a bath.
- If you own your own home consider installing a flash water heater to save 30-50% on water heating.
- Install a solar water heater on your roof. You can check for tax credits offered in your state.
- Consider a low energy laundry system: http://www.laundry-alternative.com/
- Use ‘a line’ for drying clothing outside.
- Use a recycled wood indoor clothes rack: http://store.greenfeet.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5502-00064-0000
- Use ‘all-natural’ cleaning products, laundry and health and beauty aids.
- Reduce, Reuse, RECYCLE!
Lighting:
- Use natural lighting when possible.
- Use efficient lighting. See what’s available here
- Use fluorescent light bulbs: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls
- Turn of computer printer when not being used.
- Turn off the power-strip on your computer, when not in use.
- Unplug appliances when not in use to lower your energy waste.
- Recycle your fluorescent lights. Many hardware stores and local fluorescent bulb retailers will accept bulbs for recycling (usually for a small fee). Or ask the retailer where you purchased your bulbs if the store has a "take back" program.
Clothing:
Green Landscaping:
- Grow an organic garden.
- Pull out weeds by hand rather than chemicals.
- Look into Permaculture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture
- Have a chemical-free lawn with green, non toxic home landscaping products: http://www.gardensalive.com/category.asp?c=10
Healthy and Green Resources:
Ideal Bite sends out free daily email tips with facts and suggestions about eco-friendly food, travel, products, services and more.
Mr. Green’s great “Go Green” movie and walk through checklist PDF from the Sierra Club http://www.sierraclub.org/coolhome/
Living Green Book tips
Trade or recycle your unwanted items
Find earth-friendly and recycled furniture companies
Consider employment with a green company. Job listings at:
http://jobs.treehugger.com/ http://www.ecojobs.com/index.php
Invest in green companies: Progressive Investor Magazine
Stay informed of eco-politics at the National Resource Defense Counsel Website
Vote for politicians who vote green and contact officials with legislation feedback.
League of Conservation Voters: http://www.lcv.org/scorecard/index.html
Join an earth-friendly club or organization, start your own community based or online eco-club. Share your favorite tips. Help spread the word!!
Share your ideas on how we can all live a healthy lifestyle and care for our planet – including green tips, activities, recipes, shopping and money saving ideas, environmentally responsible products and companies… and more.
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