Earth Day Tips

Do you go green only once a year—just on Earth Day , for instance?

Well, here's another reason to be environmentally conscious every day: while you're doing the planet a favor, you also save a lot of money. Consider these green habits from TheDailyGreen.com and see the difference in your expenses a month after you’ve tried them.

1. Invest in rechargeable batteries. Buying them may feel like a pinch at first, but in the long run, you spend more when you buy disposable batteries every time your gadgets run out of power. So much energy is wasted on producing disposable batteries that only end up in trash. Consider TheDailyGreen.com's picture of 15 billion batteries discarded every year: they're enough to reach the moon and back!

2. Buy an LCD monitor. According to AllPCtips.com, CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors use up to 100 to 250 watts, depending on their size. LCD monitors consume only 40 watts, translating to a lower electricity bill.

3. Configure your computer's power settings. TheDailyGreen.com lets us in on another secret: you can save energy even if your PC is on the whole day if you tinker with Windows' power management settings. Go to the Control Panel, select Performance and Maintenance, and click Power Options. This function enables your computer to turn off the monitor when idle for a few minutes. You won’t have to worry about wasting energy in case you stretch your lunch hour.

4. Re-use scratch paper. A ream of bond paper costs about P150. You can maximize that when you print or write on both sides of each sheet.

5. Grow an herb garden. Not only do these plants generate oxygen, they also slash your grocery bill.

6. Bring your own tumbler or mug to Starbucks today. Starbucks will slash P40 off your bill if you ask the barista to serve coffee in your own mug. Ask for a teaspoon, too, so you won’t have to use a plastic stirrer for your drink.

I'm a Starbucks customer and it is good to know that i can save P40 for every coffee purchase I make. I'm glad that such a company thought of helping save the environment.