Kermit the Frog had it wrong. It is much easier today to be green than ever before and save more for yourself and your financial goals in the process. By making simple changes in your daily life and purchasing habits you can save money and the earth at the same time. How cool is that?
The first step is to check out the great tips on 10 Ways to Go Green in your school from nea.org and how to Green Your Classroom. You can also find information on Teaching Students About Carbon Emissions.
For greener living at home, look into the Greener Living Online Tools available at neamb.com. Be sure to check out the Energy Savers Audit tool and the Everyday Living’s Home Energy Savers Guide. Both could save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bills.
Two of my personal favorite “green” savers are bringing my own reusable bags to the grocery store and using CFL’s, or compact fluorescent lamps or light bulbs, instead of incandescent ones. At 5¢ a bag, I usually save around 30¢ each grocery trip with my reusable bags while reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. In addition, CFL bulbs use 75% less energy than their incandescent counterparts and last 10 times longer. A single CFL light bulb will save you around $30 over its lifetime. Remember, every little bit helps!
And if all of these ideas have inspired you to do more, be greener, and encourage your students to do the same, be sure to apply online for the NEA’s Green Across America grant program. Hurry, though, as the program is only available for a few more weeks and applications will only be taken until Friday, July 30th!
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