Going Green Has Never Been Easier!
Mar 31, 2009 7:27 pm US/Eastern
Eco-Friendly Tips May Net Your Wallet Some Green
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
From living green to eating green, it seems green is the new black. It's in style and it's adding up to savings for many adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle.
"My electric bill dropped like fifty percent" said Mylene D'Arelli. She told
CBS4 Your Money Reporter Gwen Belton that simply switching to energy efficient light bulbs made a big difference.
The same goes for her water bill. It too went down once she changed her toilet to a dual flush toilet. D'Arelli owns a green boutique called green dwellers in Plantation, where she sells these unique toilets.
"You have full flush 1.6 gallons and half flush white 0.8 gallons" she said. The toilet uses about three to four gallons less water a day; which means a lower water bill.
Going green doesn't have to mean going to extremes, D'Arelli said. Even the smallest change not only helps the environment, but can save you money.
For example: switching to energy efficient light bulbs, turning off the water when brushing your teeth, turning off lights when you leave the room, weather proofing windows and doors and insulating your attic.
"And it doesn't cost you anything, it's just everyday green practices" said D'Arelli.
For Kelly Coin of Denver, Colorado, that means making her own inexpensive cleaning supplies, using three main ingredients, white distilled vinegar, baking soda and Castile all natural vegetable soap. She said she saves a ton of money just getting back to basics.
"One of the most basic products that I use is just 50-50 vinegar and water" said Coin.
Green enthusiasts said there are different shades of green in the green world, light, medium green and hardcore greenbacks. But no matter where you fall on the scale, the bottom line is a better environment and more green in your pocket.
Raw foods café owner Raoul Valle said he's eating greener and healthier and it has saved him thousands of dollars in hospital and doctors bills. Five years ago he said he had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and prostate cancer. Now he's sixty pounds lighter and cancer free.
"What could be more cost efficient, just by changing what you eat" said Valle.
Customers at his Green Wave Café in Plantation are also touting the benefits of a greener diet.
Franklyn Comissiong says "it has made me healthier; as a result, I've got less medical bills."
A raw foods diet is not for everyone, but Raoul Valle said in his case the old saying rings true, an apple a day can in fact keep the doctor away.
The city of Plantation is offering who install the duel flush toilet a one hundred dollar rebate.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Eating Green And A Healthful Diet
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