How to Go Green

[Music Playing] Kevin: I am Kevin McCormally of Kiplinger’s. I am here with Jane Clark, as Sr. Associate Editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine to talk about going green. Jane, everybody wants to save the planet that most of us do not have a clue where to start. Your advice? Jane: There are 3 simple strategies. Stop wasting, buy a few products that help you save water and energy, and do home inspection to make your house run more efficiently. Kevin: I see, I feel better already. Tell me about stop wasting. Jane: It is like your parents used to say. Do not leave your lights on when you leave the room. Do not stand in front of the fridge door open. Do not heat the great out doors. These are just simple strategies but they save energy and they save on your utility bills Kevin: What about saving water? Jane: Same idea. Turn the water off when you are scrubbing your teeth. Take short of showers. You know Jennifer Aniston takes only a 3-minutes shower. She is doing her part of for a better world. Kevin: Then you mention things that you could buy to help you use go green. What are you talking about? Jane: You want to look for products that put your energy savings on automatic pilot. Carbon fluorescent lights are great example. This color looking light saves up to 75% of the energy you used with incandescent lights and really all you have to do is screw them in. Kevin: What else shall we be looking for at the hardware store? Jane: You can find low flow shower heads like 20 bucks that cut your water use in the shower too as much as half. And they do give you a descent spray so you are not standing under a drizzle. Kevin: Jane, you mentioned making my home more efficient. Do I have to hire you or some to do that for me? Jane: Not at all. You can do a home inspection yourself. Look for leaky faucets, running toilets, drafty 38 windows and when you find them, you fix them. Kevin: Okay, once again, give me your 3 simple strategies for going green. Jane: Stop wasting, buy products that put your saving on automatic pilot, and do a home inspection. And, a fourth strategy, go to kipliner.com and find planning more ways to go green. Kevin: Thank you Jane.