Living Green, Saving Green!

The facts are in on Global Warming.  Our natural resources are being used up at an alarming rate.  Unfortunately pollution is the norm rather than the exception.  If you have ever wondered what the impact is on your pocket book and how you can save big bucks by living more green, surf over to one of Europe’s leading Eco Centers, the Centre for Alternative Technology to evaluate how green your lifestyle is.

It might surprise you that living green can actually save you a lot of money.  Jill Kiedaisch writes in Money Magazine that living green is not only good for the environment, it’s great for your wallet. She adds that authors William McDonough and Michael Braungart, in their book Cradle to Cradle, mention that Americans haven't even scratched the surface of energy efficiency as an individual practice.  After all, there is a direct and obvious correlation between conservation and saving money.

The good news is that it’s simple to live green and save money close to home.  For example, you can save at least 50% on your organic vegetables by shopping at your local farmer’s market every week.  By buying locally grown organic vegetables and fruits, you can save hundreds of dollars a year as well as eating better.

As far as stocks and mutual funds, there are a growing number of “Green” clean energy investment opportunities, and a number of investors are investing billions of dollars.  In a special report for Business Week Magazine, Wall Street’s new love affair with green investments is explained.

“Wall Street isn't banking on a radically different future, though. It's merely betting that wind, solar, biofuels, and the rest will make up some bigger portion of the nation's $1.6 trillion energy market -- enough to give clean-energy investing cred as part of a diversified portfolio. Their confidence is bolstered by the federal and state clean-energy quotas that have appeared virtually overnight.”