How to Go Green in 5 Easy Steps

Jane Clark explains five easy ways to make your home, life and wallet go green.

Kevin McCormally: 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 Clark: There are 3 simple strategies. Stop wasting, buy a few products that help you save water and energy, and do a home inspection to make your house run more efficiently. Kevin McCormally: Well, I see, I feel better already but tell me about stop wasting. Jane Clark: It is like your parents used to say. Don't leave the lights on when you leave the room. Don't stand in front of the fridge with the door open. Don't heat the great out doors. These are just simple strategies but they save energy and they save on your utility bills. Kevin McCormally: What about saving water? Jane Clark: Same idea. Turn the water off when you are scrubbing your teeth. Take shorter showers. You know Jennifer Aniston takes only a 3-minutes shower. She is doing her part of for a better world. Kevin McCormally: Now, you mentioned things that you could buy to help you use go green. What were you talking about? Jane Clark: You want to look for products that put your energy savings on automatic pilot. Carbon fluorescent lights are great example. This curly looking light saves up to 75% of the energy you use with incandescent lights and really all you have to do is screw them in. Kevin McCormally: What else shall I be looking for at the hardware store? Jane Clark: 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 McCormally: Jane, you mentioned making my home more efficient. Do I have to hire you or some to do that for me? Jane Clark: Not at all. You can do a home inspection yourself. Look for leaky faucets, running toilets, drafty windows and when you find them, you fix them. Kevin McCormally: Okay, once again, give me your 3 simple strategies for going green. Jane Clark: Stop wasting, buy products that put your saving on automatic pilot, and do a home inspection. And, a fourth strategy, go to kiplinger.com and find plenty of more ways to go green. Kevin McCormally: Thank you, Jane.