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Turn to Tara: Follow these going green tips and you can save over $1,500

Our Senior Investigative Reporter Tara Rosenblum shares simple tips you can take right now to save more than a $1,000 a year by making small tweaks to everything from your home printer to even your toilet!

Tara Rosenblum

Jun 15, 2023, 12:23 PM

Updated 555 days ago

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Thanks to record-high inflation, the average cost of running a household feels more expensive than ever.
But did you know there are big savings to be had just by going green?
Our Senior Investigative Reporter Tara Rosenblum shares simple tips you can take right now to save more than a $1,000 a year by making small tweaks to everything from your home printer to even your toilet!
Sara Morrow, from Consumer Reports, tells Tara it's not only doable but a lot easier than you might think. Morrow says some of the things are very low-level, just kind of like habit changes, going “green,” and living a more sustainable life.
She says to start with your water heater. Did you know if you reduce the temperature from 140 to 120 degrees, you'll save up to $453 a year on energy costs?!
It is incredible and it's an easy thing to do. You can save another $393 a year if you switch to a reusable coffee pod filter,and another $231 if you install a bidet in your bathroom! The bidet can cut your family's toilet paper use by about 50%.
If you're counting, so far we are up to $1,077 in savings -- but let's keep going! You can buy a soda maker and skim off another $195. Washing your clothing in cold water will save you $66.
If you choose a generic or cheaper brand of detergent, you're looking at keeping another $79 in your wallet. Buying smart LED bulbs instead of halogen ones will save you $70 in energy costs. And you can save $50 or more by using an automatic thermostat that adjusts the temperature in your home while you're away or asleep.
As for the tip that surprised us the most? When it comes to your home printer, Consumer Reports researchers found that by simply changing your type font from Times New Roman to Arial, your ink will last 27% longer! Every little bit adds up, and these tips can save you up $1,537! You should also consider joining your local buy-nothing group on Facebook. It's a page where you can unload items you no longer want and also snag secondhand items at no cost.