One-time tax rebates began going out to some 130 million taxpayers this week. The checks ($600 for singles and $1,200 for couples) are designed to stimulate the economy. If you're hoping to go greener this year, consider spending the money on goods that also help the earth.
Suggestions from green thinkers in the West:
Lease a solar power system
From Allison Arieff, Sunset editor-at-large
Go solar without a big upfront expense through Solar City's SolarLease program. At $90 a month for a typical home, $1,200 pays for a year or more of green energy — and you are likely to get that all back in the form of lower utility bills. The monthly fee includes repairs and building permits, making it easy to convert to non-polluting, renewable energy at home.Bike, bus, or both
From Ivy Chuang, owner of KnoEnd Design, San Francisco, Calif.
Start biking to work/school once a week. If you live too far to cycle the whole way, get a foldable bike ($349) that's easy to take on the bus. For added inspiration, bring along a copy of Worldchanging: A Users Guide to the 21 Century ($38).
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| Flush with victory: Updating your toilet to something like this Aquia III Dual Flush could save 22,000 gallons of water a year. |
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Get a new commode and save a lot of water
From Louise Jeffrey, Green Programs Director, Arends Construction & Design, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.A $600 rebate would cover the expense of replacing your old 5-gallon/flush toilet with a new 1.6-gallon/flush or dual-flush toilet (including installation). The change would save approximately 22,000 gallons of water per year for a family of four.
Buy a year's worth of local produce
From Emily Courtney, MBA in Sustainable Enterprise, San Rafael, Calif.
Sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box and get a weekly delivery of fresh, local fruits and vegetables delivered to your door. With $1,200 you could have fresh food delivered every week for more than a year. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables (and slim in meat and processed foods) could reduce the average American's ecological footprint by one third.
Rescue a great chair from the landfill
From Kelly LaPlante, eco-interior designer, Kelly LaPlante Organic Interior Design, Venice, Calif.
Rather than tossing out a worn-out-but-still-beloved chair, use
$600 to make it eco-fabulous. Your local upholstery shop will
tell you how many yards you need (probably 5-7). Visit Green Sage for lovely inexpensive eco-fabrics, some as low as $28 per yard. Use the balance to pay for the labor. You'll feel great sitting in your new-old chair,
knowing you saved it from the landfill.
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Browse our Green Living section for more inspiration.
