By John Russell, The Ashkin Group

When you eat a hamburger, you’re not just eating the hamburger; you’re actually responsible for the gas a truck used to deliver that meat to the grocery store, the coal used to generate electricity for its refrigeration as well as heating the stove to cook that yummy burger. And that’s all part of your human footprint.

There are many ways to undo the damage that you do with money. Some people or organizations will even try to sell you “carbon offsets” – for example, planting trees in Kenya to balance out your cars exhaust or Delta offers you an option when you book online to make a contribution to The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions that result from your flight.

Three areas to use less, not buy more

It doesn’t have to cost a lot to scale back on items that are hard on the environment. Conservation often means using less or making smarter choices about what you do use—moves that will help you save, not force you to spend.

Consumers would do well to focus on just three areas.

1) Reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. You don’t need to dash out and buy a Pries. Simply make whatever form of transportation you use, especially your car, as fuel-efficient as possible. Some tips to do that include:
• • Inflate your tires properly
• • Get regular tune-ups and oil changes
• • And the most dramatic way to decrease your car’s footprint is to drive a little more slowly. But remember leave a few minutes earlier so that you get there on time

2) Unplug. Electricity tends to come from coal-fired plants
• • The easiest way you can use less electricity is to turn off lights
• • Clean appliances. Keeping appliances clean is another way to go green. Vacuum the coils behind the refrigerator. Keep vents and filters clean. When appliances are clean they don’t work as hard
• • Unplug computers and chargers when you’re not using them
• • Read your electric bill. Most bills show you your average daily energy consumption in kilowatt-hours (kwh). Get the family involved, have a contest to see if you can reduce from the same period last year. And reward your successes

Another terrific way to reduce your carbon footprint is to ask your utility company whether you can get all or some of your energy supply from renewable resources. This option is available in Phoenix. Simply go to www.aps.com. Additionally if you “Go Paperless” with APS and switch to an electronic bill notification between March 1 and June 1 and APS will donate $1 to help the TREE Fund continue their support of arboricultural research and education. Green energy might cost a few more pennies per kilowatt hour, but you are making an investment in cleaner energy. 3) Control your temperature. Heating and cooling consume about 45% of the energy in your home, according to an analysis by Consumers Union. Here are some tips:
• • Use a ceiling fan with your air conditioner. By increasing air circulation, you can actually turn up your AC a few degrees
• • Seal, repair and insulate heating ducts
• • When you replace your water heater, go for an energy-efficient model
• • Add insulation in your ceiling. This can significantly reduce your heating and cooling bills. Now, profit from your savings

Not only will greening your lifestyle save you some money, it could even make you a fortune, according to money guru David Bach in his new book, Go Green, Live Rich. The subtitle is 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying, and Bach does deliver some excellent tips. My personal favorite is:
• • Save $1,400 a year by opting out of junk mail and catalogs—and shopping less. Bach asserts that Americans get 40 pounds of catalogs per person each year. That’s a lot of trees and way too much financial temptation.

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