By Farnoosh Torabi | MainStreet.com
Going green just might be the new sexy. A poll by Challenge X, a national collegiate engineering contest backed by the Department of Energy and General Motors, found that women would much rather chat with a guy who drives an eco-friendly vehicle, like a Prius, as opposed to a spanking new sports car or Hummer (STOCK QUOTE: GM). It’s simply more attractive, green experts say. “Being green points to the fact that you value the bigger picture view of the world… the greater good,” says Emily Main, senior editor at The Green Guide, a print and online green magazine run by National Geographic.
“It’s a little surprising because a long-held reputation is that environmentalists are a little judgmental, a little ‘holier than thou’. In the 80’s and 90’s environmentalists were a little preachy. So the mainstream now is showing a really nice shift in the social perception of green,” she says.
Here are some budget-friendly ways to raise your green profile, and maybe boost your love life in the process.
ECO-FY YOUR MEALS.
Going green with your food doesn’t mean exclusively buying certified organic products from Whole Foods (STOCK QUOTE: WFMI). It’s just as important to buy fewer groceries, prepare more meals at home, and cook with the least amount of energy. Some quick green fixes: brew coffee at home instead of buying it from a coffeehouse, use a toaster or microwave to heat your food instead of a full-size oven, and eat less meat since it uses more energy to raise, manufacture and cook. According to a 2006 University of Chicago study, the average American diet requires an extra ton and a half of carbon dioxide-equivalent. That means cutting down on a couple turkey sandwiches or hamburgers each week can make a dent in reducing the greenhouse gasses you contribute to the atmosphere. And here’s something to chew on: Americans toss our roughly 100 billion pounds of food every year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
FOCUS ON THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT.
There are simple ways you can cut down on energy use every day that will help the environment and your bills, including turning the lights off, bringing the air conditioner and heater down when you leave the house and taking shorter showers. Consider this: For each degree between 70 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit that you turn down the temperature, you could save 5% on your heating bill. In a year, assuming $50 a month bill and bringing down the temperature just one degree, that’s a $30 savings. With showers, turning off the water just two minutes earlier saves roughly $30 a year, too.
WEAR GREEN FASHION.
While organic cotton tee-shirts and hemp jackets may charge a premium, a less expensive way to endorse green fashion is to buy vintage clothes from a consignment or thrift store, says Main. Twenty-three year-old Kate Goldwater ownsAuH20 in Manhattan that sells her personal designs made from recycled clothing and materials, like old tees and vintage dresses. The store is pronounced “goldwater,” as in the chemical spelling of her last name. Her shirts sell for about $25 and dresses for around $50. Also keep your eye on cheap chic clothier H&M, which has a growing supply of organic cotton clothes for men and women.
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