Saving graces: The push to conserve
I used to bathe my daughters together when they were babies and toddlers.
I didn't wash them together just to save time. I was trying to save money and water. I might still force the issue, but my 12-year-old is horrified at the thought of having her little sister see her nude.
OK, I'm kidding. There are other ways to save some cash and resources. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, for example, families could save about $170 per year by retrofitting their homes with water-efficient fixtures and appliances.
Being environmentally friendly has a double impact. If more of us paid attention to the things we waste, we wouldn't have as many global environmental issues to deal with now. Plus, we'd have a little more left in our wallets.
It's not just being water-wise that can help you save a few bucks. What about the trash you throw away?
In 2005, US residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 245 million tons of municipal solid waste, according to the EPA. That translates to about 4.5 pounds of waste per person per day. Invite me to a party and it's likely I'll go through the trash to rescue recyclable plastic and cans.
In light of my conservation mood these days, I thought I should make my annual Penny Pincher of the Year Contest a themed challenge. This year, I'm looking for penny-pinching entries that have a positive effect on the environment.
For example, one of my all-time favorite penny pinchers is Louise Meyer of Washington, D.C. She won the first Penny Pincher of the Year Contest in 1997 by writing about how she put solar cookers on her roof and used them to fix chicken, rice, stuffed peppers, even pasta.
At the time, Meyer said, she saved about $40 a month on her electric bill during the winter and $140 in the summer months by solar cooking her food and by avoiding using her clothes dryer and air conditioning.
To solar cook, all you need is a sunny day, water-resistant, aluminum-laminated cardboard, a clear plastic oven-roasting bag to create a mini-greenhouse effect, and a dark pot with a tight-fitting lid for maximum heat absorption. To find out more, visit the website for Solar Cookers International (www.solarcookers.org).
At my house, I try to be considerate of our country's hardwood forests by reusing every delivery box that arrives at my house. When I have to mail a package, I just go to my closet where I keep recycling and regifting items and look for the right size box (I also recycle the protective packing material). I use labels to cover up the old shipping information.
Another penny-pinching champion took a plastic milk jug into the shower with him to capture the cold water that came out before the water heater kicked in. He then took the cold water and used it to fill his toilet tank to flush it. By doing this, he was able to cut his water bill.
In this country, we use an average of 100 gallons of water a day at home. We could cut our water use by 30 percent. If all US households installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $17 billion dollars annually, the EPA says. And when we use less water, we reduce the amount of energy needed to supply that water.
So what's your best energy, water, or waste-cutting penny-pinching story? You can nominate yourself or someone else. I'm looking for originality and honesty. I'm interested in frugal folks, not misers. Humor scores big.
To reward those who are serious about saving money and the environment, there will be cash prizes. First place wins $100, second $75, and third place $50.
Edited versions of entries may be published whether you win or not. Anonymous entries will not be eligible to win. Send your entries by Aug. 20 to colorofmoney@washpost.com. Please put "2007 Penny Pincher of the Year Contest" in the subject line. Please include your full name, address, and daytime and evening phone numbers. You can also mail entries to Michelle Singletary, Color of Money, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. If you are sending your entry through regular mail, please put on the front of the envelope "Penny Pincher of the Year Contest."
Michelle Singletary is a columnist for the Washington Post. She can be reached at singletarym@washpost.com. 