Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day With These Tips From the Illinois CPA Society to Help Mother Nature and Your Bank Account

CHICAGO, April 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- April 22, 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and the Illinois CPA Society wants to remind you that going green doesn't need to be a costly move – it can actually save you money. In recent years, many tax credits have been created to reward consumers for purchasing energy-efficient appliances and home improvement materials. And you don't need to make major expensive changes to help the environment. The Illinois CPA Society suggests these simple ideas for saving money by going green:

1. Don't be too hot or too cold.  Set your thermostat to stay at a lower temperature when the house will be empty. For under $100, you can buy a basic programmable model and save roughly $180 on your annual energy bills and stop wasting energy.
2. Seal and insulate your windows.  According to the Wall Street Journal, the average home can have leaks that are the equivalent to leaving a window open year round.  By caulking and using plastic wrap around your windows, you'll keep heat in thus lowering your bills and making your home more energy-efficient.
3. Go paperless.  Many service providers have begun charging customers to receive a paper bill or statements. Save yourself close to $50 a year and cut down on household clutter by doing your bookkeeping online.  You can also reduce the amount of paper you use by paying your bills online rather than writing checks.
4. Switch to light-emitting diode lightbulbs (LEDs).  Installing energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures could reduce your electric bills over time and decrease the size of your carbon footprint.  Initially, the bulbs will cost more than the average incandescent kind, but they use one-fifth of the energy and will last ten times longer. According to the Energy Department, if everyone converted to LED lights, the energy saved would be enough to power 6.7 million households.
5. Install low-flow toilets and replace old showerheads.  For less than $50 with a kit available from retailers, you can convert your current toilet from a standard system to a dual-flush model.  This can cut water usage up to 40 percent - almost 30 gallons a day. Replacing old showerheads and faucets can also reduce leaks, saving you water and money.
6. Unplug unused appliances.  Although it might be a bit inconvenient, unplugging small appliances like your toaster and coffee maker when they're not in use could save you on your electric bill, as well as stop energy leaks.  You may also be able to increase the shelf-life of that toaster oven from the '90s.

Small changes can make a difference – to the environment and your bank account.  For more tips and resources, check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov.  Don't forget; many larger "green" purchases and additions are eligible for tax credits, so if you have questions contact your local CPA for advice or go to www.icpas.org for more information and a "Find a CPA" directory.  

About the Illinois CPA Society

The Illinois CPA Society, founded in 1903, is the fifth largest state CPA Society in the nation, with more than 24,000 members. It is the premier professional organization that represents CPAs in Illinois. During its over 100 years of existence, the Society has advanced the highest ethical and financial standards of the profession, and has been a leader in educating the public on financial issues.

SOURCE Illinois CPA Society