With all the confusion in the world today about what, how and just why to start thinking and green, the question of WHEN can get lost in all of the madness. Even from a purely financial standpoint, "when" is a perfectly reasonable question to ask about saving energy. When is it reasonable to start making 'green' initiatives? When can I expect a return on my investment if I 'go green' now? When can I make an impact on my business or home if I start going green now? These are all valid questions, and the answer is that there's never been a better time than right now to start!
Whether your great interest is doing your part to preserve the environment, save a few dollars, or just reduce your personal or commercial carbon-footprint, there are myriad benefits in starting your green transformation sooner than later. Governments of all levels and the energy industry are helping now, more than ever, in reducing the initial negative impacts of beginning green initiatives. The cost of starting this process can now be offset and financed in a number of helpful ways. Check your local energy companies for financing and discounts. Local, state and federal government programs are often available to offer tax credits and grants to those who are adopting systems designed around energy reduction. You may be surprised to find that the money involved is less than you might have imagined.
Couple this with the fact that the return on investment for these types of programs is shortening every day, and you'll find that you may actually be SAVING money in just a matter of months. There are countless ways that you can begin the process of moving toward a more environment-friendly operation, but more and more, the cost of these changes pay for themselves in surprisingly little time. After you cross that threshold, you're actually saving money AND helping out the environment! Without diving into the specifics of when you can expect certain products or programs to pay for themselves, do some checking around into the products and services available in your area to find out when and how many green initiatives can pay for themselves.
The impact on your business or home begins as soon as you install a product or begin a service. Just putting in compact flourescent or LED bulbs as replacements to incandescents can yield tremendous immediate benefits. A programmable thermostat and control system can both improve your comfort level and reduce your energy bill the moment they're installed. The fact of the matter is that you don't have to wait to start enjoying the great things that going green can do for you.
If the question you find yourself wondering is "WHEN should I start thinking green?", it's clear there's no time like the present. Considering that anyone can do simple things to both help the environment AND put money back in their pockets, it's pretty hard to find a reason not to. The ways to start saving are countless and there are many professionals to help guide those who would like a helping hand. When? How about today?
