From the MASSAGE Magazine article, “The Economics of Green: Save the Earth while Saving Money,” by Chris Towery, in the March 2009 issue. Article summary: A recession may not seem like the best time to start making your massage practice more eco-friendly. However, going green in these tough economic times cannot only benefit the Earth, but also your bottom line.

Chill Out
For every degree you lower your heat, you cut energy use by 3 percent, according to Consumer Reports’ Greener Choices website (http://www.greenerchoices.org/). By lowering heat 5 degrees for eight hours at night and 10 degrees during the day, you can save an estimated $250 if using electricity, $220 if using oil or $115 if using natural gas.

Drive Defensively
Consumer Reports noted both compact cars and SUVs experienced a 15-percent increase in fuel efficiency when drivers slowed from 75 mph to 65 mph on the highway. Additionally, quick acceleration and braking can reduce your fuel efficiency by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town.

Pump it Up
The U.S. Department of Energy reported you can improve your car’s gas mileage by more than 3 percent by keeping your tires properly inflated. This will save you an estimated $51 every year in gas, while increasing the life of your tires.

Hug a Tree
Paper is the number-one disposable product, according to the National Resources Defense Council. For every 100 pounds of household trash, 35 pounds are paper, and the typical office uses 350 pounds of paper per employee per year. Switching to double-sided copying and printing cuts that waste—and the money you spend—in half. Always buy the highest recycled-content paper, which is now priced roughly the same as nonrecycled paper.

For additional ways to go green, read “Green Economics: Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Help the Environment.”