Simple Green Life Tips to Help You Save Time and Money
Going green is popular for many reasons, as not only can it help the environment, but it can also save you time and money. The best way to go green isn’t always clear, however, and some people find it difficult to make such sweeping changes to their life all at once.
Fortunately, there are some simple green life tips to make your life more environmentally-friendly. None of these shouldn’t interfere too much with your established routine, while also putting more money into your wallet each month. Just remember to take each change at your own pace. Eventually you’ll be living a life beneficial to both you and the environment.
Switch to ENERGY STAR Appliances
The various appliances in your home require a significant amount of energy to power. This contributes greatly towards the cost of your utility bills each month. ENERGY STAR appliances can significantly reduce both your energy consumption and the cost of your energy bills, as they are often much more efficient than other appliances. This green-living choice also requires very little change to your lifestyle, as you can purchase appliances built to operate identically to the ones you had before.
Buy Organic and Buy Local
The food you put in your body makes a difference, both in terms of your health and for the benefit of the environment. In addition, the less travel time required to get your food to you, the less harmful emissions are released into the air. Support organic and local farmers, who are making the effort to eliminate pesticides, toxins and harmful chemicals from the food they grow. You might even consider growing your own. This is something you can do regardless of whether you live in a house or apt, city or country, etc.
Invest In a Reusable Water Bottle
Plastic waste is one of the largest contributors to pollution across the globe, and plastic water bottles make up a significant amount of said waste. Instead of buying plastic water bottles and contributing to more waste, consider using a reusable water bottle. Not only will this lower your dependence on single-use plastic, but it will also help your wallet as you won’t have to spend as much money on large packs of bottled water.
Ditch Single-Use Plastics
Since we’re on the topic of reusable being a simple, yet effective, way to reduce plastic use, you should consider ditching single-use plastics all together. Single-use plastics, while they may seem “convenient” in the moment, are actually large contributors to the plastic waste problem. Instead, look for non-plastic products you can use over and over again. Buying reusable saves both time and money.
Use LED Bulbs
While incandescent bulbs may have been the standard form of lighting for many years, LED bulbs have emerged as a superior alternative in almost every way. Compared to most other lightbulbs, LEDs are brighter, last longer, and are much more energy efficient. This makes them the ideal choice for anyone trying to live a green lifestyle and save money, as these types of bulbs don’t need to be replaced as often as other bulbs. So, you save money and create less waste in the process.
Adjust Your Thermostat Settings
Thermostats contribute to a significant amount of electricity usage. Adjusting your thermostat’s settings can bring down the cost of your bills while placing less stress on your local power grid. While you shouldn’t feel obligated to completely turn off your heating or air conditioning, making the temperature somewhat warmer in the summer and colder in the winter will lower your home’s overall electricity use.
Unplug Your Electronics
Electronic devices can contribute to a large portion of your home’s energy use, and this consumption can vary based on how many you have plugged in at any time. While keeping your phone charger in an outlet for easy use may seem harmless, keeping it plugged in actually uses continuous electricity until it’s unplugged. This can inflate your electricity bill by the end of the month, so if you’re serious about saving money, unplug your devices when you’re not using them.
Summary
Living an environmentally-friendly lifestyle can be highly rewarding, as not only are you helping your community heal, but you have opportunities to save yourself some time and money in the process. While there are many more things you can do to live a green life, including altering your diet, choosing to reduce/reuse/recycle and using public transportation to travel, the methods listed above are some of the simplest to implement. With the proper patience and dedication, you can play your part in making the world a happier and healthier place to live.
Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beach goer operating out of Southern New Jersey who writes for All American Plumbing.
2 Comments
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Regina
Good suggestions! Another “green” idea you may want to consider is installing new windows.
Did you know that air leaks from lo-quality windows can account for 30 percent of your home’s energy bill?
Regina
So many good tips here! Just want to add one more thing. Lower the temperature if you’re looking to save more money and energy. Even reducing the thermostat temperature by 1°C could save you £40 a year, and I bet you wouldn’t even notice.