As the world becomes more populated and environmental damage increases, there is more desire than ever to go green. Not only can we save the environment for future generations; we also can save ourselves money right at home.

The infographic below offers some great tips for how to go green and save yourself money. This article also highlights other effective ways to go green and save the planet.

How You Can Save Money By Going Green

If you want to save the environment and save money, you can do it! Here are some simple ways to do both:

• Turn down your thermostat by 1 degree and save up to $73 per year
• Cut your summer A/C bill by putting in shade trees around your home by up to $140 per year
• Cut your electric bill by turning down your thermostat 1 degree in the winter – 41% of our energy usage is for heating our homes
• Switch from incandescent to CFL bulbs and save between $180 and $300 per year
• A programmable thermostat can save $150 per year in energy costs if you reduce the temperature by 8 degrees in winter for eight hours per day and 10 hours at night
• Save $78 per year by purchasing rechargable batteries
• Slow down when you drive and save approximately $945 per year – each 5 MPH you go over 60 MPH is akin to paying .30 more per gallon for gasoline

Other Things You Can Do

While saving money and going green is great, there are other steps you can do to help the environment at home and at work:

Plant Trees

As noted earlier, planting trees strategically around your property can reduce your air conditioning costs. Utility companies often offer free trees to customers to reduce their energy use. It is smart to check with your power company to see if there are any programs. Some towns and counties give away trees on Arbor Day, which is the last Friday in April.

Take Your Bike

Leaving your car in the driveway two days per week can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by 3,000 pounds per year. Plus, you save on gas and parking if you take the bike. For instance, you can save approximately $7 per day by biking it, assuming you have a 15 mile round trip commute. Biking also is good exercise and can keep your waistline in check. If biking cannot work for you, try to drive less by carpooling with neighbors.

Eat Less Meat

The meat industry produces ⅕ of the man made global greenhouse gas emissions, says the Food and Agriculture Organization at the UN. If your family skips the burgers once per week, it is like taking your car off the road for three months! You will save money as well: A typical sirloin steak costs twice what a pound of chicken breasts does.

Use Water Efficient Fixtures

Save money on water by using more water efficient toilets, faucets and showerheads. Watch for products featuring the WaterSense label. This means the product is certified to be 20% or more efficient and does not sacrifice performance. For instance, a toilet with the WaterSense label can save your family at least $90 per year and over $2000 over the toilet’s life. When you consider you can get a new toilet with Watersense for $100, it’s a smart investment.

Recycle Electronics

Americans toss out two million tons of electronic products each year. Do not fill your local landfill with old electronics. Instead, sell them for cash on websites such as Gazelle, NextWorth and uSell. You can get rid of your old smartphones, tablets, computers and more by selling them for cash.

Compost Your Trash

Americans spend more than $5 billion per year for lawn fertilizers. But you can get a lot of fertilizer for free by composting grass clippings, vegetable cuttings, leaves and similar organic waste. As a bonus, composting can reduce your household waste by as much as ⅓.

Buy a Rain Barrel

Some Americans can reduce their water costs significantly by using rain barrels at downspouts to collect rainwater. Attach a hose to the rain barrels to water your garden and lawn. You may be able to score free rain barrels from your water utility, so it is worth a phone call. If not, you can buy them online or in a garden center.

Line Dry Clothes

Clothes dryers use a lot of electricity in America, accounting for 6% of a home’s total use of electricity. Most dryers use virtually the same amount of electricity. The best way to help the environment and go gree is to use a clothesline to dry your clothes when you can.

Use Power Strips

Electronics that are not in use but are plugged in cost Americans up to $10 billion per year. If you don’t want to unplug electronics when you are not using them, buy powerstrips so you can shut off several things at once with the flip of a switch.

Only Use Reusable Shopping Bags

Disposable shopping bags are everywhere. From department stores to gas stations, they are the way we tote our purchases. These lightweight containers were introduced in the 1970s as a means of making shopping easier for consumers. So what’s the big deal? The average American goes through six shopping bags per week. With a population of roughly 300 million, that means 1.8 billion bags are used and discarded in America every week, and all of that trash adds up. Do you have so many custom reusable bags lying around that you don’t know what to do with them? There are plenty of uses for reusable grocery bags besides taking them shopping with you so help the planet!

Everyone wants to save money and save the environment by going green. With the above tips and strategies, it is easier than ever.

References

• 12 Ways to Save Money By Going Green. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.kiplinger.com/article/saving/T063-C011-S001-12-ways-to-save-money-by-going-green.html