How Going Green Can Save the Environment and Your Bank Account

Many people are going green to reduce their carbon footprint to help to save the environment.  But going green can also have a positive effect on your bank account as well.  If you are looking to save some green, going eco friendly can help you to do so in multiple ways.

Save energy

Looking for ways to save energy can help you to save money as well when it comes time to pay your electric bill.  And you don’t have to switch to alternative energy source for that electricity, although that is a good idea in itself.  Setting your home thermostat down a few degrees in the winter and up a few degrees in the summer will waste less energy.  Changing to compact fluorescent light bulbs will save energy and put fewer light bulbs in landfills.  Washing your clothes with cold water and then drying them on a clothesline will help you to save a lot of money and energy when you do the laundry.

Save water

Another way to go eco friendly and save cash is to save water.  Try taking shorter showers or installing a low-flow showerhead. Wait to run dishwashers and washing machines until you have a accumulated a full load.  And when planting outside, look for plants that need a minimal amount of watering.  When it comes to the water you drink, skip on buying the bottled stuff and instead get a filter for your home tap reducing plastic bottle consumption.  Carry a reusable water bottle filled with your filtered water with you to help reduce waste and cut your costs.

Save fuel

If rising gas prices are a concern for you, then saving gas will help you save money along with saving the environment.  You could try walking or riding a bike instead of driving where you need to go.  Telecommuting, using public transportation, or moving closer to work will help save you money in the face of rising fuel prices and reduce your carbon footprint.

One of the best solutions to consider is to buy a converter kit for your vehicle, thus making your existing car a hybrid. By performing the simple task of installing the kit, you will make use of cleaner fuel and reduce your personal emissions as well as get an overall lower gas price. This, coupled with tremendous financial savings due to reduced gas costs, makes installing a kit an easy win–win decision for any consumer.

Save food

While you might not think of the purchase of groceries as being eco friendly behavior, there are some things you can do while shopping that will help the environment and save you money.  Try eating one additional meatless meal a week, or go completely vegetarian.  This will help you cut your grocery budget and reduce negative environmental factors.  Buy locally produced food as much as you can – not only will the food be fresher and healthier and likely cost less, but you will not have to worry about the carbon footprint created for shipping the items nearer to you.

Buy smart

Buying smarter will help to save you money and allow you to be more eco friendly at the same time.  Recycling is great, but “Reuse before Recycling” as this saves even more resources. Try finding gently used secondhand products instead of buying new, particularly for items like furniture, appliances, clothes, and even toys.  Buy products from companies that use alternative fuels in manufacturing and/or are conscious about their carbon footprint.  Borrow books and videos from the library, and share toys and tools with neighbors.  You can also buy in bulk to save money reducing the amount of packaging that come with your products and reduce your usage profile.

If you pay attention to your everyday life, there are plenty of areas where you can shop smarter and save green in both your pocketbook and the environment.