Green living has become increasingly popular over the last several years, and it’s not hard to see why. A green lifestyle can help preserve the planet for future generations and improve your quality of life. Many people, however, are not aware that some green practices can also help you spend less money or cut costs around your house.
Here are the some of the most thrifty ways to go green:
Stop Using Plastic Water Bottles
Americans use about 50 billion plastic water bottles every year, and that cost adds up over time, especially when the average person pays 19 cents a day for tap water in their home. You can buy a water pitcher filter for under $20 and save hundreds of dollars throughout the year. Not to mention, most plastic water bottles end up in landfills. Do your part to resolve this problem by using a filter and/or reusable water bottle instead of going through multiple plastic water bottles per day.
Buy in Bulk
Manufacturers use less paper and plastic when packaging products in bulk than they do when packaging products individually. This is often why many bulk items are priced less than their individual counterparts. Buying in bulk may also result in
Set Up A Carpool
Speaking of saving at the pump—putting together a carpool schedule with your co-workers so you can make your trip to the office together is a great way to go green. You can split the cost of gasoline, reduce the number of cars on the road (improving traffic!), and lower the
Start A Compost Pile
Food and yard waste account for about 30% of the average household’s waste. But, there’s no need for this waste to end up in a landfill when it can be composted instead. Start a compost pile in your backyard to enrich the soil, eliminate the cost of fertilizer, and reduce your household’s carbon footprint.
Ditch the Disposable Silverware
Disposable silverware may make cleaning up after dinner easier, but it’s incredibly harmful to the environment. The key to living a greener lifestyle is reducing the amount of waste you produce, so stop buying disposable silverware and start reusing your utensils.
Donate Old Clothing
Instead of sending old clothing to landfills, donate it to non-profit organizations in your community. Donating items you no longer want or need is a simple way to live a greener lifestyle and give back to the community. If you donate enough, you may even be able to claim your donations as charitable deductions on your federal tax return.
Bring Your Own Bag
Most recycling facilities do not take plastic shopping bags, which means they are typically sent to landfills. Many states have taken measures to eliminate plastic bags, and now require stores to charge each bag you use. Instead of contributing to the waste problem, be proactive and get in the habit of bringing your own reusable shopping bag to the grocery store. It’s estimated that your decision to make this switch could remove more than 22,000 plastic bags from the environment. What are you waiting for?
Conduct An Energy Audit
There are countless ways to conserve energy and water at home so you can live a greener lifestyle. Figure out the best ways to go green by conducting a home energy audit, which will identify simple ways you can increase the energy efficiency of your home, drastically lower your utility bills, and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Conducting a home energy audit is a great first step for anyone who is truly committed to going green.
This is just the beginning of going green, so don’t limit yourself to the ideas on this list. Get inspired to explore new ways to make your lifestyle more eco-friendly so you can do your