Going green is a phrase that can be applied to almost any facet of life. What you eat, what you wear, what you drive, what products you buy and who you buy them from can all contribute to your overall greenness. Working eco-friendly practices into your lifestyle may seem overwhelming and expensive, but there are many ways to go green and actually save money. Here are 3 practices that will decrease your carbon footprint and your expenses.
Drive less
Each time you are able to walk, ride a bike, take public transportation or carpool, you actually reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and emissions that are created by driving. Of course, keeping the car parked will save you major bucks at the pump. If you can’t carpool every day, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, start small. Make it a goal to find the shortest route to each of your driving destinations. Carpool with your friends on a Friday night, rather than each of you driving separately to meet for dinner. Have a longer distance to travel? Consider taking a train over air travel for a more environmentally sound adventure.
Change your light bulbs
There are several energy-efficient light bulb options that will save on cost and electricity. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), light emitting diodes (LEDs) or halogens. Save money and time with any one of these options. For example, CFLs use approximately 75% less energy than the standard incandescent bulbs and last much longer. You can count on saving at least $30 per bulb changed, and CFLs do not emit as much heat as incandescent bulbs which means you will save a little on air conditioning during the summertime as well. Before you begin mass bulb replacement, be sure to find the right bulb for the right fixtures and look for high-quality along with efficiency for maximum hours of illumination per light bulb.
Take it outside
Going green in a literal sense will not only help you save money, but it can also be a fun and satisfying gardening project. Eating seasonal, organic and local is a wonderful way to make a positive impact on the environment, and your backyard is about as local as you can get. To avoid using expensive and chemical-packed fertilizers, consider compost. To begin, just set aside a small space in your yard for a pile and use fruit and vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, brown leaves and grass clippings to create nutrient-rich soil. Not only will this save you money on fertilizer and leave you with a heartier lawn, but it will also save on trash disposal and it may help make your yard more resistant to infestations by pests or decimation by drought. Finally, purchase rain barrels to save water. Simply hook up your roof gutters to rain barrels and use the water collected during a storm to water your lawn and garden.
More ways to add green to your life
5 Easy ways to really go green
7 Creative ways to save green while going green
12 ways to go green for your health
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