If you care about the world and the future for the next generation, then you will want to know about these eco-friendly ways to save money and the environment.
Taking an active role in being more environmentally friendly has never been more important. As the planet’s temperature continues to rise, there has also been a sudden increase in natural disasters. While you can’t save the entire world from climate change, you can make a significant difference by switching up your lifestyle to be more eco-friendly.
The misconception that being more considerate to the environment will cost you a lot couldn’t be further from true.
The fact is, numerous eco-friendly options for daily living are also cost-effective and budget-friendly.
As you might know, I wrote a bestselling book called Happy Habits.
Inside my book I share a range of habits which boost happiness. And in my research, doing “doing habits you’re proud of” and “helping others” are 2 big contributors to happiness.
With this in mind, I thought you’d be interested in learning about these recommended eco-friendly ways to save both money and the environment.
These five ways might cost you a little upfront, but they will save you a lot more in the long run. You’ll also feel great about your choices!
If you have your own washing machine, chances are you also own a dryer to dry the majority of your clothes. Instead of using a clothing dryer, switch to a drying line instead. This is one small step toward being significantly more eco-friendly.
Clothing dryers consume more energy than other home appliances. This means by cutting down its usage; you’d also be saving electricity and slashing down the bills. But, if that isn’t enough to persuade you, dryers are also known to damage clothing. They cause shrinking, color runs, and gradually deteriorate your clothes.
Line-drying your clothes will help preserve fabrics, increasing the life of your clothing. Consequently, this saves you a lot more money over time. Additionally, a drying rack doesn’t take up a lot of space. You can also find foldable options that can be stored away when not in use.
While bottled water is the easiest way to access clean water, discarded plastic has a detrimental effect on the environment. A whole-house or point-of-use water filter system helps reduce our reliance on plastic bottles and other single-use items.
In addition to reducing fossil fuel consumption, using a water filter also decreases wear and tear on electric appliances. Build-up and sediments from unfiltered water cause appliances to work less efficiently, consuming more energy. Water filters benefit your bills by conserving this energy and reducing pollution associated with energy generation. This also means appliances are less likely to be discarded and end up in landfills.
If you’re wondering which type of whole house water filter you need or where to buy a system, many brands have eco-friendly filters and replacement options. These systems are specially designed to generate the least amount of waste possible in terms of energy and water consumption. Some filter casings and cartridges are also made of compostable material.
You can instantly become more eco-friendly by replacing all your home’s light bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives. Compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) lights are both excellent options. In comparison to regular incandescent lights, CFL bulbs are more efficient. Also, they last ten times longer.
LED lights last at least twice as long as CFLs and consume less energy. While they are more expensive than other standard bulbs, they last for several years at a time. This switch to energy-efficient lighting will save you a lot of money.
By replacing even just one light bulb with eco-friendly options, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by approximately 9 billion pounds. This is roughly equivalent to the same amount of emissions produced by 800,000 cars!
Save trees and money simultaneously by utilizing digital options such as online banking, saving photos to a hard drive, online mail, and streaming services like Netflix and Spotify. This eliminates the need to buy items such as books, paper, or DVDs that end up in landfills. You can even go farther and get a credit card that plants trees.
By going paperless, you reduce pollution, transportation, and conserve water. Additionally, these switches can cut expenses as some businesses charge extra for print-outs and physical items. Furthermore, some companies offer a discount for going paperless, and you’ll stop cluttering your space.
Solar panels may not be visually appealing, but relying on solar energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Solar panels on your roof decrease the need to use fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas to generate electricity.
In addition, solar panels are considered a home upgrade, similar to a renovated kitchen or basement. Thus, purchasing solar energy systems is highly likely to increase the value of your home. Some research also suggests you can save between $20,000 to $30,000 in electricity bills over 20 years, which is a substantial amount of money.
Pssst… Here’s an article about the advantages of metal buildings – which are also environmentally friendlier.
This list should have gotten you thinking about ways to lead a more sustainable life and reduce your waste. These simple changes will not only be friendlier on your wallet but also encourage you to do your part to save the planet.
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