On April 22nd, we had Earth Day, when billions of people celebrated the annual event by raising public awareness about climate change and its effects on us. Unfortunately, global pollution and trash are constantly increasing, so the situation is getting worse.
This is why you shouldn’t wait for April 22nd to come so you can stop and think about what’s happening with our planet. But thinking about the consequences of global warming is not enough on its own. Instead, we should all take individual actions that will add up to a significant change.
Making small changes to your everyday habits can lower your carbon footprint and pad your wallet. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of 10 habits you can adopt to go green and save money. After all, who doesn’t want more money, right?
10 Habits to Go Green and Save Money
Green living doesn’t have to be hard. Start by adopting a few habits of the following list and continue with a few more the next month. Do this until you’ve adopted as many of them as possible. Your new habits can help you save money while saving the planet.
Let’s begin with a few things you can do to contribute to cleaning the air and reducing landfill waste.
1. Change the Thermostat
Installing a programmable thermostat is a simple way to save money and reduce energy consumption in your home or workplace. A programmable thermostat lets you set different temperature levels at different times of the day, so you can adjust the temperature based on when you are at home, sleeping, or away.
This means you can easily program your thermostat to automatically lower the temperature when you are not at home, and raise it when you return, which can result in significant energy savings.
In addition to reducing your energy bills, a programmable thermostat can also help reduce your carbon footprint by decreasing the energy used to heat or cool your home.
2. Replace Light Bulbs with LED Lights
This simple change can help you go green, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint in a cost-efficient way. That’s because LED lights are more energy-efficient and longer-lasting than incandescent bulbs, as they use less electricity and emit less heat.
They are also more environmentally friendly, as they contain no hazardous materials, such as mercury, which can harm the environment. So making this small investment will definitely pay off in the long term.
3. Unplug Devices
Did you know that many devices and appliances consume electricity even when turned off or in standby mode? This is known as “phantom power” or “vampire power.” By unplugging your devices, you can prevent this phantom power consumption and reduce your overall energy usage.
But unplugging devices and appliances can also help reduce your carbon footprint by decreasing the energy used to power them. This, in turn, helps conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change.
4. Purchase Efficient Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances consume less energy and operate more efficiently than their non-efficient counterparts, resulting in significant cost savings on electricity bills.
When purchasing appliances, search for the Energy Star label to know that it meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Energy Star appliances use less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Line Dry Your Clothes
Clothes dryers use a significant amount of energy and can account for up to 6% of household energy consumption. By drying your clothes this way, you can reduce your energy usage and even eliminate the need for ironing, as clothes are less likely to wrinkle when hung properly.
Line drying your clothes is a convenient and easy way to go green. You only need a clothesline or drying rack, and you can hang your clothes indoors or outdoors.
6. Change to a Low-Flow Showerhead
A standard showerhead can use up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute, while a low-flow showerhead can use as little as 1.5 gallons per minute. That’s because low-flow showerheads restrict the amount of water that flows through them, reducing the water amount used during showers without sacrificing water pressure or comfort.
For that reason, consider changing to low-flow showerheads to reduce water consumption and your water bills. This can be particularly helpful for households with multiple people taking showers daily.
7. Install Outdoor Solar Lights
Outdoor solar lights are highly energy-efficient, as they use renewable energy from the sun to power the light. They don’t require any electricity from the grid, which helps to reduce your carbon footprint and save energy.
While the initial cost of installing solar lights may be higher than traditional lights, they can save you money in the long run. That’s because they don’t require electricity, meaning lower electricity bills. Also, they require less maintenance and have a longer lifespan, reducing replacement costs.
8. Cut Down on Plastic
Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose and can harm wildlife, pollute oceans and waterways, and contribute to climate change. Yet, we use it daily at home, school, and work. From plastic water bottles and straws to Ziploc bags and non-plastic items wrapped in plastic, it’s everywhere around us.
But why pay money for these plastic items when there are many cost-effective alternatives that can be used repeatedly?
For example, you can use reusable bottles instead of plastic ones, beeswax bags instead of Ziploc bags, etc. You can also avoid buying fruits and vegetables wrapped in plastic. Instead, try to go to the farmer’s market with your reusable shopping bag whenever you can.
9. Change Your Diet
Changing your diet can be a great way to go green and save money. You can start by reducing meat consumption as it significantly impacts the environment. From deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions to water usage and pollution, consuming meat takes a huge toll on the environment.
By consuming less meat, you can help reduce your carbon footprint and protect forests and wildlife. At the same time, you’ll reduce your grocery bills, as meat is often more expensive than plant-based protein sources.
Other environmentally friendly tweaks in your diet include:
- Buying local and in-season produce
- Reducing food waste
- Choosing sustainable seafood
- Growing your own food
10. Changes in Transportation
How often have you used your car to go somewhere near just because you don’t feel like walking? Admit it; probably too often to count. But did you know that transport is one of the biggest sources of carbon pollution, contributing to global warming?
So instead of driving alone, consider walking or biking if you need to go to nearby places. Besides helping you to reduce your carbon footprint, it will also help you to stay active and save money.
For more distant places, you can consider using public transportation or carpooling with friends, co-workers, or family. This will help you save money on fuel, parking fees, and maintenance costs while reducing carbon emissions.
And if you need to drive for whatever reason, purchasing a fuel-efficient car like a hybrid or electric vehicle would be a more sustainable and cost-effective option.
Conclusion
The planet is bleeding, and we are feeling the consequences every day. But if each of us makes some lifestyle changes like using more efficient appliances, cutting down on plastic, or reducing meat consumption, we can help save it. At the same time, we’ll save money and use it more wisely.And since everyone needs extra cash in their pocket, you can consider installing Pawns.app on your desktop or mobile device. The free app pays you in cash to share your internet connection with others and complete online surveys. It’s a great way to get back some of your money with minimal effort!
