Californians are notoriously leading-edge in many things, among them environmental consciousness. We’ve become experts on water conservation, but there are so many other ways to go green, too. The best news? You can be more sustainable in your everyday living without sacrificing your budget. Just look around your house and yard, with the “three R’s” in mind: reduce, reuse, recycle.
Here are 19 ideas to help you save money by going green:
- Resist the urge to buy water in small plastic bottles. We understand your tap water may be less-than-delicious, but all that plastic is a fright for our landfills. Get a single, fun water bottle for on-the-go, and refill it from a large, recyclable water container.
- Just say no to other disposables. That includes cups, plates, drinking glasses, etc. Real dishes look and feel nicer, giving your busy days an instant upgrade. (Yes, you can make an exception for that big BBQ bash!)
- Just say no to regular use of paper napkins, too. Like real dishes, cloth napkins improve your dining environment, and they’re easy to wash and reuse.
- Consider an energy audit for your home (and business). Improvements such as interior or exterior caulking and replacing your windows with new, energy efficient ones can save you big money over time. And you’ll be much more comfortable indoors when the weather’s very cold or hot.
- If your appliances are aging, replace them with Energy Star-rated models, too.
- Make your own beauty products. Over-the-counter products are expensive, but you can easily fuse ingredients such as oatmeal, avocado, sea salt, yogurt, and herbs (perhaps from your own garden) to prepare customized hand lotion, shampoo, lip balm, and bath oil. It’s just like cooking, with equally “nutritious” results that you apply to your body instead of eating.
- You can easily create homemade green cleaning products, too. Common household products such as vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda work equally well, plus they’re non-toxic, so they’re better for your family and the environment.
- Share your favorite recipes for all these products with your friends. (Or give them as holiday gifts.)
- Better yet, start a contest among your friends or neighbors to see who can come up with the most money-saving eco-boosters.
- Recycle books by using the library or trading with friends.
- Plant deciduous trees that will provide heavenly shade in the summer but allow no-cost natural solar heat in winter. Gather the leaves, then compost them to add to your garden in the spring.
- Don't waste energy by leaving lights and heat on when you aren’t around. HVAC experts recommend no more than a 10o swing between high and low temps, though – otherwise, you’ll pay to reheat your floors and furnishings as well as the air. A programmable thermostat is a smart investment, because you won’t forget.
- Likewise, turn your computer, printer, and other devices off when you aren’t using them. Sleep mode still draws power.
- Shop locally. And choose green businesses.
- Group errands to shorten trips – you’ll save gas and time.
- Fix that leaky faucet! And don’t wash dishes or clothes until the washer is full.
- Cover your pool when it’s not in use. It will stay cleaner, water won’t evaporate, and kids and pets will be much safer.
- Talk to your electric company about purchasing green power generated from renewable solar, wind, geothermal or biomass resources.
There’s no doubt you can save money by going green. But, wait. That was only 18 ideas.
#19: Ditch that lawn and switch to artificial grass!
Nothing is greener, and you’ll save countless hours, by going virtually lawn maintenance-free. You’ll save money, too, because artificial grass pays for itself in just a few short years. To help you lower your water and energy use, check out the Meterhero program here.
