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Nowadays, being kind to the environment seems to be on everyone’s minds. A quick glance at current events or everyday media makes it pretty clear that changing your eco-damaging habits is a trend that everyone can get behind.
You may ask yourself, what’s in it for me? Well, being eco-friendly not only saves the rainforests and polar bears, but it can also save you money!
Here are our top five ways to go green, while saving green.
#1 Get Clean a Different Way
There’s a long-standing myth that going eco-friendly means getting down in the dirt and saying goodbye to luxurious showers and smelling good. With so many eco-friendly cleaning methods available today, that couldn’t be more false.
- Get a lower-power head for your shower – Have you ever looked at your high-pressure shower head and wondered how much water (and money) is flowing down the drain? With a low-power shower head, you can save on your water bill and enjoy a steamy, guilt-free shower while you’re at it.
- witch to natural cleaning products – All those chemicals under the sink have the potential to leak toxins into the surrounding environment. It’s also best to protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of breathing in those chemicals. Eco-friendly alternatives can often be found right in our pantries. Next time you find yourself reaching for that spray bottle, try baking soda, vinegar, or olive oil instead!
- Use cold water – This may sound self-explanatory, but the hot-water setting on your dishwashers and washing machines uses a lot more energy than the cold-water one. You can also switch out your top-loading washing machine to a front-loading one. To go one step further, forgo the drying process entirely and hang your clothes dry. That one’s completely free!
#2 Eat Clean
By this, we mean do your best to grow your own food or buy from farmer’s markets. Food from supermarkets comes with unnecessary packaging that goes right to landfills. Besides, it’s no secret that growing and cooking your own food is cheaper than eating out or buying food from the store.
- Composting – This is a great way to save money on fertilizers and soil care for your yard. Simply put all food and organic waste in a bin of your choosing and watch the magic happen.
- Eat less meat – Cutting down on meat consumption is a proven way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that result from the meat industry. It can be as simple as going vegetarian one day a week or neglecting to buy those burgers at your next trip to the store. Those pennies will add up and save the world in the process!
#3 Consider Installing Solar Panels
Solar panels have been in use for a long time, but still not many people have cottoned on to their immense money-saving potential. Installing solar panels in your home reduces the amount you pay for utility bills, saving you thousands, while also cutting down on your home’s consumption of greenhouse gases. It’s a win-win situation.
In which case, you should consider installing solar panels for home improvement (and savings!).
#4 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
This mantra not only goes for conventional waste recycling, but also for any and all aspects of your life.
Here are some easy and fun ways to reuse the resources that are available to you:
- Thrift shop – The fast fashion industry is one of the biggest offenders to our rapidly expanding landfills. Not to mention that cheap store-bought clothing wears out fast, forcing you to spend more money on clothes, more often.
- Cut down on disposable plastic – You’d be surprised at how much plastic you use on a daily, completely-disposable basis. Luckily, almost everything out there has an affordable, less harmful alternative: water bottles, napkins, bags, you name it!
- Ditch pads and tampons – For all the menstruating folks out there, consider switching to a menstrual cup. These latex or silicone cups perform the same function without the environmentally harmful side effects. Not only will cups save you money on regular trips to the drugstore but are able to be worn longer than pads and tampons.
#5 Go Completely Electronic
Printing articles and reading physical books can be satisfying, but sadly isn’t the most eco-friendly. Making the switch to digital methods like e-readers and computer software programs is easy to do given today’s technological innovation.
Going Green Doesn’t Mean Spending More
The myths about saving the environment and breaking the bank don’t have to be true. When it comes down to it, being eco-friendly is all about being creative and exploring what works for you.
With these five tips, you’re sure to be equipped with everything you need to start living your affordable eco-friendly life.