10 Ways to Help the Environment While Saving Money
I’ve seen plenty of pictures of stunning environmentally friendly homes. It’s nice to fantasize, but right now I don’t the money to buy or build one of those homes. It’s easy to think of environmentalism as something for the rich. I can’t afford an electric car or even a hybrid for that matter. The property manager at my apartment complex wouldn’t be happy to see me crawling out onto the roof to install solar panels. I’m sure that would somehow violate the lease.
- Put a blanket on your hot water heater. A water heater blanket can be bought from your local home supplier for about twenty dollars. It’s a good way to cut energy consumption and costs. It insulates the hot water heater so that it doesn’t have to work so hard to keep the water hot.
- Set your thermostat to a slightly warmer temperature in the summer or cooler temperature in the winter when you’re not at home. Many of us are out for most of the day. If we change the temperature on our thermostats for that time, it does a lot to cut down on the energy we’re using at home.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents. Compact fluorescents are more expensive, but they make up for the price in the long run because you’ll be saving on your electric bill.
- Recycle. Recycling is a simple thing that a lot of people don’t do. If you live in an area where they don’t pick up recycling from you house, locate your local recycling center and become a regular there. Buying products packaged in recycled materials is also a good idea.
- Walk or ride your bike when you need to run around the corner to the store. It’s habit for most of us to jump in the car to go around the corner to the store. If you don’t have to go that far, walk or ride your bike. It cuts down on pollution, saves gas, and gives you exercise.
- Consider carpooling to work. Depending on who you end up carpooling with, it could help liven up the morning commute.
- Take public transportation. Public transportation, where convenient, will save on gas money and provide much entertainment. You could meet several new characters to put in your next novel on your way to work.
- Take your own bags to the store. Using your own reusable bag for groceries cuts down on waste. It also stops the giant pile of plastic grocery bags stored under your kitchen sink from growing.
- Stop drinking bottled water. Buy a filter to put on your tap. It saves you money and cuts down on waste.
- Eat less meat. If you like burgers too much to give them up, consider cutting back. The meat industry produces a lot of environmentally hazardous waste.
Once you cut back on your meat consumption you’ll notice that you spend less at the grocery store.
Photo by Miyukiutada
[...] presents 10 Ways to Help the Environment While Saving Money posted at The Art of Balanced Living. Simple, easy tips for any Newbie! Good job, [...]
[...] presents 10 Ways to Help the Environment While Saving Money posted at The Art of Balanced [...]