Save Energy and Save Money at Home
Being environmentally conscious and living a minimalistic lifestyle doesn’t have to be expensive. Nor does it have to be trying on your lifestyle.
Sure, solar panels and showering once a week have positive effects on the environment. However, there are more simple and less drastic ways to have an impact.
Here are five simple, actionable and inexpensive ways to save energy. While also saving money at home.
What About the Water?
When it comes to being eco-friendly, everyone knows the benefits of using less water. Although it may not seem like it has much of an effect, using less water during showers, brushing your teeth, or washing your hands, has an enormous effect on not only the environment and being frugal, but also on your water bill, which can lead to hundreds of saved dollars each year.
Depending on the city you live in, water costs can exceed over $1,000 per year; by cutting down on the amount of time the faucet is on, water bills will decrease and more water will be conserved.
Are You Using Appliances Sparingly?
As well, couple it with saving water. Then look at other appliances that use water sparingly. Laundry and dishes have to get done at some point. Yet or but not every day. To save money and use minimal water, try not running the dishwasher or doing laundry until it is an absolute necessity.
Take it a step further and wash dishes by hand and hang your laundry out on a clothesline. By not running the dryer or dishwasher, not only is energy being saved, but bill costs will decrease as well, saving money and reducing your carbon footprint.
Hence, that said, if you live in an extremely cold and windy city like Chicago, Illinois, don’t go overboard and freeze in your own Chicago apartment. Be smart and use your appliances when your life depends on it!
Just Outside Your Door
Using clean energy and saving money doesn’t just have to happen inside your house. Take a step outside and a whole world of possible eco-friendly practices are available.
Planting fruits and vegetables in a garden is a great way to have fresh produce and eliminate driving to the grocery store.
Additionally, starting a compost pile benefits the environment because leftover decomposable foods that would normally go into a landfill can properly biodegrade. As always, buying a bike is a terrific investment to not only save money on gas, but also eliminate the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere.
Savvy Shopping Trick
One of the easiest ways to be eco-friendly is spending less money. Also and more noteworthy, planning ahead when shopping. Try keeping a detailed grocery list of foods you absolutely need. That way, you only drive to the grocery store when you have to. And yes!! You don’t waste time and gas getting just a few items. Also, try cutting down on the amount of food you buy. People waste an incredible amount of food every year. This results in spending more money on food and contributing to the already large landfill problem.
Buying food you need and know you will eat is extremely beneficial. Not just to the environment but also your wallet. Lastly, buy a reusable bag for groceries and general shopping to cut down on the amount of plastic bags.
Money Saving Opportunities
Being aware of what you use and how often you use it is the simplest and sure-fire way to be eco-friendly.
In conclusion, products disposed of quickly or a limited uses, it’s harmful to the environment. Therefore, get products that have a longer lifespan. You are helping eliminate waste and energy while saving the environment. Examples of products with longer lifespans are towels or rags. And let’s not forget those LED light bulbs.
Finally, using rags eliminates the need for paper towels. As well, LED lights have a much longer lifespan than traditional bulbs. Therefore, thrift shopping is another great alternative to save money and energy. Both cause the clothes have already been produced.