While many of us may have the desire to take part in the green movement, sometimes being green can cost a lot of money. However, the good news is there are ways to keep the environment in mind without putting out a lot of cash.
Below are four tips for going green that don’t cost very much money at all. They are simple, eco-conscious and wallet friendly.
Reduce your energy consumption. One of the easiest ways to save on money is to make sure you aren’t using your heating or cooling too much. By keeping your thermostat at a reasonable temperature, you can save a lot of extra money each month. You can also save on energy by making sure unused appliances are turned off and lights in unoccupied rooms are not on.
Conserve as much water as possible. Again, this will help your monthly bills while helping you go green. You can shorten the length of your showers and/or baths and install low-flow toilets to make sure you are reducing the amount of water you use each day.
Carpool, bike or walk. While the ideal way of so-called “green” transportation is to purchase a hybrid vehicle, the reality is that most of us cannot afford to go out today and purchase an electric car. Until you are able to make that kind of decision, an easier and less expensive way to go from point A to point B while reducing your carbon footprint is to walk, bike or carpool with friends.
Avoid disposable plates, utensils and cups. Even though using disposable items in the kitchen will save you the time and water it takes to wash dishes, in the long run, it is better to not use those disposable materials. Once you are done with them, they will likely end up in a landfill and contribute to pollution. Instead, use regular plates, utensils, cups, water bottles and coffee tumblers. If you are worried about how much water you use to wash these items, just make sure you run the dishwasher on a full cycle. Not purchasing disposable items on a regular basis will also save you money.
Jennifer Griffin, Contributing Writer and Public Relations, GreeningDetroit.com
Jennifer is pursuing a degree in Journalism and English from Wayne State University, and she is also a Contributing Writer for The South End.
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