Eco Friendly Living

While all the talk about going green can be overwhelming at times, it really is easy in most cases to go green, and it does not need to cost a lot of money. Here are some inexpensive things you can do to GO GREEN.  

Purchase a couple of organic tote bags and take with you shopping. Now you can pass up those plastic bags and help the environment. How about those bottled waters you keep purchasing at $1.00 or more per bottle. Why not purchase a reusable water bottle and fill it before you leave. This not only helps the environment, but will also save you a lot of money.

Stop washing clothes in hot water. Today’s detergents are able to clean clothes in warm, even cold water settings. This will save you money. Speaking of detergents, it’s time to make the switch to green detergents. In the past the selection was not good and hard to find, but now you can find eco friendly detergents everywhere.

The same is true with your everyday cleaners you use around the house. There is a good selection to choose from and they are easy to find. If your store does not stock them, just look to the internet. Even Windex has an eco friendly version of their glass cleaner. 

While I understand that paper towels have a place and use, we need to as much as possible stop using paper towels and switch to reusable microfiber towels. This is a huge money saver and great for trees. 

Also good for the trees would be if everyone stopped using toilet paper (regular that is), using recycled toilet paper helps the environment and does not hurt your budget. 

As your light bulbs burn out, instead of replacing them with just another light bulb, install new energy efficient CFL’s and LED bulbs. Yes, these bulbs cost more, but they will result in lower energy bills and will last for years. In the long run this is a huge savings for you. 

Recycle, recycle, recycle. We have all heard this before, but still only a small percentage is actually doing this.  

Purchase water saving shower heads and faucets. So much water is wasted in homes every day that does not need to be. The savings will eventually pay for the cost, making the net cost negligible.

With regards to water, here is one item that does have a large upfront cost, but in the long run will definitely save huge amounts on your water heating costs. Tankless water heaters are the efficient, green, money saving way to heat your water. Tankless water heaters can also help in the value of your home should you decide to sell. If your hot water tank is more than 10 years old, I would consider this option. 

Rechargeable batteries are possibly one of the most underused money saving and landfill saving, easy to use items today. These batteries can and will save you money. Today you can even purchase a solar battery charger for your rechargeable batteries, making them even more energy efficient, resulting in more savings for you. 

These are just a few of the many things you can do to help the environment and help your budget as well.