5 Simple Green Living and Money-Saving Tips
The problem with many 'money-saving' environmental tips is that they save money only in the long run: you often have to spend quite a bit of money up front before you begin to earn it back in savings.
But one of the best things you can do for the planet is also one of the easiest on your wallet: stop buying bottled water! The cost of energy, use of oil and the pollution from the production of plastic bottles and the addition of so much plastic to landfills is a huge, unnecessary drain on our natural resources.
What's more there is evidence that plastic bottles can release residues which have unknown health consequences.
To top it all off, many water companies simply bottle tap water--so you are often paying money for resources you have literally 'on tap' at home.
Now that you've stopped adding so many plastic bottles to your trash, what about plastic bags? Using reusable cloth bags instead of paper or plastic will make a big difference.
But what if you can't remember or don't want to go that far? Well, you could simply recycle your plastic bags when you're done.
Or, stop buying plastic trash bags! Use your grocery bags as garbage liners.
That way you save money and reuse your grocery bags at the same time.
Another simple, money-saving tip: use less paper.
Instead of buying paper books, buy e-books.
If you hate to read on the computer, consider investing in a kindle from amazon or another e-book reader.
The newer ones are well designed to have the look and feel of a real book and to be easy on the eyes.
Sign up for paper-less billing and keep your records permanently on discs or hard drives.
Use single-ply, unbleached toilet paper and cloth rather than paper towels.
Weather-stripping your doors and windows is another way to save energy - and money.
Weather-stripping is inexpensive and easy to install.
You can find it any home-improvement store.
Such stores may also offer instruction if you're not handy and are uncertain how to work with the materials they sell.
Finally, save water by putting aerators on all your faucets.
These are easy to attach and mix air with water.
It saves water, but doesn't change the water pressure.
Just this one small change can save you up to 280 gallons of water per month.
But one of the best things you can do for the planet is also one of the easiest on your wallet: stop buying bottled water! The cost of energy, use of oil and the pollution from the production of plastic bottles and the addition of so much plastic to landfills is a huge, unnecessary drain on our natural resources.
What's more there is evidence that plastic bottles can release residues which have unknown health consequences.
To top it all off, many water companies simply bottle tap water--so you are often paying money for resources you have literally 'on tap' at home.
Now that you've stopped adding so many plastic bottles to your trash, what about plastic bags? Using reusable cloth bags instead of paper or plastic will make a big difference.
But what if you can't remember or don't want to go that far? Well, you could simply recycle your plastic bags when you're done.
Or, stop buying plastic trash bags! Use your grocery bags as garbage liners.
That way you save money and reuse your grocery bags at the same time.
Another simple, money-saving tip: use less paper.
Instead of buying paper books, buy e-books.
If you hate to read on the computer, consider investing in a kindle from amazon or another e-book reader.
The newer ones are well designed to have the look and feel of a real book and to be easy on the eyes.
Sign up for paper-less billing and keep your records permanently on discs or hard drives.
Use single-ply, unbleached toilet paper and cloth rather than paper towels.
Weather-stripping your doors and windows is another way to save energy - and money.
Weather-stripping is inexpensive and easy to install.
You can find it any home-improvement store.
Such stores may also offer instruction if you're not handy and are uncertain how to work with the materials they sell.
Finally, save water by putting aerators on all your faucets.
These are easy to attach and mix air with water.
It saves water, but doesn't change the water pressure.
Just this one small change can save you up to 280 gallons of water per month.
