Cost-effective and environmentally friendly don’t always seem to go hand in hand. However, with a bit of creativity, there are many ways to achieve both.
To learn how to save money while going green, read our six tips below and check out this website for eco-friendly, cost-effective solutions.
1. Shop around
Shopping around can help save both money and the environment. Look for stores offering discounts, deals, or coupons and that use environmentally-friendly products; shop locally when possible, as this reduces air pollution while supporting local jobs.
Lastly, avoid products containing single-use plastics; bring your reusable coffee mug to Starbucks, order takeout using cloth napkins instead of paper ones when dining out, and avoid purchasing bottled water as steps towards change.
Opting for second-hand goods can help the environment while saving money, as this reduces carbon emissions associated with manufacturing new items and shipping them around the globe.
Furthermore, if your hobby requires specific tools that cost a lot, borrowing them from friends or neighbors might be more sustainable and save on wasted resources.
2. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs
Lighting can have a significant effect on your monthly bills and your carbon footprint. Opt for energy-efficient light bulbs and lighting.
One 18W CFL bulb can prevent more than half a ton of CO2 emissions from being released into the atmosphere over its lifespan. What’s more is that this saves you almost $45 annually by replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with CFLs.
At most significant stores, you’ll be able to find energy-efficient light bulbs available for purchase. Although these cost more upfront than regular incandescent bulbs, their longer lifespan and reduced energy use more than offset this initial expense – not to mention helping reduce global greenhouse gas emissions!
Switch to LED bulbs for maximum savings potential and environmental benefit; these produce 40-80 lumens per watt of power consumption.
3. Go paperless
As a business owner, you understand the frustration of working with paper documents can be. They cost money to print and file, take up office space, and can easily become lost or damaged.
Going paperless can help cut costs and help the environment. Production of paper products contributes to deforestation and emissions that contribute to climate change.
Though eliminating all paper from life or business may be impossible, there are still ways you can reduce its use. One approach is using digital signature systems instead of printed documents for meetings or training sessions and online collaborative tools for meetings and training sessions.
Eliminating paper costs while saving on printer and ink cartridge costs and saving space by enabling employees to work remotely or from home.
4. Compost your food
Food scraps and yard waste comprise a large percentage of garbage sent to landfills, where they rot away to produce methane, an extremely potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Composting can divert these materials from landfills by turning them into an invaluable soil additive known as humus.
Start off by keeping a food scrap bucket in your kitchen and adding to it as you make meals. These four to five-gallon buckets can be found at hardware stores as well as some grocery and wholesale stores; line it with newspapers to prevent fruit flies or gnats from nesting there!
Composting at home allows you to utilize its rich humus in your garden or planters around your house for maximum results. Compost contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace minerals, ensuring strong plant and flower growth.
5. Recycle your waste
As simple steps such as buying reusable shopping bags or using sustainable coffee mugs to reduce waste and recycle more products are taken, the energy that would have otherwise gone towards producing new products can be saved.
Paper products such as magazines, cardboard boxes and mail should never be in the trash; recycling them saves trees and aids the environment.
Recycling plastics and metals such as cans and foil saves tremendous energy; producing new products using recycled material requires much less energy than finding, mining, and transporting raw materials.
Keep in mind, however, that not all recyclables are created equal. Be mindful of your guidelines and prevent your bins from becoming contaminated – one dirty product could ruin an entire batch and send them directly to landfills.
6. Other ways to reduce your carbon footprint
Your daily choices affect our environment. From how you travel and eat to the amount of energy consumed in your home, each activity leaves its carbon footprint – which, the larger its scale is, puts more stress on our planet. It’s the little things that add up over time. Using reusable plates and utensils, buying local over imported and more.
Switching from gas-powered vehicles to electric ones is another powerful way to reduce carbon emissions. EVs generate only half the pollution traditional cars create while being much easier on your wallet.