Frugal tips for sustainable living
It’s not easy being green. Every day we make choices that impact the environment and on Earth Day — celebrated globally April 22 — conservationists remind us why it's important to care for the planet.
Those who strive to be kinder to the Earth and live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle year-round may find that living green can require a lot of green.
Sustainable products — clothing, cars, personal care products and more — can be 75 to 85 percent more expensive than conventional counterparts, according to a study by global management consulting firm Kearney. For many, the gap between prices and what the mass market will tolerate is too wide to be considered feasible.
Environmentally friendly goods are more expensive compared to their conventional counterparts for several reasons. They can be more difficult and costly to create. A lack of demand and market exclusivity can also keep prices high.
The thing is, saving the planet and saving money aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. You can go green and save green. Here are some small money-saving, ecofriendly strategies to pad your wallet and protect the environment.
Ditch the disposables: Consider all the ways you can eliminate extra waste beyond water bottles. Do you bring your lunch to work? Opt for a lunch sack and reusable containers, rather than sandwich bags and paper bags. Drink coffee? Go with a permanent filter rather than paper.
Cut back on water consumption: Cut your water usage and you’ll immediately slash your water bill. In the bathroom, shorten the length of your shower, don’t leave the water running when you brush your teeth and install a lowflow shower head or aerator. To save money when doing laundry, set your washing machine to use cold water rather than hot or warm water, and be sure to only wash full loads.
Reduce food waste: One third of the food in the United States is never eaten, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Consumable waste winds up in landfills, increasing methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. To reduce waste and save money, take inventory of your fridge before you head to the grocery store, shop with a list, stick to it and buy what you need and eat what you buy. You can also create a meal plan and consider recipes you can
prepare with leftovers.
Make your own cleaning supplies: Pass on costly chemicals and concoct your own, all-natural cleaning products. A natural disinfectant and deodorizer, white vinegar can be used as an all-purpose cleaner to shine countertops, cut grease and remove stains. Lemon juice can be used on cooking surfaces to remove germs. You can also use the fruit to remove stains from clothing and brighten whites.
Bulb swap: If every American home replaced just one conventional light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes a year, according to the EPA.
Consider composting: Create valuable fertilizer by composting food scraps and kitchen waste. Your soil will absorb its nutrients, plus you’ll save money on fertilizer and reduce the amount of waste you put to the curb, which could save you money if you pay for trash disposal.
Meat-free Mondays: Meatless Monday is an international campaign that encourages people to not eat meat on Mondays to improve their health and the health of the planet. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly onefifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide. Not only that, an estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into making a single pound of beef.
Shop secondhand: Buying secondhand clothing, shoes, furniture and housewares will not only save you money, but reduce waste. When you purchase a product that already exists you're extending its life cycle. If you're looking to pocket extra cash, you can sell castoff clothing and other goods to local or online consignors.