One of the most pervasive myths of modern society is that making green choices as a consumer is expensive. The idea that reducing the amount of waste will lead to further costs is an absurd but persistent one. Some green living choices using new technologies will cost a lot on the front end, including the installation of renewable energy sources, but even these higher cost options will actually save money in the long run.
Still, most people do not have the cash resources to make expensive purchases no matter how much they could save with them. The good news is that there are many eco-friendly solutions that will cost much less. With enough small changes, it may even be possible to set aside the funds needed for larger ones later. Getting started is easier than you might imagine.
Replacing Expensive Cleaners
It is possible to replace many common household items with far cheaper options. One example is shampoo. The cost of shampoo is rather low per bottle, but it adds up throughout the year to hundreds of dollars, especially for people with lots of hair. Store-bought shampoo, even so-called natural varieties, typically contains petroleum-based and hard-to-pronounce chemicals.
An easy and cheap solution that will also be better for the scalp and hair is available. Pure Castile soap can be mixed with water and oil to make a shampoo at a fraction of the cost. There are many recipes, and the shampoo can be personalized by using an essential oil of your favorite herb. Most cleaning products can be replaced with recipes using cheap items, such as baking soda, citrus peel and juice, and vinegar.
Natural Heating and Cooling
Investing in a geothermal HVAC unit can reduce energy costs of heating and cooling by as much as 70 percent. These systems can also provide hot water at a fraction of the cost of running a traditional hot water heater. Making that investment is not necessary to start saving money and reducing your impact on the planet now.
A good start is to reduce reliance on the existing unit. Dressing appropriately for the season and installing fans are good choices. Keeping appropriate beverages for the season on hand, such as mint tea during the summer and rosemary tea during the winter, will help regulate your internal thermostat for additional savings. Updating the weather-proofing and keeping up with basic maintenance for the HVAC unit will increase efficiency and reduce repair bills.
Water Matters
The lawn and the toilet are common sources of waste, and wasting water is expensive. Older toilets use around five gallons of water per flush, and this can be reduced by displacing water in the tank with a brick. Leaks are sometimes hard to spot, and they add up to monumental waste. An easy solution is to put food dye in the tank and observe to see whether it enters the toilet.
Traditional lawns require frequent watering in the dry heat of summer, and there are two ways to reduce the amount of water used. The first is through modifying the application of water. Set the sprinkler to water during early morning only, and adjust sprinklers to avoid watering the street or sidewalks. Another option is to plant the yard in a drought-tolerant cover, such as thyme, sedum and phlox.
This is only a small taste of eco-friendly choices that will also save money. Green living is possible for anyone, and wise choices will pay for themselves.
Andrew Greene is a freelance writer and blogs for debtmanagement.org.uk a site he likes to recommend after they helped him recover from being buried in debt through debt management.