Our planet’s environment is on everyone’s mind these days, but how can you make a difference – you can go green at home. Many of us recycle and conserve in many ways already, but it’s very easy to do additional things that can make you “green,” too. And there are other advantages to going green besides the benefits to the environment. Going green can actually save you money. that’s right – money added to your pocket while helping the environment. It just takes a few few minor adjustments to enjoy the benefits going green.
One of the big ways you can save energy costs and go green relates to the energy it takes to cool and heat your home. If you set your thermostat to 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and to 25 degrees Celsius or 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, you’ll conserve energy and save money on your energy bills simultaneously and instantly be on your way to a greener lifestyle. You can also save energy costs if you can create shade in the summer at the west and east ends of your home by planting a tree that will cover your home or adding additional shades inside your windows. This can keep your indoor temperature several degrees cooler while the sun is at its hottest in the morning and afternoon.
If you cook early in the day before the temperature is at its hottest or late in the day after it has cooled down, this will also reduce your energy needs because heat won’t be trapped inside your home, thus reducing your dependence on air conditioning. You can also use ceiling fans to circulate the air and help keep it from becoming too hot. But remember – only use fans when you are in the room – they don’t do much if you are not in the room while the fans are going. Reducing our use of plastic bags is another way we can have a positive impact on the environment and go green. Polyethylene plastic bags like those that are commonly used at the grocery stores are made with petroleum. 100 billion plastic bags are thrown away every year, and their disposal creates a significant strain on the environment. Buying reusable cloth grocery bags for just a few dollars each can have a very positive impact on the environment because youare reducing your use of plastic bags and therefore their impact on the environment. Plastic water bottles also cause significant damage to the environment because they are not biodegradable; they spend years and years in landfills. Do your part to keep this from happening by buying every member of your family their own reusable water bottle and then filling it with tap water from home. (If you’re concerned about the quality of your own tap water for drinking purposes, filtration systems are still a very environmentally responsible and economic way to drink your tap water from home.)
Another negative impact on the environment is the carbon emissions caused by so many cars on the road and the resulting air pollution. Here, again, you can do your part to reduce those carbon emissions and your own expenditures on fuel costs by using public transportation or carpooling whenever you can, if you must take motorized transportation someplace. This will save you hundreds to thousands of dollars every year. For short distances, instead of taking the car, consider riding a bicycle or walking to get where you need to go. This is a very good form of exercise and again, is a great way to cut fuel emissions and fuel costs, too. As the demand for fossil fuels decreases, fuel prices themselves will drop and save you money even during those times you must drive. If you’re about to remodel your home, bypass the hardwood flooring and instead install bamboo flooring. Bamboo flooring is environmentally friendly because it is self-replenishing and produces a high yield. The bamboo matures in six to eight years, versus the 50 to 100 years it takes the trees necessary for hardwood floors to mature. And when you install your bamboo flooring, use glues that don’t contain formaldehyde, which is very toxic. Finally, dispense with paper bills whenever you can and use electronic bill paying instead. Many companies will in fact give discounts if you pay your bills electronically and opt out of getting paper bills in favor of electronic ones.
When you must use paper products, choose recycled paper products, so that fewer paper waste products and up in landfills. In addition, choose paper products that have not been bleached, since the bleaching process is toxic to the environment. It’s true that some people believe in going green can be difficult, but it’s actually not difficult to do so once you know how. If you go green, you can rest easy knowing that you’ve done your part to help the environment, and you’ll save some money at the same time.
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