Tips for a Greener Lifestyle

As the call for climate change gets louder, more and more Americans are trying to live more sustainable lives. But while they certainly mean well, many of us end up spending more than we should for “greener” options. You don’t need to spend an extra $10 for an eco-friendly chair; in fact, it should be the other way around. Here are ten ways you can live a greener lifestyle and save money at the same time.

Build a garden. The average American family spends $200 a week on groceries, most of it on food products. Growing your own produce can slash a quick $50 off your expenses, not to mention giving you more control over your stock. You can even give your kids a small patch where they can do their own gardening.

Cut the meat. It takes tons of food, water, and electricity to keep meat factories running. If you can’t give up meat completely, replace at least one meat dish with a vegetarian one. At the grocery store, look for organically grown meat—they’re fed more natural food that doesn’t cost as much to grow.

Buy locally. The ingredients for an average American dinner travel more than 20,000 miles before they get to your table. That’s a lot of gas. Buy locally grown food—it’s fresher, cheaper, and has a lower ecological impact.

Use your own bags. Thousands of trees are cut down just to make those paper bags they use in supermarkets. Next time you shop, bring your own reusable bag. You can line the inside with a thick cloth if you’re buying wet produce.

Choose items with less packaging. How many plastic wrappers do you throw away after a trip to the mall? Most of them end up in landfills, clogging the waterways and poisoning the soil. All things being equal go for the item with less or more eco-friendly packaging.

Drive slowly. If you can’t afford a hybrid car, you can still reduce your oil consumption by driving more slowly. Studies show that for small cars, slowing from 70 to 50 mph can lower your gas usage by as much as 30%. Try to stay 10 to 15 mph below the speed limit on motorways.

Walk or cycle. Instead of driving to the local market for quick errands, take your bike or go on foot. Not only does it save on gas, it’s also easier to park. When going to work, park a few blocks from your building and walk the rest of the way.

Maximize power. Dishwashers use the same amount of energy whether there’s one dish or ten. Turn it on only when there’s a full load, instead of turning it on and off to wash two or three at a time. The same goes with your other devices. Computers, for example, need a large boost of power to start up. If you’re leaving for half an hour, it’s better to put it on standby than turn it off.

Use natural light. In the daytime, throw open your windows and let in the sun. Sometimes natural light is enough to illuminate a whole room, so you don’t need to turn on your lights until it gets dark. If you do need to install bulbs, go for compact fluorescent lighting (CFL)—they’re twice as bright but half as wasteful.

Recycle. Next time you need something replaced, look around your home and see if there’s something you can use. Take an old bottle and use it as a vase, or polish a broken door and use it as a tabletop. With a little creativity, you can turn your junk into something valuable.