It doesn’t matter if you’re paid in tips at a restaurant, hourly in retail, or on an internet marketing consultant’s salary, everybody is looking on ways to save themselves money. With the recent push for everybody to “go green,” there are numerous ways you can save money by saving energy in your home.
Check out these methods for saving green by going green.
1. Buy New Appliances
While this may cost a bit of money up front, buying new appliances is going to save you money up front. Any appliance purchased before the 1990′s are significantly less efficient and can easily rack up utility costs. Buying new appliances with an Energy Star rating use less water and electricity, which is beneficial for saving money.
In addition, a lot of energy companies offer tax credits for purchasing Energy Star appliances, which will also give you some extra cash during income tax season.
2. Plant a Tree
Planting trees, believe it or not, is also going to save you money. By planting trees around your house, you are providing more shade from the sun. This could save you a ton of money on paying to keep your house cool.
3. Slay Vampire Energy
Vampire energy is the energy used when appliances are plugged in but not in use, literally “sucking” the energy out. Small kitchen appliances and electronics chargers are the biggest and most common forms of vampire energy. A lot of people don’t realize how much they are truly paying for electricity they aren’t even using. These costs can be cut simply by unplugging appliances and electronics that are not in use. Or you can purchase “smart” power strips, which cut off electricity when it recognizes that an item is not in use.
4. Say Goodbye to Bottled Water
Bottled water is one of the most impractical ideas ever created. Water is practically free anywhere you go, so when you buy bottled water, you’re actually just paying for the plastic bottle and the cost of the person filling the bottles. You can save extra money by purchasing an aluminum water bottle, which you can take anywhere with you and refill rather than throwing it away to be sent to a landfill somewhere. If you are uncomfortable with drinking the tap water in your home, purchase a water filter. This will also save you money in the long run.
5. Cut the Paper
Paper is the number one most wasted resource in the world, yet is the most easily substituted. Instead of having bills and invoices mailed to you, have them sent to your email. There are a variety of iPhone and Android apps that can also help you cut back on paper by managing calendars and task lists, not to mention giving you driving directions. Also keep a supply of rags and cloths to use as napkins and cleaning supplies so you don’t keep buying paper towels. Cutting back on paper will save a lot of money for you in the long run.
Of course, you should always recycle as many products as your city or local area accepts. Recycling items allows our country to reuse old materials rather than create new ones, which helps the economy. Whether at an individual or national level, going green is the most surefire way to save green.