There is a popular notion that attempting to go green will cost you a fortune. When the truth is quite the reverse, you can go green and save big.

The market is shifting towards more environmentally friendly solutions. People are understanding that becoming green is not only good for the environment but also good for saving money.

Going green is more than a fad. It’s a way of life. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an environmental warrior to make a difference.

Simple changes can have a major impact on your carbon footprint and your wallet. Here are some suggestions to go green and save while at it

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What does it mean to go green?

Going green means making more environmentally conscious decisions in all aspects of your life. By going green, you are attempting to lessen your carbon footprint through activities such as recycling.

Going green demonstrates that everyone can help to preserve the earth in which we live. Happy earth day.

Simple methods to make your lifestyle more environmentally friendly

1. Buy Secondhand

It’s also more environmentally friendly to reuse current items than to buy new ones, which need more resources and energy to produce.

Also, the highest-quality things are often the most expensive, but buying secondhand increases your chances of getting these items at a lesser price.

go green and save

Even large-ticket products, such as automobiles and appliances, can be purchased used.

Buying used reduces the quantity of things that end up in landfills and has an impact on the carbon emissions associated with the production of new products.

You can purchase used items either offline, such as in charity shops, or online, such as on Facebook Market Place, Gumtree, Depop, and eBay.

2. Make the switch to paperless bills and statements.

With so many firms now offering paperless billing choices, it’s a no-brainer to reduce paper waste at home. This will not only benefit the environment, but it will also mean that you will no longer be swamped with unread posts every day!

It’s time to go paperless if you’re still receiving paper bills. To begin, contact your utility and cable companies to create online accounts.

You can conveniently pay your bills and view your statements online from there. You may also set up email alerts to notify you when your invoices are due.

You won’t have to worry about missing a payment or incurring late penalties this way – unless, of course, you don’t check your email!

Going paperless does not have to be limited to bills; it can also include obtaining coupons and deals. If you have a store that sends coupons to your home, examine if they have an electronic version of their mailers. If so, instead of receiving them in paper, sign up for those.

3. Avoid bottled water

Marketing professionals have sold us on the idea that we need bottled water, which has contributed significantly to the tremendous increase in the usage of plastics.

Bottled water is not superior to tap water, this is one area we can quickly go green and save.

You can get a water filter, particularly one that is eco-friendly or refillable, to guarantee that your water is fresh and safe.

You can also get a reusable bottle, fill it with tap water, and carry it with you wherever you go. This is the one I’m using.

4. Donate to Charities

The truth is that practically everything may be sold in a charity shop—so if you give something new a chance, try if you can take it to a charity shop to see if they’ll take it off your hands first. They should be willing to take it off your hands as long as it is in decent condition.

5. Recycle or sell as much as you can.

Recycling is a simple task that most of us can get behind. Unfortunately, we live in a society that frequently has it backwards.

We waste money buying new stuff when recycling is inexpensive and simple to execute enabling us to go green and save in the process

While attitudes toward recycling have recently shifted as more people appreciate the importance of conserving resources and decreasing waste, there is still more work to be done in terms of education.

If you cannot recycle a product, you can sell it to find a new home for it. Visit websites such as Facebook Market Place and eBay.

6. Use reusable products instead of disposables.

By reusing products like cloth grocery bags, cloth rags, and the like, you can be certain that you are minimising waste, lowering your carbon footprint, being more environmentally friendly, and saving money.

7. Make use of Freecycle and Freegle.

Websites such as Freecycle and Freegle are communities of like-minded people who exchange goods and services for free in their own communities. “It’s all about reusing and keeping good stuff out of landfills” says the freecycle website.

These sites are completely free to join, and you can also create your own smaller personal Pals Circle for gifting and lending stuff to only your friends.

It is also a great option to recycle items that aren’t suited for donation to charity shops.

Easy ways to go green at home

Our homes account for around 22% of the UK’s carbon emissions.   Here are some suggestions for becoming green while saving money in your house.

go green and save

8. Get rid of the tumble dryer

Install a clothesline and begin air-drying your garments. You will save money on energy. Even if you don’t have an outside space or during winter, try drying clothes inside on a rack near a window or using a heated airer, which is much cheaper to buy and run.

9. Wash your garments in cold water

The majority of the energy used by your washing machine is used to heat the water for your clothes. Try washing your clothes in cold or warm water to significantly minimise this expense while also using less energy overall.

10. Replace your light bulbs.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) or LED lights should be used instead of incandescent bulbs.

They consume up to 80% less energy and can last up to 25 times longer than standard bulbs, saving you money on your electricity bill and replacement costs.

11. When not in use, unplug electronics.

Many electronic devices, such as televisions, Play station, coffee machines, and so on, continue to consume power even when turned off or in standby mode.

This is known as “phantom load” and it can account for up to 10% of a household’s energy consumption. When not in use, unplug gadgets or plug them into a power strip that can be simply turned off.

12. Purchase a programmable thermostat

You can keep your home cooler during the day when no one is home and programme it to heat up just before you go home so that the house is comfortable at night without running the heater all day.

go green and save

13. Invest in energy-saving appliances

From refrigerators to dishwashers, replacing older equipment with newer, more energy-efficient versions can help you save a lot of money on your electricity costs.

You have the option of doing this all at once or one appliance at a time. If your refrigerator is nearing the end of its useful life, consider replacing it with an energy-efficient one.

14. Wait until you have a full load of laundry to wash

Laundry is one of the most energy-intensive tasks carried out in a typical household. Small loads of laundry are not only wasteful but also costly.

Wait until you have a full load to wash and use cold water instead of hot water whenever possible. Not only will you save money on your electric bill by reducing your energy consumption, but your garments will also last longer

When running the dishwasher, do the same.

15. Change to a 100% green energy provider

If you pay for power (and who doesn’t?), think about switching to a provider that solely employs green energy.

Switching to an energy source that provides 100% green electricity can make a significant difference. By using exclusively wind and solar energy, you automatically reduce your carbon footprint.

According to Ofgem, 86% of UK houses use gas as their principal fuel, which means greenhouse gases are emitted when we turn on our central heating systems.

Green energy suppliers aim to fight this by utilising sustainable sources of energy such as wind and solar power, allowing you to heat your home without contributing to global warming.

So go green and save with one of the UK’s 100% renewable energy suppliers.

How to Go Green While Saving Money on Transportation

16. Work from home

This became more popular as a result of the pandemic. Working from home can do more than just shorten your commute

While working from home is not for everyone, there are many tasks that can be done remotely, and the perks are considerable.

In addition to saving money on gasoline, you may limit the amount of miles driven in a year, lowering your carbon footprint and extending the life of your vehicle.

17. Change your mode of transportation

Transportation is the biggest drain on our money and the environment. Our cars cause a variety of problems, from traffic bottlenecks to pollution.

You can reduce these issues by altering your mode of transportation:

Instead of driving, walk or ride your bike. You don’t have to buy a bike or start jogging to help, but choosing alternate modes of transportation wherever possible can help.

For instance, if your neighbourhood grocery store is close by, walk there once or twice a week.

Instead of driving, take public transportation. Better still, consider carpooling with friends or coworkers to save money while also helping the environment.

The government’s Cycle to Work scheme provides money off a new bike and accessories and is run by participating firms through salary-sacrifice contracts.

18. Electric Vehicle

Transport accounts for 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

To address this, the government is pushing people to switch to electric vehicles in advance of a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK by 2030.

If possible, go green and save by purchasing an electric vehicle. They emit no exhaust emissions and cost less than gasoline-powered vehicles even when you factor in the initial costs.

How to Go Green While Saving Money on Food

19. Meal planning

Going green entails more than simply eating “healthy”; it also involves decreasing food waste

Every year, we throw away tonnes of food and utterly disregard the sustainability of our resources.

The good news is that there are numerous strategies to reduce waste in your own household, with meal planning being one of the most effective.

You’ll have an easier time remembering to plan ahead and eat healthier by employing meal plans for each week of the year.

20. Grow Your Own

Growing your own fruits and veggies is an excellent way to save money while eating better. You can select almost any type of produce you can imagine, and you’ll know exactly what’s going into your food.

There are various possibilities for growing your food, ranging from those who have enough space to those who don’t.

Encourage everyone you know to adopt a green lifestyle.

21. Involve Everyone You Know

You can involve your entire family in the process by spreading the word about becoming green and saving money.

You’ll not only have a lot of fun, but you’ll also be able to teach members of your family how to live well while spending less.

You can also form a group with other like-minded people who want to go green and save money so that you can all achieve your goals together. It’s a terrific way to meet new people and learn about the environment.

Also share this post with all of your contacts to encourage them to go green and save for the sake of their health, wallets, and the planet.

22. Purchase environmentally friendly gifts

When it comes to finding the perfect gift, think “eco-friendly”? consider being more environmentally conscious and purchasing an eco-friendly item.

Bottom Line

To be ecologically conscious, you don’t have to be a tree-hugging hippie.

It’s good for the environment and good for your budget, and almost everyone can make basic changes in their daily lives without having to reinvent the wheel or go overboard. It’s time for a green revolution, so spread the word!

Further Reading

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