As more and more studies come out showing the effects of climate change on our planet, many people have started making everyday modifications to reverse some of these effects, particularly at home. With so many new eco-friendly and sustainable options to choose from, one might wonder how cost-effective going green is.
The cost of “greenifying" a house can be daunting to those on a budget. Products that are more sustainable are notorious for being more expensive and green renovations can add up quickly, especially if you have an older house.
However, there are still plenty of ways to commit to having a more eco-friendly home, without breaking the bank. Here are a few tips to help get you started:
Commit to Better Habits
It’s understandable to be both concerned about you and your home’s impact on the Earth yet needing to be cost-effective in your efforts. Regardless of your budget, there are still a lot of effective green practices that can save you money in the long run, which will certainly compensate for any money spent initially. Moreover, these practices don’t have to be as costly as some people imagine.
Budgeting gurus at Fiscal Tiger list some great, affordable ways to go green:
Reduce Energy Use: As hard as it might be to admit, your father had a valid point about leaving the lights on when no one was in the room. Reducing the energy our household consumes not only helps lower the monthly bill but when less energy is consumed, so is the amount of toxic fumes released by power plants. Turning off the lights behind you, turning the water heater down a few degrees, and even using the AC less in the summer can all help reduce your household’s impact.
Reduce Water Use: Similar to the power bill, limiting your use of water can help keep your water bill manageable and also save more of the limited, precious resource. Shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets, and turning the water off while brushing teeth and doing the dishes certainly helps. You can also reduce your indirect water consumption by eating less meat and buying more sustainable clothing.
Green Gardening: Making the switch to native plants as well as less grass in your yard means less water consumption (without sacrificing your home’s curb appeal). Moreover, more plants and trees in the yard often result in better shade for your home, which will lead to less energy used cooling it down on those hot sunny days.
These green practices don't really cost much and they can help reduce your footprint. They’re also easy habits to pick up and everyone in the family can contribute. Of course, there are even more ways to live more eco-friendly.
Think Outside the Box
Converting your home and lifestyle to be more eco-friendly takes time and money. Most people can’t afford green upgrades like energy-efficient appliances or new roof solar-panels all at once. It’s a progression that can take months, perhaps even years. In the meantime though, you can still make plenty of eco-friendly choices around your house. Going green on a home budget can look like switching to natural cleaning products, such as white vinegar, in place of harmful household chemicals, or wasteful products like wet wipes.
Recycling is also extremely important and in most cities, easy to do. However, it’s equally important to reduce and reuse. Finding more than one use for old pasta sauce jars, putting old newspapers to use when cleaning, and more can significantly reduce the amount of waste coming out of your house. Bring jars with you to the grocery store and use them as rice, bean, pasta, and even peanut butter containers.
Take more trips to the thrift store when you’re in need of new home decor, dishware, and clothing. Even if it takes a while to renovate your home to be more eco-friendly, in the meantime get creative and you’ll still be able to do your part to take better care of Mother Nature.
At the end of the day, don’t let your budget scare you away from investing in more green home improvements and habits. A cleaner home makes for a cleaner environment, meaning when we take the steps to take care of our planet, it’ll continue taking care of us.
Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.
