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Can I Afford to go Green?There has been a lot of buzz in recent years surrounding green
living. Designer Organic cotton and bamboo clothes, hybrid cars,
solar powered homes – all these products might give the impression
that a green living is just another exclusive lifestyle. Not so. The
cornerstone to living green is consuming less – exactly the opposite
of the trendy green lifestyle that is sometimes advertised. With a
little research you will discover that going green can actually save
you money.
If you are concerned about the environment and are interested in
living in a more environmentally conscious way, now is the time to
start. Sure, it will take some adjustments, but living a green will
be beneficial for your children’s future while having a positive
impact on your finances now. Here are some tips on how to live a
green lifestyle on a budget. |
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Eat locally. Eating locally produced foods cut down on your
carbon footprint, and since the foods will be in season, and
won’t be shipped long distances, they should be less expensive
than imported foods. |
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Reuse. Buying pre-owned clothes and other goods is an
important way to cut down on consumption while at the same time
saving money. Look on Craigslist, eBay, and at local resale
stores, as well as garage sales, and through family and friends,
for used items in good condition. |
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Drink tap water instead of bottled. Get everyone in your
family a reusable water bottle, and get in the habit of filling
them every morning before leaving the house. The creation and
disposal of plastic water bottles has a huge negative impact on
the environment. Purchasing bottled water is a costly habit that
can result in big savings once broken. |
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Consider your commute. Commuting to work can be a huge drain
on your time, energy, and bank account. Though making a shift to
working from home, looking for work closer to where you live (or
moving closer to where you can work), and commuting in a more
sustainable manner are some of the biggest green adjustments you
might make, they will also result in the biggest payoff, both
environmentally and financial. If now is not the right time to
make any of these big changes, keep them on the backburner for
any future adjustments your family might be able to make. |
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Consume less. If you are able to repair or repurpose
something you already own, borrow from a friend or family member,
or simply do without, you will be well on your way to living
greenly. Consuming less is one of the cornerstones of green
living – and, conveniently, of living on a budget. |
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Use green cleaning supplies. These don’t have to be expensive
specialty products purchased at a health food store. You can make
green products at home for pennies, and save on packaging waste
by reusing bottles you already own. Vinegar is one of the best
all-natural cleaners. A half-cup of white vinegar diluted in a
gallon of water and stored in a spray makes an excellent
all-purpose cleaner for most surfaces. A quick search on the
internet will turn up dozens of recipes for home-made natural
cleaners. |
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Concentrate on saving energy at home. There are dozens of
ways to save energy and money at home – it would be a worthwhile
investment to research how your family can save. |
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Here are some of the top, no-cost ways you can save: |
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Use cold water to wash your clothes. |
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Line dry clothes outside in summer and air dry inside in
winter. Placed on radiators or hung in a warm, sunny room, your
clothes should be dry in a few hours. |
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Lower your water heater to 120, and turn your thermostat down
a few degrees in winter. |
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Fix all leaky faucets, toilets, and shower head. |
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Some low-cost investments that will save on your energy bill
include: |
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Getting a home audit to asses how much home your energy uses
and how you can make your home more energy efficient. Though a
professional home auditor will have access to equipment that you
don’t (such as an infrared camera and blower doors to test for
leaks), with a little research you can do a home audit yourself. |
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Insulate: Insulating windows, your attic, and leaky doors can
all result in substantial savings in heat. You can also insulate
around your hot water heater. |
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Install a programmable thermostat that allows you to lower
your heat automatically at times when you family is out of the
house (perhaps during working hours) and while sleeping. |
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Install energy efficient showerheads. |
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Teach your kids the importance of green living. When they are
old enough, start encouraging your kids to re-use scraps of paper
and recycle what they can’t reuse, to turn off lights and
electronics when not in use, and to conserve energy in the shower
and when brushing teeth. As a family, enjoy whole foods prepared
from local ingredients rather than prepared or pre-packaged
foods. Lastly, get your kids in the habit of commuting by foot or
bike whenever possible, and make travelling in an eco-friendly
way a family pastime: bike and walk together as a family. |
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Use these tips as a diving board into the green living movement.
With a little research and some small adjustments at home, you can
be contributing to a healthy future for your children while saving
money.
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