Eco-Friendly Living Tips for Going Green at Home

Kermit the Frog famously said “It’s not easy being green,” but we beg to differ. Green living at home can become second-nature if you start implementing some easy, eco-friendly living tips right now.

Your Green Living Guide to Saving Money (and the Planet)

For environmentally-friendly living, lots of tiny changes are all it takes.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Instead of relying on plastic shopping bags to carry your purchases home, bring your own bags instead. Invest in large totes you can use over and over at every store, and just say “no” to plastic waste.

Heading to the coffee shop for your favorite brew? Bring your own mug or travel cup. Many shops will give you a discount for saving a tree and skipping a paper vessel.

Purchase a recycling bin and fill it with your empty plastic containers, paper, and cardboard instead of tossing these in the trash.

Additionally, large yogurt and other dairy containers can be washed when empty and re-used for storage: they’re great for pet food, craft supplies, and leftovers. Additionally, put shallow containers without the lids in drawers to help with organization.

2. Save Electricity, Water, and Fuel

A few small habit changes can help save you money and reduce energy waste.

In the car, lower your speed. The faster you go, the quicker fuel gets consumed. Even going five miles-per-hour slower can save money.

To save water, don’t run the dishwasher if it’s half empty. Fill it up, because the machine can wash all of those dishes far more efficiently, with much less water, than your hand-washing.

Prevent the phenomenon known as “phantom power draw” by not only switching off your electronics, but also unplugging them from the wall. Or, buy a power strip and plug your TV, computer, and other media players into it. At night, switch the whole thing off to save electricity (and money on your next bill).

Don’t leave the water running while brushing your teeth. Turn the tap off to save gallons of water per day.

Save more energy by switching out your old halogen bulbs to Energy Star-rated lightbulbs.

3. Other Eco-Friendly Living Ideas

These extra tips can take your eco-consciousness to another level:

When you can, buy organic produce. The organic label means that the crops were raised sustainably, conserving energy and water without depleting the soil.

Spring and fall are excellent times to open the windows vs. turning on the air conditioner. In fact, whenever it’s a fine day, no matter the season, turn off the heat or AC and save some money while inviting fresh air into your home.

Wash your laundry in cold water to give the water heater a break and save energy on every load. Lots of laundry detergent brands now make special “cold water” formulas if you’re worried about your clothes not getting clean enough.

Saving Energy and Going Green Can Be Simple

Eco-friendly living doesn’t have to be a chore. Implement these little changes throughout your daily life and watch the savings add up – for both your wallet and for the planet.