3 Different Ways To Save Green By Going Green

Whether or not you think that climate change is an issue in today’s day and age, there’s no denying that there are things you can do to help the environment that can also help to save you money. Here are some ideas:

1. Consider the priority of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Many well-meaning environmentalists think that recycling is the end-all, be-all of going green, but it’s actually lowest on the list of priorities when it comes to preserving resources. Don’t get me wrong, recycle what you can, but it’s actually better to not even use the material in the first place. A few ways this applies:

  • Grocery shopping bags – Paper is definitely better than plastic because you can recycle paper easier, but even better is bringing your own bags. Not only is it better for the environment, but it will most likely save you money – most grocery stores give a discount for bringing your own bag and many cities are starting to tax bags as well! Here in Chicago, that’s $.12 per bag I save due to the $.07 tax and $.05 discount. (I keep my bags by the door in a cute bin, and also try to keep one in my purse and in my car in case I forget.)
  • Clothing – I’ve had little success shopping at thrift stores, but I’ve had great success selling to places like Buffalo Exchange or Plato’s Closet as well as using apps like Poshmark or thredUP to sell and exchange clothing, especially stuff I can’t wear anymore but that’s still in great shape. Sure, I could donate that stuff but a lot of it gets thrown away anyway or shipped overseas. Why not ensure it’s actually reused and also make some cash in the meantime (or save some if you’re buying)?
  • Glass jars – Many years ago when I lead a committee that started a recycling program for local bars in Cincinnati, I was surprised to learn that the reason more bars don’t recycle is that recycling plants don’t want all that glass – it actually takes about the same amount of resources to recycle glass as it does to make it new from sand. While it’s still better to put your used glass in a recycling bin over a landfill, consider re-purposing glass jars in your house as food storage containers. It’s better for your wallet (no need to buy containers) and even better for your health as reheating something in plastic may lead to increased cancer risk, while glass does not “leach” into your food when heated.

2. Compost, even if you don’t have a yard

I’ll admit that this one takes a little more commitment, but if you had told me 5 years ago when we moved into our condo that I’d have a thriving colony of worms that produces literally pounds of “black caviar” each year in my office, I’d definitely have given you a strange look. And yet here we are, and unless I pointed it out to you, you wouldn’t even know – it doesn’t smell and it’s totally contained in a storage tote.

Besides the obvious impact of keeping food out of the landfill, there are some financial benefits to this green practice:

  • I don’t have to buy dirt when it comes time to plant my summer garden, I just mix some compost in with last year’s dirt
  • It helps me grow healthier flowers and produce, so I don’t have to replace dead plants
  • I’m actually able to grow some produce in containers, which means I don’t have to buy basil, tomatoes, cucumbers or spinach for awhile
  • Less trash = less trash bags needed and less trash service
  • It’s a safe place to recycle shredded documents (remember that scene from Argo where they pieced the shredded photographs back together? Obviously I’m not that paranoid, but still…)
  • If I wanted to, I could actually sell my compost – we have a neighbor who sells hers for $20 per 8 ounces (did I mention ours is in a 15 gallon container? That’s almost $5k in worm poop!)

3. Turn off the lights and water and beware vampire energy

This one might seem old-fashioned, but even in today’s age of Compact Fluorescent light bulbs, there’s still merit in turning off the lights when you leave the room, let alone turning off the water when you’re brushing your teeth. 

Vampire energy is a newer term, which refers to electronics that continue to pull power, even when they are off. For example, your Keurig, which keeps water hot all the time in standby mode, or your DVR which is always in ready mode to record the next episode of your favorite show. I’m not suggesting you unplug everything all the time, but knowing what leaches power, such as your printer which probably doesn’t need to be on standby all the time, or your electric toothbrush, which you might only need to plug in every 4th night to recharge, can save power and money. 

And when you’re going out of town for awhile? Take a minute to walk around and unplug things like your wireless router, your smart speaker, your coffee maker and other devices you don’t need plugged in when you’re not home. 

Most of these are small tweaks, but just like cutting out dining out for lunch a couple times of week can help, it all adds up. Plus, it’s good for the planet, global warming or not.

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