How to go Green without Going Broke

How to go Green without Going Broke

Tips & Tricks to Save Money While Saving the Environment. Given the recent rise in interest in all things green - ecofriendly washing machines, organic food, non-toxic cleaning solutions, sustainable building materials - many of us want to find ways to contribute in our daily lives. However, the implication is that this shift in focus also means an increase in cost - something most of us want to avoid. So how can we move towards living "green" without doing damage to our budget? Luckily, not every ecofriendly switch requires more cold hard cash than you can afford - below are just a few ways to lessen the burden on the earth AND your wallet, all at the same time. blog_house_green1.) Cleaning products - there are a lot of products out there that advertise as "eco-friendly" but frequently these cost more than their toxic alternatives. I've found the best solution to this is to work with what you already have! Many common household items have alternative uses as cleaning solutions. Here's just a few: Baking Soda - Baking soda is a great eco-friendly scrubber and whitener. Just throw a little on a sponge and go to town on stuck-on messes on your countertop, dirt in the grout or pretty much anywhere in the kitchen. Here's an exhaustive list of 51 things you can do with baking soda. Vinegar - A few tablespoons of vinegar mixed with water in a spray bottle is my go-to for all purpose cleaning. Great for wiping down countertops and even cleaning tile floors. You can also clean your toilet, showerhead, and even stained plastic just by soaking it in vinegar for a few hours. Herbs - Herbs and essential oils are great for cleaning because you can achieve that freshly-cleaned smell without any of the added chemicals. This site has a list of recipes you can make with a few common herbs like mint, sage and rosemary. Lemon - Sure you've seen a hundred products that are lemon-scented but have you ever actually cleaned with a lemon? Lemon, like vinegar, is a great stain remover - to remove stains from brass, chrome and copper just rub with lemon and let sit - for extra scrubbing power, sprinkle the lemon with salt first! 2.) Food - this is a bit tricky than the cleaning options, but bear with me. The key here is to avoid specialty items like the "ultrasuperfood vegan gluten free power mix" you just saw on "sale" for a whopping $15 a bottle. Stick to whole foods - organic vegetables from the produce section aren't that much more than the non-organic kind. Not only that, but you'll save if you buy seasonally (I've included a seasonal food chart here - buying seasonally will not only save you money but you'll also be buying riper, better quality items) 3.) Home Improvement - simple changes can make your home more eco-friendly and more budget-friendly. It's important to look at these changes in terms of the long term affect - certain purchases will seem like more up front, such as a high efficiency washer and dryer, but in the long term will save on your electric and water bill. Kenmore, one of our nationally recognized brands, offers a number of washers, dryers and dishwashers with eco-friendly settings that reduce the amount of wasted water and power. Also, if you still want to go green but are pressed for time, Merry Maids uses a line of products that are Design for Environment Approved (DfA), which means they meet independent guidelines established by the United States EPA.
Emily-SmalterAuthor: Emily Smalter Emily is currently enrolled in a Master's of Social Work program at Kansas University. Outside of her schoolwork, Emily advocates for women to have a stronger voice in both the public and private realm, and spends her spare hours writing on how to make the seemingly smaller tasks in our lives more manageable.

Plus, Don't Miss:

Back