Attention Earthlings: It's time once again for that annual celebration
of all things green. Earth Day is nearly upon us and, while many people
offer advice
on being kind to Mother Earth, too many of these tips don't quite
coincide with frugal lifestyles. In an effort to dovetail these two
purposes, we offer 22
budget-friendly ways to go green in honor of April 22.
1. Sign up for the "no solicitation" registry.
That way, you can avoid getting credit card offers and other ads which will reduce paper clutter and save trees.
2. Shop online to reduce your carbon footprint and save money.
According to
a study by Carnegie Melon's Green Institute, shopping online reduced carbon emissions by 35 percent.
The abundance of online coupons from such sites as
FreeShipping.org makes this green practice a no-brainer.
3. Get out of the gym and exercise outdoors.
Freeze your gym membership and save up to 75 percent (or more) per month
during the summer. You'll also rely less on those energy-sucking cardio
machines.
4. Close blinds on hot days.
Before you head out for the day, close your blinds to keep the sun from
warming your home while you're gone. Doing so will reduce your
dependence on air
conditioning and save energy.
5. Send an e-gift certificate for special occasions.
Not only are e-gift cards super convenient, you're also using less
plastic resources and reducing fuel associated with shipping. If an
e-card isn't available from a
desired retailer,
purchase gift cards at a discount from sites like Gift Card Granny. That way you recycle someone else's
unwanted plastic and score great savings.
6. Eliminate paper invites and digitize your event announcement.
Save on postage and printing while reducing paper by using sites like
pingg.com to create electronic announcements and
invitations.
7. Use an irrigation controller to manage watering.
20 to 50 percent of your water use goes toward the landscape, even more
in certain areas of the country. Invest in a controller to schedule
irrigation to
reduce overwatering.
8. Swap your stuff!
Use
Swap.com to trade
books, CDs, DVDs, sporting equipment and other goods. Not only are you
saving money, but you're reducing future trash by re-using
someone else's stuff.
9. Walk or bike to work to save on fuel.
With
gas prices peaking at nearly $4 a gallon, you're doing your wallet and your
health some good by walking or biking to work. If this isn't feasible, try public transportation.
10. Wash clothes with cold water.
Though some clothes suggest warm or hot water for washing, you can
reduce your monthly heating bills and save energy by turning all cycles
to cold. Don't
worry, your clothes will still get clean.
11. Use mobile coupons to cut paper clutter.
Download the
Coupon Sherpa mobile app to access discounts without using paper coupons. You can also
save coupons to your supermarket loyalty card for paperless grocery savings.
12. Plug electronics into power strips.
Buy a surge protector for pricey electronics to save your valuables in
the event of a lightning strike, and power down when not in use to cut
five percent
from your electricity bill.
13. Power down cable boxes.
Doing so will save you $40 per box, annually. You can also cut down on
DVD waste by opting for Netflix, Hulu and Amazon streaming.
14. Go paperless.
This is a no-brainer -- when banks and service providers offer you the option to go paperless, take it. Check out
Lifehacker's guide to going paperless for more ideas.
15. Hang dry your clothes.
Do laundry on the weekends and hang dry your clothes to save energy and reduce your electricity bill.
16. Shop garage and estate sales for clothes and home goods.
Recycling other people's unwanted items will not only save money but also reduces trash build-up in landfills.
17. Put the blow dryer down.
Consider going "au natural" several times during the week to save on
energy spent by blow dryers, flat irons and other electronic hair
products.
18. Take short showers.
The feeling of hot water on your skin is often hard to resist, but
taking short, cooler showers reduces your heating bill and saves water
and energy.
19. Wash dishes in a sink full of water.
Instead of washing dishes with the tap on, fill one side of the sink
with soapy water to clean dishes, and only run the dishwasher when it's
full to save
energy.
20. Get a water filter and reusable water bottle.
Over 80 percent of plastic water bottles are tossed -- not recycled -- yielding 1.5 tons of waste per year, according to
Mother Nature Network. Invest in a
reusable water bottle (or two) and a filter, if your tap water is lacking.
21. Plant native shrubs and plants.
Native plants and shrubs subsist on whatever precipitation occurs in
your area, making them an eco-friendly alternative to non-native plants
that require
additional watering and maintenance.
22. Use an eco-friendly shower head.
Basic showerheads disperse quite a bit of water per use, so investing in an eco-friendly one like the
Oxygenics PowerMassage Handheld Shower Head can save up to 70 percent in water and energy consumption.
Disclosure: This post is shared with information sent to me by Andrea Woroch. Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving
expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their
lifestyles. From smart spending tips to personal finance advice, Andrea
transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers. She has been featured
among top news outlets such as
Good Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more.
You can follow her on
Twitter for daily savings advice and tips.
