Pāriet uz galveno saturu

Eco-Friendly Tips to Save Cash

1. Eat less meat

Meat isn’t cheap, and it’s not great for the environment, either. Seventy percent of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed to raise cows, and meat production results in more carbon emissions than any other protein. We’re not telling you to go completely vegan (unless that’s your bag), but learning to cook a few choice vegetarian meals will save money, add variety to your palate, and give the planet a helping hand.

2. Grow your own food

It’s nowhere near as complicated or time-consuming as it sounds, and it’ll eliminate the Sasquatch-sized carbon footprint of all those refrigerated trucks and planes importing berries from South America. Cherry tomatoes, salad greens, and green beans are the best foods to grow if saving money is the goal. For those of us who don’t have a garden, simply growing herbs on a windowsill can save hundreds in the long run.

3. Start a compost pile

A compost heap will save money on fertilizers, maintain soil health, and keep all those food scraps from rotting in a dump and belching methane (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere. It takes up to 18 years for a corn cob to decompose in a landfill, but only a couple of months in a compost pile. Plus, compost can be used to grow new food, making it the ultimate recycler—now that’s eco-friendly!

4. End food waste

Forty percent of food in America gets thrown away—that means 40 percent of all the greenhouse gases released by agriculture, food transport, and food decomposing in landfills simply doesn’t have to exist. A lot of the waste takes place in supermarkets and restaurants, but you can help out and save money by only buying what you need (think two carrots instead of a bag), saving or freezing leftovers, and repurposing scraps. Check out this article for more easy tips!

5. Install a low flow showerhead

Jerry and Kramer aren’t big fans, but we’ve come a long way since Seinfeld. Going with the (low) flow is an easy way to use 25 to 60 percent less water in the shower, which means big savings on the water bill. Most showerheads are adjustable, so it’s easy to use the low flow setting when lathering up and a high flow when it’s time to rinse. Most of them cost about five dollars—talk about a no-brainer!

6. Cover your pool when it’s not in use

Not only will it keep the water from evaporating and prevent the need for refills, but the pool will stay cleaner, require fewer chemicals, and reduce the need to run pumps and filters—all of which can save water and energy.

7. Change that light bulb

How many environmentalists does it take to change a light bulb? We’re not sure either, but we know they’d be replacing it with a CFL, or “compact fluorescent light.” Like most eco-friendly gadgets, they’re more expensive up front (about five dollars a bulb), but they use a quarter of the energy and last 10 times longer—so the steeper cost will more than pay for itself. With lighting comprising 13 percent of the standard energy bill, it’s worth the change.

8. Think about solar

People are so serious about solar energy these days that the US government now offers tax credits to homeowners who install some panels to supplement their energy expenditure. It’s not a bad deal, but for those unwilling to take the risk that the initial cost will pay off, some companies, like SunRun, SolarCity, and Roof Diagnostics, are willing to take that risk for you. If you’re in a state that they work in (and your roof gets enough sun), they’ll set everything up themselves free of charge, and shave at least 10 percent off the electricity bill by doing so.

9. Buy energy-efficient appliances

Look for Energy Star Appliances, which cost a bit more money to buy initially, but are more durable, more environmentally friendly, and will save cash on utility bills. An Energy Star clothes washer, for instance, uses 50 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than standard washers, which means big savings… over time. You’re patient, right?




Komentāri

Ierakstīt komentāru

Šī emuāra populārākās ziņas

How To Grow Garlic

Garlic is easy to grow and produces numerous bulbs after a long growing season. Plus, it’s frost tolerant! Here’s how to grow garlic in your garden. PLANTING Garlic can be planted in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked, but fall planting is recommended for most gardeners. Plant in the fall and you’ll find that your bulbs are bigger and more flavorful when you harvest the next summer. In areas that get a hard frost, plant garlic as early as 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected fall frost date, before the ground freezes. The timing may vary with local climate; the aim is to give a long enough period before the ground freezes for the plant to develop good roots, but not enough time to for it to form top growth before freezing temperatures set in. In southern areas, February or March is a better time to plant. Break apart cloves from bulb a few days before planting, but keep the papery husk on each individual clove. Do not plant cloves fro...
Ierakstīt komentāru
Lasīt vairāk

Easy Animals to Raise on the Small Farm

If you are curious about where to start with raising animals on your small farm, hobby farm or homestead, here are a few suggestions, complete with information to help you decide which ones are the right fit for you. Note: Selling meat and dairy products usually require that a farm is licensed and meet the requirements of its locale. If you are planning to farm for income, find out the requirements before buying the animals. Chickens Chickens  are a terrific way to start raising animals on a small farm. They're hardy, easy to take care of and don't cost much in terms of setup. A small flock can easily produce enough eggs to meet all a family's egg requirements, and a flock of a few dozen can generate a nice little egg business. Hens eat food scraps and provide great compost for the garden. On the downside, they're a free chicken dinner for every predator out there, so you'll need to keep them safe and secure to prevent losses. Honey Bees Ho...
Ierakstīt komentāru
Lasīt vairāk

How to Make a Terrarium

As the mom of a currently bug-obsessed four-year-old boy, I’ve been finding fun ways to use his obsession as a learning tool and encourage his love of dirt, bugs, and the outdoors in a way that keeps me from also having to dig for bugs all the livelong day. One day he came home from the park with four snails (a snail family, as he called it). He was really attached; I didn’t have the heart to make him put them back in the dirt right away. But I also wanted to make sure the snails were treated well and didn’t get the run of my house. So I came up with a fun and easy little snail terrarium DIY. Charlie thought it was the best thing ever, and it turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself. It sits on our lowest built-in bookshelf so he can sit on the floor and watch the snails and help feed them when necessary. This is a great project for summer fun with your kiddos and is a way to help teach them about the earth, life cycles, bugs, and mollusks. a fishbowl with a rim  chees...
Ierakstīt komentāru
Lasīt vairāk