Going green costs me more, right?

Many people say that they don't make 'green' choices because "it costs more". But does it really?

 

One of the concepts of being 'green' or doing things in an eco-friendly manner involves something called life-cycle analysis. This means that you take into account the costs of something over its lifetime, not just the cost to buy it. A good example is compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL). When you go to the store, you see the regular ol' bulbs that are a dollar or less each, and next to them you see the CFL bulbs marked above $3 each. The 'old' way of thinking is to buy the cheaper bulb because, well, it costs less. But when you think 'green', you consider the whole life cycle of that bulb you are buying. The chart at this link (Bulb cost analysis) shows you the TRUE cost of a CFL vs. the cost of an old-style bulb. The bulb you thought was cheaper because it was less than a dollar is really costing you FOUR TIMES MORE than if you had bought that $3 bulb. Why on earth would you want to pay four times more for each bulb in your home?

 

 

 

 

Here's more proof that 'green' costs less.

Water conservation SAVES MONEY. If you use the water you pay for more wisely, you will use less.

• Take shorter showers (no baths). Turn water off while you soap up, shave, and wash hair.
• Fix leaks
• Cleaning your patio? Use a broom, not the hose
• Don't water the yard or garden during the hottest part of the day; most of it will evaporate. Wait until evening hours and make sure it's done before the sun comes up
• Catch rainwater and use it for the yard. The Phoenix Permaculture Guild  http://www.phoenixpermaculture.org/events offers a class where you will make your own rain barrel and take it home with you.
• Reuse other types of water. For example, after you boil water to make pasta, allow the water to drain into another pot. After it is cool, use it for your plants, pets, or trees. Extra big clumps of ice in the freezer? Don't throw it in the sink to get rid of it, put it by a tree or in the dog's water bowl.
• Turn off the tap when you are soaping up your hands and brushing your teeth.
• Does your shower need to run for a minute to warm up? If so, catch that water in a bucket and use it elsewhere.
• Stop buying bottled water! All you are paying for is the brand, packaging, and shipping so that a company can make money. Buy a reusable bottle. Use a carbon filter on your tap or directly on the reusable bottle.

Energy conservation SAVES money. Use less, spend less.

• Turn your thermostat up a degree or two and take advantage of your ceiling fans instead.
• Don't leave ceiling fans on if no one is in the room. The fans cool your skin, not the room.
• If you don't need the light on for something, don't turn it on. Take advantage of natural light.
• Don't use the heat cycle on your dishwasher to dry the dishes.
• Use a toaster oven instead of the big oven whenever possible.
• Wash clothes in cold water.
• Set your water heater to 120 instead of 140
• Unplug things that aren't needed. After you use the toaster, unplug it. After your phone is charged, unplug it.

BUY SMART. Everyone knows a used car costs less. That same concept applies to a lot of other things too.

• Books. Use the library; it's FREE. They have books, music, and movies.
• Secondhand stores. Clothing, household items, books, and toys and games are some things you can get for quite a bargain at a secondhand store. If the kids are going to outgrow that shirt in a month or two, why not get one at the secondhand store that was probably only used for a month or two by some other kid?! And getting some board games for the family will also help save on spending for costly outings like going to the movies. Just stay home and have some fun interacting with your family over a game instead!
• Furniture. Check Craigslist, Freecycle.com, or secondhand stores. You can get great desks, chairs, tables, and wall hangings, and other decorative items at great prices.
• Groceries. Buy generic when brand isn't an issue, and use coupons. Just 10 minutes of clipping coupons from the Sunday paper can save you a lot of money on your monthly grocery bill. Keep an eye out for sales on items you have coupons for, and for double and triple coupon days. A triple coupon often saves you $1 per each item!
• Stop buying a plain old coffee from a store or vendor every day. Make your own.
• Stop going out to lunch all the time. Take your lunch with you to work.
• Learn how to make your own gifts, and use reusable types of wrapping (gift bags, fabric).
• Research re-use. The blog that we follow (Blah-to-Tada) gives some great examples of how to reuse things from around the house in neat ways.
• Be creative. See a scratched up wooden coffee table at Goodwill? Buy it, take it home, sand the top, and restain it. A little work and a few bucks can save you hundreds over the cost of a brand new table, and you will have the satisfaction of displaying your handiwork.
• Buy sponges and use them instead of paper towels. You'll create less waste and save on buying something you just throw away anyway. You can toss the sponge in the dishwasher when it needs cleaning so you can get more use out of it.
• Grow your own veggies so you don't have to buy them. If you do buy them, buy from a farmer's market instead of grocery store.

These are just dozens of tips out of millions out there. Take 15 minutes each day to research Re-Use ideas on the internet, or spend a weekend morning wandering through your local Goodwill store. You'll be amazed at what you can find and the money you can save by GOING GREEN!!!