Environmental Ways to Save

While saving money is very important in today’s economy, so is doing good things for our environment.  There are many things you can do to help Mother Earth while saving money.  With Earth Day on April 22, this entry is dedicated to a few ways to help our ecosystem while doing your part to recycle, reuse, and reduce.

Most trash bills include the fees for recycling (newspaper, glass, plastic, and tin/steel cans).  Locally, we can recycle household batteries in an orange bag.  But have you used rechargeable batteries?  Our flashlights and camera use either AA or AAA batteries, so we have switched.  If you drink soda, have you thought about saving the aluminum cans and cashing them in?  Check for local recycling centers that will pay you for metals.

Composting can be a great way to enrich your soil.  By taking items such as fruit and vegetable scraps, leaves, and shredded paper, you can create a great fertilizer to amend your garden soil.  We add cooking water from pasta or vegetables or even leave the lid off when it rains to keep it moist.  Building your own composting bin or purchasing one gives you options for where to place it.  We attended a seminar at our township building a few years ago and received our composting bin for FREE!

Watering your garden and lawn, is a major use of water consumption during the summer.  A rain barrel hooked up to your downspout is a great way to collect and store water.  Making your own barrel is much less expensive than purchasing a ready-made one if you are into saving money and creating one from a large 55-gallon drum.  Unlike water from your tap, the collected water contains no chemicals like chlorine, lime, or calcium and can save you money if your water supply comes from a municipal water authority.

Inside your home, there are many things you can do to conserve resources and save money.  Try turning off the electricity in a room when no one is in it.  Appliances are a major source of electric usage, some even using electricity when not in use.  Unplug ones that do not need to be plugged into their power source and turn off power strips when not in use.

Only wash clothing or run your dishwasher when you have a full load.  Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.  Adjusting the thermostat a degree or two can cut you heating and cooling costs.  Keep your curtains closed to keep the heat in during the winter, and the sun out in the summer.

Be a conscientious shopper.  Buy recycled products and items made of recycled materials.  There is a brand of toilet paper that now comes without the cardboard tube.  Many products come in excessive packaging, so look for those that are at least made of recyclable materials and/or can be recycled once you are done with the item.  Even using recyclable grocery bags are a way to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags.  Some stores even pay you for using a cloth bag.

Just reducing your consumption of these resources is good for the environment, and can save you money.  The Internet has great resources to assist you in implementing the composting and rain barrel ideas, as well as other sites with Earth Day suggestions.