With all the environmental issues such as global warming and air pollution, we are constantly reminded that going green can be a way to save the earth. There are global initiatives, such as Earth Hour, that challenge us all to take action and support action on climate change. However, many of us are living busy lives and changing our lifestyles can be difficult especially when we are so reliant on modern things such as owning a car and leaving our computers on standby.
However, if you want to go green without going broke and still make a contribution to the world, then here are a couple of useful tips you can follow.
Cost-effective appliances
Finding the most energy-efficient appliances for your home can be difficult. This is mainly because the initial cost of these green appliances might not outweigh the eventual savings unless you stay in the same home and use the same devices for years to come. However, there are some benefits to investing in these expensive appliances, even if they do come with hefty price tags.
For example, commercial solar hot water systems are the perfect way to mix solar panel energy (something that can already save you a lot of money) with our demand for heating water. Although you might not want a commercial version for your home, there are ways to scale down hot water systems so that they can apply to your residential property. Alternatively, you could speak to your landlord to invest in a solar hot water system that can power your entire apartment complex.
Get rid of your car
Cars can be expensive investments that require constant upkeep. Even if you drive your car on a regular basis, there is always the possibility of replacing it for something like a bike or even walking. Public transportation is getting increasingly cost-effective and emissions are always being reduced. In addition, using a bike or walking is a much healthier way to be around compared to sitting and driving in a car. If you really want to go green, forget about buying electric cars and instead, switch your habits by investing in a good quality bike or start using public transportation.
Decluttering
A lot of us have plenty of extra clothes, electronics or even video games laying around with no purpose. Sending these to a recycling center costs money, but donating them to a charity store or selling them to someone else on eBay could help the environment in several ways. For starters, you are not dumping electronics in the bin and taking up extra space in the landfill. Secondly, you are reducing the need to produce more clothing items and electronics because you are providing used products to people.
Utilize natural light
One of the main reasons we leave the lights on is because we are not getting enough sun. By installing large open windows or simply opening the curtains during the way, we let in a lot more light than we could by switching on a bulb. Next time you want to brighten up a room, simply open the curtains a bit, rearrange some furniture so it is not blocking the window, or simply move to a different room in the house if you need a bit more light to work on something.
