The task of saving the planet cannot be achieved by one person, no matter how much you wish that was so. It’s down to each of us playing our individual parts. We take from the earth, but we have to learn how to stop taking in excess. We need food and resources to live, but it makes sense to use less. Not only do we save the environment by doing so, but we save our own back pockets by spending less money.
There are no downsides to adopting green methods, and, despite what you may think, it shouldn’t cost you more to do so. There are only positives to saving the planet, and it shouldn’t be seen as a burden on your daily lifestyle, but a welcome relief. Here are some ways in which you might start to act in a more environmentally friendly manner and save money through doing so.
Reconsider your diet and lifestyle.
I’m not saying the majority of us don’t love meat, because everyone loves a good fry up. What you may not realise, however, is that your diet impacts the environment. It’s easy to think of fossil fuels and litter being the only things which damage the world around us, but everything we consume plays its part. Obviously, we have to eat, but, in the modern world, meat production is one of the most environmentally damaging industries on earth, given the high demand for meat. Reducing your meat consumption could play a huge part in reducing the demand for meat and, as such, the damaging impact this industry has on our precious environment. You do not need to entirely give up meat, of course. Even allowing yourself a meat-free Monday could help.
The way we travel plays a huge part in our daily lifestyle. If we’re travelling across the country, then using a car, plane or public transport is an unavoidable necessity. However, if we are merely travelling down the road or into our local town, then opting for travel by foot might sometimes be the more eco-friendly and cost-friendly option. Not only are you saving money in petrol, but you’re getting exercise along the way. It’s good for us to use our limbs now and again, even in a virtual age of easily accessible facilities and resources. We don’t always need to travel by car, even if it is easier to do so. You could be doing something huge to help save the environment, and you won’t even have to spend a penny. Even travelling slightly further distances could be made easier by investing in a bicycle, which will save you a whole lot more than the cost of the bike in petrol money, believe me.
Reduce, reuse and recycle before you consume.
It’s easy to see modern technology and think to ourselves that we’d much rather have an energy-efficient refrigerator than the old, worn one currently standing in our kitchen, but to do this would actually be more detrimental to the environment. If you want to play your part in saving the planet, and also save yourself unnecessary expenses before such action is needed, then you should be using your appliances and technology until they are no longer functional. It is more wasteful to discard of something which is still in a perfectly good condition.
The most effective way of reducing resources you use around the house would be to cut down on your energy consumption. The simple act of turning off light switches when you leave a room is one effective way of achieving this, of course. You might also consider looking into a Simply Switch energy comparison, in order to see how other energy providers compare to your current gas and electricity provider in terms of pricing. When you reduce your energy consumption, you not only save the environment but end up with a smaller bill at the end of the month. You’ll be saving money by avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Say goodbye to damaging materials.
Plastic bags, for instance, are incredibly damaging to the environment. They take far too long to degrade; even disposing of such waste does little to change that fact. The simple act of opting for earthbags whilst shopping at your local market or supermarket could completely remove this worry from your mind. Better still, you’ll have a bag which can last you on a permanent scale, rather than wasting money on endless plastic bags when you go shopping for food every week or every few days.
XOXO
Debbie