If you’re like many Americans, you’re concerned about climate change and worry about its impact on both the environment and your family’s future. Most of us understand the choices we make — big and small — have the power to contribute to the environment’s well-being, but some of these choices can also be financially prudent. Here are three major areas in which your choices can improve both your bottom line and the planet’s health, each with multiple suggestions for making a positive impact, ranging from the straightforward to the slightly ambitious. Going green can save you some green. Here’s how.
Rethink transportation. Noxious emissions from cars and trucks contribute to climate change, and perhaps not coincidentally, the worst offenders are often also some of the most expensive (such as gas-guzzling luxury SUVs and trucks). Mitigating your carbon dioxide emissions can take many forms.
1. The simplest way to reduce your emissions is to drive less. This can mean many things, such as carpooling, taking public transportation to work or walking or biking, whenever possible. But there are other steps to try, too. For example, as an alternative to traditional carpooling, many ride-hailing services, such as Uber, now offer ride-sharing options which allow you to carpool on demand, so to speak, avoiding the hassle of creating less flexible carpooling arrangements with friends or co-workers. Driving less might also mean finding ways to telecommute when possible, or working slightly earlier or later hours, thus avoiding the worst of gas-wasting rush hour traffic.
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2. Drive a less polluting vehicle. Some states still offer tax incentives for hybrid and electric cars, making them comparable in price to traditional vehicles. If you’re in the market for a new car, ask the dealer about incentives or rebates, so you can compare the financial impact of switching to a greener vehicle. The U.S. Department of Energy offers a calculator online that will help you compare the cost of ownership and emissions of a wide variety of automobiles, from all electrics to gas guzzlers. The savings from reduced fuel costs and maintenance are considerable. And don’t forget your car insurance. Many insurers even offer savings for fuel-efficient cars.
3. Re-evaluate your driving practices. If you still can’t part ways with your gas guzzler, think about how you use it. Do you really need to commute to work every day in an SUV, for example, or can you just drive it on the weekends and use a greener mode of transportation during the week? Small changes like these can make a significant impact on your total emissions — and your transportation expenses.
Rethink home energy usage. A simple energy audit of your home can turn up several areas in which you can improve your energy usage, thereby reducing emissions and costs.
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4. Seal your drafty windows. Ensuring proper insulation, minimizing energy loss from windows and doors and making the best use of shades, blinds and foliage to better manage household temperatures will reduce your home’s energy consumption — and save you money on utility bills. Many of these upgrades are eligible for tax credits, too, depending on your local and state government.
5. Employ energy-efficient appliances. Energy-efficient appliances still enjoy rebates and tax incentives in many areas, but even when they don’t, they’re still big money savers in the long run. If you can’t make the switch to efficient appliances now, consider how you use traditional appliances: Only wash full loads of laundry or dishes, for example.
6. Adjust your thermostat. Try keeping the air conditioner set at 80 degrees when you’re away from home, and at 72 degrees when you’re inside. Or consider investing in an automatic temperature-setting system, such as NEST, which provides energy expenditure reports and detects when you’re away by tracking your phone’s location.
Rethink your consumption. What we buy — and where we purchase it — can have a big impact on our environmental footprint. Are you purchasing goods and services from environmentally conscious producers and making smart choices about the products you need?
7. Bring your own bottled water. Bottled water is convenient. It’s also expensive relative to bringing water from home and impacts the environment in lots of ways, from the production of the plastic in the bottle to the fuel burned transporting it from the spring to your door. Invest in an inexpensive under-sink filter if you’re concerned about local water quality and pick up a reusable water bottle to take with you. This strategy — moving from packaged convenience to cheaper reusables can be applied to lots of everyday consumables. For example, you might also switch from paper dinner napkins to cloth or from plastic food storage containers to glass.
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8. Shop locally. It’s easy to buy fresh and inexpensive produce from local sources — just visit the local farmers market to find food that’s from dozens of miles away rather than hundreds or thousands. It’s harder to buy locally produced manufactured goods — even products “made in America” often contain components from far-off shores — and it requires deeper thought about wants and needs. Can you buy a used toaster instead? Do you really need to replace your 42-inch HDTV with a 56-inch one?
Climate change is a collective problem with an impact that extends to every individual. Let your individual choices positively impact your budget and the health of our planet.
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