Do I Have to be Rich to Go Green?

What an interesting question.

I received a few emails recently asking this very thing… why does it seem to cost more to be good to the environment? Sure I care about the environment, but I care about my family more and right now,  I am having difficulty meeting my regular family’s expenses. How can my family go ‘green’ without going broke?

It is true… we hear about the hybrid cars, solar panels, organic foods and products and the clean energy resources  we can opt in for with the company supplying our electricity.  And each of these options do cost more , at least initially.  

However, if we take a more holistic look at reaching a greener, more eco-friendly lifestyle we will see that we can actually become richer as we work towards becoming greener. Every choice we make has a bottom line consequence. Here are a few changes that we all can incorporate into our lives:

First, we can start by reducing:

•  reducing our consumption- buy less stuff, re-purpose what we already have, share or rent tools and other items that we                      only use  rarely
•  reducing our waste- finish food before it goes bad, compost, recycle, reuse
•  reducing packaging- buy bulk where you can, eliminate one use shopping bags- bring your own, cut back on take out                          food.
•  reducing our energy usage- turn lights out when you leave a room, use natural light as much as possible, turn off                                electronics when not in use; unplug them at end of day   
• reduce your use of paper products- cloth napkins instead of paper, ceramic coffee mug instead of single use.
• reduce your family’s use of single use items- paper plates, plastic containers, paper towels, throwaway flatware, batteries  ( the new rechargeables hold a charge very well)- make it a contest with your kids.   

Second, we can conserve more:

• turn thermostat up two degrees in the summer and down two degrees in the winter.
• open windows – especially during spring and summer to helpf control the comfort level in your home
• conserve water by shorter showers, usign low flow shower heads.
• only run washer, dryer and dishwasher when you have a full load.
• when looking for new appliances- look for the Energy Star 
• conserve gas by keeping your car tuned up, tires at proper air pressure.
• combine your errands, reducing your need to travel as much
• buy products produced locally. Indirectly you are saving on the energy it took to get the product to the store.

Third, reuse and recycle more:

• keep stuff out of the landfills.
• reuse what you can
• when you do not want it anymore and if something is still in usable condition… pass it on to those in need: Salvation Army, good will, free-cycle etc. . Office supplies and such can find a new home in job training centers or libraries.  

These are just a few ideas to get you started. I am sure more will come to mind as you get into it. None of teh steps above really cost more out of pocket and actually a number of tehm will add more green back into your pocket.  A win-win as I see it.

Share your ideas with others and at this post.  One person making a change , makes a little difference, alot of us joining in can make a huge difference… and without even costing a dime..

Let’s all get rich together!