How to Save the Earth and Your Money

Lately there has been a lot of talk publically about being "green" and being aware of the effects of the things we do or purchase on the environment. Products that are being labeled and sold as "eco-friendly" have sprung up everywhere as have their prices. Because of the higher costs associated with environmentally safe products many people have given up on the thought all together. As a result habits that effect the earth negatively do not change and the damage continues to grow along with the various types of pollution. The important thing for people to realize is that being ecologically aware can also save them a lot of money in the long run.

There are everyday ways to save money while also helping to save the environment. By now, everyone has heard of using compact fluorescent light bulbs to save energy. The bonus is that they also save a significant amount of money off of utility bills, month after month and have a working life that is years longer than traditional light bulbs. These funny shaped compact fluorescent bulbs not only save energy and money on lighting bills but also save the cost of having to constantly replace traditional light bulbs which burn out quickly. As a direct result energy is also saved that would have otherwise been used in the manufacturing and packaging of these traditional bulbs as well as the gas to transport them and the landfill space and pollution that is created every time one burns out and is disregarded. In the end it comes to being more than just changing a few light bulbs and becomes a means by which consumers can set forth a cycle of earth and money saving into action.

When grocery shopping the opportunity is present to not only opt for money saving products but for ecologically conscious products as well. What man consumers do not notice is that they do not always have to purchase the ecologically friendly products in order to make an environmental difference. For instance while purchasing juice, choosing to purchase the frozen concentrate instead of the serve-ready variation consumers can set off yet another cycle of savings for both their wallets and the earth. By selecting the juice in concentrate form consumers can eliminate their costs by more than half since they are no longer paying for excess water and packaging. The simple act of adding their own water to the concentrate and preparing it in a reusable container saves all of the empty containers that would normally be thrown away in the trash and turned into pollution in overcrowded landfills. Once again saving the energy that goes into manufacturing the disposable containers, the toxins that are created when some of these containers are produced and the fuel as well as the toxins that it releases that is used to transport the products since bigger containers mean the need for more space and therefore more trucks on the roads. Not only does the option of the concentrate vs. the ready-serve gives consumers an opportunity to be more environmentally helpful but presents a greater opportunity for them to save a couple of dollars per container of juice that they prepare. The same savings strategy applies when purchasing drinking water in larger containers instead of in individual bottles for a greater benefit to both the environment and their budgets. For the most effective monetary and environment savings when it comes to drinking water, there are many filters that can be purchased which completely eliminates the need to purchase water and therefore saves all of the pollution and energy that the disposable containers create and use.

Conservation is another major way that consumers cannot only save natural resources and energy but a significant amount of money as well. Conserving natural resources such as water, gas and oil is very important to the environmental preservation of the earth as well as to lowering monthly bills for those resources. Simple steps such as turning off the water faucet while brushing teeth or washing dishes as well as having all leaks repaired will save thousands of gallons of water a month per household. As well as saving energy, the newer versions of Energy Star appliances conserve water as well as energy which not only help consumers become environmentally active earth citizens but saves them money in the process. Whichever way consumers choose to do so, when they conserve natural resources they save money as well.