Approximately 77 percent of people want to learn sustainable living, according to a Southern Cross University survey in 2023. With more and more of the younger generations becoming concerned about the environment, it’s easy to see why. And not only is it good for the environment, but it can also save you money in the long run. Here are 3 ways to live sustainably and save money at the same time.
Conserve Through Efficiency
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. You may have heard this a thousand times, but it’s one of the most important things to keep to heart in sustainable living. There are also some ways to reduce your consumption that you may not have considered before. Using less water and driving less are all well and good. Increasing your efficiency can be your best method of conserving resources even as you’re using them. For example, converting your toilets to low-flow and fixing leaks would work wonders for saving water. Vehicle tune-ups and maintenance, such as making sure your tires are always fully inflated, will ensure that you consume as little gas as possible.
Contribute To Global Recycling Efforts
As resources become scarcer, the need to get as much use out of what resources we have becomes much more pressing. This is not just about avoiding the costs and environmental damage we cause in the process of getting more resources. It is also to prevent resources such as metals and plastic from becoming a pollutant in a landfill. Only 32.5 percent of our waste gets sorted for recycling, according to the EPA. You can do your part to increase that rate by segregating your own waste and selling them to recycling centers. Certain metal prices, such as copper, can fluctuate at unexpected times, according to Gardner Metals. And unless you are following the current market conditions for metals, it is best to get a quote from recycling professionals you trust.
Decrease Your Reliance On The Fossil Fuel Power Grid
Our electric and gas consumption in the household contributes to 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the US, according to PBS. Just as with water and fuel, you can implement efficiency upgrades such as LED lights and programmable thermostats. But the best way you can make your home greener is to make it as independent from the fossil fuel power grid as possible. These include things such as solar panels, wind turbines, and even residential hydropower systems if you’re near a high-energy body of water. You can also get solar water heaters to directly harness the power of the sun to heat your water, minimizing energy losses from the transmission. If you don’t have the time to do this, you can also look into electricity suppliers that rely on renewable energy.
With such technologies available to us today, sustainable living has never been easier. It just takes a little ingenuity to apply the methods detailed above into your daily life.