Energy-saving appliances have been around for years. Recycling has become second nature to a lot of folks, especially when there is an incentive to turn in aluminum cans for cash. "Go Green" is the newest effort to stop waste and keep harmful products out of the environment.
There are still ways to save money that can strengthen a household budget. The following three changes can save consumers hundreds of dollars over a year's time.
Bottled Water Drains a Budget
At an average cost of 1.55 per bottle, drinking bottled water costs consumers a lot of hard-earned money. Four bottles a week for one person for an entire year adds up to around $300.
The cost is bad enough, but what's worse is the empty bottles take up space in landfills. Recycling the plastic offers one solution. For those persons on the go, investing in a reusable water bottle will cut out the waste. If there is a problem with the water in a particular living area, then making a low-cost investment in an easy-to-install faucet water filter offers the best solution to all those plastic containers.
Bottled water versus tap water is an argument still under debate. The Web site, Environment, Health and Safety Online cites information obtained from The National Resources Defense Council. The NRDC concludes, " ... that there is no assurance that just because water comes out of a bottle it is any cleaner or safer than water from the tap. And in fact, an estimated 25 percent or more of bottled water is really just tap water in a bottle – sometimes further treated, sometimes not."
Paper Towels and Napkins Soak Up Family Funds
Based on two regular rolls used per week in the average household, the paper towel savings add up to at least 104.00 a year for a cheap brand. Try using cloth utility towels instead. The napkin savings add up to over 100.00 per year for the cheapest brands. Does it pay to invest in cloth towels and napkins, considering these items have to be washed and dried?
Melissa Breyer, Senior Producer for Care 2 Green Living (Web site: Care 2 Make a Difference) compares buying single-use paper towels to cloth towels and napkins that have to be washed. "When you factor in all of the components of making a paper towel or napkins (harvesting the material ... processing ... packaging ... shipping ... stocking ... transportation ...), all for a single use, you find that the paper towels and napkins are about twice as energy-intensive and create more greenhouse gases overall."
Old Incandescent Light Bulbs Turn off Consumers
Most consumers have seen the new compact fluorescent light bulbs on store shelves. The price is a little higher than incandescent bulbs – about 10.00 for a package of six 13-watt CFL bulbs, but the results are worth it.
Energy Star qualified bulbs have revolutionized the lighting industry. A 6-bulb package of General Electric Energy Smart 13-watt bulbs (equivalent to six 60-watt bulbs) uses 75% less energy, according to information printed on the packaging. Plus, each bulb will save 38.00 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. The quality is the same as traditional lighting. Another outstanding feature of CFL bulbs is that a single bulb is guaranteed to last for 5 years – that's eight times longer than an incandescent bulb.
The cost of living green is safer, cleaner, and cheaper. Consumers, who at one time didn't care about wasting electricity, now conserve every last kilowatt. Keeping tabs on energy consumption is the right thing to do, plus it saves big bucks. Substituting cloth towels for kitchen paper products saves hundreds of trees and dollars. Investing in a water faucet filter and even a personal water bottle keeps tons of plastic out of landfills.
What else can a budget-minded person do to live green and save money? The answer is taking a second – and even a third – look at family living habits to see where household money is being wasted. Get the children involved, too. Chances are each family member can come up with at least one more way to save budget dollars and preserve the environment.
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
Join the Conversation