(Guest Post by Wilson Taylor)
Going green isn’t always a cheap task. Installing geothermal heating systems, purchasing solar panels, and further insulating a house can all be home renovation projects that can cost you thousands of dollars easily. Having a geothermal system put in place can cost a family $20,000 alone, and solar panels can be even higher sometimes reaching $30,000.
Although these systems have exceptional environmental and money saving benefits, not everyone can afford their upfront costs. For families still wishing to reduce their carbon footprint and their monthly utility expenditures, there are a few inexpensive updates that can be done around the house to help out. Some of these tasks include:
Managing Water Use
No, you don’t need to restrict everyone in the house to one 5 minute shower a week to reduce your monthly water bill. By simply placing a couple of bricks or a mason jar full of water in your toilets water reserve, you can reduce your water usage and therefore, your water bill.
Hang a Clothesline
Clothes dryers consume massive quantities of energy, and put out quite a bit of heat which isn’t always welcome in your home – especially in the summer. To avoid higher energy costs, consider hanging a clothesline to dry all your clothes. In the hot summer heat, they will dry just as quickly as they would in the dryer, and you will be saving money while you do it.
Stock the Fridge
Refrigerators also consume a large amount of energy trying to keep your food items cool. However, a stocked fridge is better able to regulate temperatures and will actually use less energy. Even if you don’t have a fridge full of food, always try to keep a few jugs of water in there to keep energy usage low.
Depending on the area in which you live, you may also be able to switch energy retailers to save money. Certain retailers, such as Energy Plus Company, invest in green energy like wind and offer customers incentives such as airline miles, hotel points, and cash back simply for paying your electric bill, and in the current economy receiving a little extra bonuses and cash can really be great – especially when you are rewarded for doing something you already do each month.
Going green doesn’t mean that you initially have to break the bank to save money years down the road. You can choose a greener lifestyle and home simply by making a few easy and inexpensive changes. Not only will you notice that your utility bills will start to decrease, but you will also have better peace of mind knowing that you are doing something good for the environment.
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This guest post was written by Wilson Taylor, a freelance writer from Spokane, Washington.
Photo by Will Clayton
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