23 Ways to Save Both Money and the Planet

These days, living sustainably isn’t just good for the environment—it can be good for your bank account, too. 

Some eco-friendly actions, like buying organic, can cost more. But there are plenty of ways you can reduce costs and your carbon footprint at the same time.

Here are 23 ways you can go green while saving green:

1. Reduce your energy usage

The energy you use in your home makes up a huge part of your monthly expenses—and your personal carbon footprint. This means that reducing your energy usage is one of the most effective ways you can help shrink both your carbon footprint and your bills.

There are so many ways you can reduce your energy usage, from small steps like turning off the lights when you leave a room, to big actions like switching to energy-efficient appliances. Check out this blog post for more energy-saving tips!

2. Be smart with your thermostat 

The best way you can reduce your energy usage? Be mindful with your thermostat. Typically, 43% of home electricity bills goes to heating and cooling. In general, don’t use more heat or AC than you need to. During the warmer months, use ceiling fans, window shades, and natural breezes to cool your home rather than blasting your AC. During the colder months, turn the heat down a bit and use natural sunlight, quilted curtains, window treatments, space heaters, and rugs to keep your home warmer. 

The smarter you are with your thermostat, the more energy you’ll save—which will go a long way towards reducing your carbon footprint and your monthly expenses.

3. Install a smart thermostat

Smart thermostats make it even easier to manage your home’s energy usage. By allowing you to adjust the temperature from your smartphone and automatically self-adjusting based on the current weather, smart thermostats can help keep you comfortable when you’re home and save energy when you’re not.

4. Switch to energy-efficient lighting

Did you know that LED light bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescents? Swapping out your incandescent bulbs for LED bulbs is a super simple step that can save a ton of energy and money over time. 

5. Switch to more eco-friendly appliances

Many of us have appliances in our homes and garages that are gas-powered, inefficient, or otherwise environmentally unfriendly. When your appliance is ready to be replaced, upgrade to an electric or Energy Star-certified appliance to help reduce emissions and save energy. Try switching to an electric stove, an Energy Star-certified dishwasher, a heat pump water heater, or even an electric lawn mower to further reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills.

6. Save energy when you’re doing laundry—especially by using cold water

Did you know that 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes towards heating the water? By using cold water for every load of laundry, you can save surprising amounts of energy and money—around $200 per year! You can also save energy by hanging your clothes to dry (on a drying rack or clothesline) rather than using the dryer, or by always doing full loads (and using the appropriate water setting whenever you do a small load).

7. Use less water

It takes a surprising amount of energy to pump, heat, treat, and move water. Be mindful of your water use when brushing your teeth, washing your hands, doing the dishes, or doing laundry to save on your water bill. To save water and energy during your showers, try installing a low-flow shower head or a shower head with the WaterSense label, or use a shower timer to help you take shorter showers.

8. Water your lawn and garden more efficiently

Water earlier in the morning so that more water is absorbed and less water evaporates in the heat, especially during the hot summer months. You can also install a rain barrel to collect runoff water from your roof that you can use in your garden—helping you save on your water bill. 

9.  Use homemade cleaning products

Try making your own household cleaners with simple ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar. It can save you money compared to using expensive store-bought cleaning products, and it’s more eco-friendly than using toxic cleaning products made with harmful chemicals.

10. Avoid buying brand new clothes

Fast fashion comes with many harmful effects on the environment. Shop at thrift or consignment stores to reduce fashion waste and save money. (And if you do need to buy brand new clothes, try shopping from one of these sustainable clothing brands to reduce the negative impacts of your purchase).

11. Give clothing, decor, and household items a second life

Think twice (and think creatively) before you throw things away. That pair of jeans with a hole in them? Try making them wearable again with visible mending. That old piece of furniture that no longer fits your home’s aesthetic? Try sanding it and giving it a fresh coat of paint to completely transform its look, instead of buying a new piece of furniture to replace it. Those food containers you’re about to throw away or recycle? Try using them for a fun craft project, like one of these many great upcycling ideas. Once you start looking at things with an upcycling mindset, you’ll realize that many items have potential for a second life before they end up in the trash!

12. Arrange your home for maximum efficiency

You may not realize it, but where you place things in your home can make a difference in your home’s energy efficiency. Check that all the vents in your home are clear of furniture. Keep lamps and televisions away from your thermostat for a more accurate temperature reading. Also, to use less energy for lighting, put lamps in the corners of rooms to allow the light to reflect off the walls and light up the room more.

13. Invest in reusable products 

Single-use plastics pollute our oceans, are made from fossil fuels, and require energy to produce and recycle. Swap out single-use plastics for reusable options throughout all aspects of your life, such as reusable water bottles, grocery bags, coffee cups, and utensils. Check out these tips to help you reduce your plastic use and live plastic-free. Over time, you’ll get your money’s worth and then some!

14. Eat more plant-based foods

Reducing the amount of animal-based food products you consume (such as meat, dairy, and eggs) is a simple yet surprisingly effective way to reduce the carbon footprint of your food. Even giving up meat just one day a week can have a big impact! You can learn more about how vegan and plant-based eating can help our planet in this blog post. Plus, by switching to a vegan diet, you can save more than $500 a year!

15. Reduce the amount of food you waste

Roughly one-third of all food available for human consumption goes uneaten, and much of this food ends up in landfills, where it releases methane—a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2. This means that food waste is a serious environmental issue. In fact, the greenhouse gas emissions from landfilled food waste are equivalent to the annual emissions of 15 coal-fired power plants!

Controlling how much food you buy, cook, eat, and save can help you save money and keep food waste from landfills. Be more diligent about cooking, food shopping, and eating leftovers to cut back the amount of food you throw away.

16. Grow your own food

Growing fruits and vegetables in a garden or potted planters can help you reduce your grocery bills and the environmental impact of your meals. You can try out your green thumb by growing produce in your garden or in planters.

17. Use less gas 

From an environmental perspective, the transportation sector is responsible for 28% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. From a financial perspective, American households spend an average of $204 per month on gasoline. This means that reducing your transportation footprint and using less gas are great ways to go green and save green. Try walking or biking instead of driving when you can, taking public transportation, carpooling, opting for virtual meetings and events, or driving less in general.

18. Turn down your water heater

According to the Department of Energy, water heating accounts for about 18% of the average electricity bill—making it the second largest energy expense in your home. Some manufacturers set water heaters at 140ºF, but most homes only require them to be set at the warm setting (120ºF). Turning down the temperature of your water heater to 120ºF is an easy way you can help reduce your energy consumption (learn more here).

19. Replace your insulation

Update the insulation of your attic, doors, windows, floors, roof, and walls to help prevent the outside air from entering your home—helping your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently.

20. Have your HVAC system serviced

Having your HVAC system inspected, cleaned, and serviced at least once a year helps ensure it’s working at maximum efficiency. Even simply replacing your air filters can lower energy consumption by up to 15%. 

21. Clean and seal your air ducts and vents

Leaky air ducts can reduce your HVAC system’s efficiency by up to 30%. Sealing, insulating, and cleaning dust and dirt out of your ducts and vents can help your HVAC system heat and cool your home more efficiently.

22. Seal any air leaks

Caulking, sealing, and weather-stripping cracks and openings around your windows, doors, or any other openings can help keep air from leaking out and increase the efficiency of your heating or cooling system. You can also check your refrigerator’s door seal and clean out your sliding door track to keep air from leaking. 

23. Be diligent about turning your lights off

Get in the habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room or leave the house (as well as other electronics, like your TV). Once it becomes a habit and part of your routine, it will be such an easy way to save energy over time!

Following these steps can help you make a meaningful difference on both your carbon footprint and your wallet.

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