Going Green Can Save You Green $$$

Environmental Benefits Meals and Beverages Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Bring lunch from home instead of going out for fast food Puts less trash in landfills Costs less for the food Pack lunch items in reusable containers instead of plastic bags Puts less trash in landfills, saves materials One-time purchase instead of many purchases Buy a reusable lunch bag instead of paper sacks Saves trees Buy food from bulk bins Reduces packaging Costs less per pound

Environmental Benefits Meals and Beverages Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Purchase snacks in large bags or boxes instead of single-serving packages Puts less trash in landfills Costs less per ounce Eat and drink out of reusable cups, plates, and bowls instead of paper or Styrofoam Puts less trash in landfills, saves trees or other materials One-time purchase instead of many purchases Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins Saves trees Store leftovers in reusable containers instead of plastic wrap or foil Puts less trash in landfills, saves materials

Environmental Benefits Meals and Beverages Actions Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Compost your food waste into fertilizer Puts less trash in landfills, involves no chemicals Is free Get a reusable water bottle and fill it with filtered tap water instead of buying bottled water Puts less trash in landfills, conserves energy, saves materials Water costs less per ounce Make coffee instead of buying it at coffee shop, drink it out of a mug instead of Styrofoam cups Puts less trash in landfills Reduces coffee costs significantly Run the dishwater only when it’s full Conserves water and electricity Lowers utility bills

Environmental Benefits Clothing Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Buy machine washable clothes instead of dry-clean-only clothes Eliminates the need for toxic chemicals used in dry cleaning Eliminates dry cleaning bill Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible Conserves energy Lowers utility bills Hang clothes out to dry instead of using dryer Donate unwanted clothes to second-hand stores, also shop at those stores Puts less trash in landfills Lowers clothing costs

Environmental Benefits Around the House Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Keep your home a few degrees cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer Conserves energy Lowers utility bill Turn water off while brushing your teeth Conserves water Lowers water bill Close curtains to keep summer sun out Conserves electricity Lowers electric bill Skip the leaf blowing; rake or sweep instead Conserves electricity or gasoline Lowers energy bill plus rakes and brooms are cheaper than leaf blowers

Environmental Benefits Around the House Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Take shorter showers Conserves water Lowers water bill Turn off lights when not in use Conserves electricity Lowers electric bill Close heating and cooling vents in unused rooms Conserves energy Lowers utility bills Turn down temperature on hot water heater to 120 degrees

Environmental Benefits Home Improvement Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Fix leaky faucets Conserves water Lowers water bill Caulk cracks and seal windows Conserves energy Lowers utility bills Replace burned out incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, LEDs, or halogens Conserves electricity Lowers electric bill Install a low-flow showerhead Conserves water and energy

Environmental Benefits Reusing Items Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Use the Sunday comics as gift wrap Conserves paper, thus saving trees Is free if you already get the newspaper Catch rainwater to use on gardens and indoor plants Conserves water Lowers water bill Borrow books from a library instead of buying books Saves trees Is free Reuse gift bags you are given Saves trees or other materials Eliminates cost completely

Environmental Benefits Misc. Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Take aluminum cans to a recycling center Puts less trash in landfills Gets you actual cash in return Switch to paperless billing Conserves paper, thus saving trees Saves on stamps, also some companies offer discounts Walk somewhere instead of driving Doesn’t create air pollution Saves on gasoline Participate in a local Freecycle program Keeps usable items out of the landfill Is free

Environmental Benefits Misc. Action Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits Recycle electronics for cash Keeps harmful waste out of landfills Pays actual money to you Print on both sides of computer paper Conserves paper, thus saving trees Lowers printing costs Recycle ink and toner cartridges at office supply stores Puts less trash in landfills Provides a discount on next purchase Carpool to work, church, or school Reduces air pollution Reduces gasoline and car maintenance costs

Commonly Asked Questions Q: Why is conserving energy environmentally friendly? A: Most energy comes from burning coal, oil, or gas. This creates pollution. Also, the extraction of these resources harms the earth. Q: Washing out reusable containers requires water; isn’t that wasteful? A: Less water is used to wash out containers than it takes to make disposable ones. Plus, pollution is created when the new items are transported. Q: Why is saving trees important? A: They help clean the air. They also cool the earth.