Why do we try to make our lives just a little greener? It is because we care about our planet and the future that our children will face someday. They inherit the problems we have created as a society and the problems we fail to do something about. We are also concerned about the present. Numerous global challenges we now face… air pollution, water pollution, climate crisis, wildlife facing extinction… these things impact us all every day and give us cause for alarm and motivation to do what we can to affect change.
There are reasons though that going green benefits us personally and perhaps will help sell those who don’t identify as environmentalists on the idea of “greener” pastures. Going green can help us save money and it can be better for our own health and the health of our families. Most of us are amenable to ways to save some cash and ensure that we have the healthiest and happiest lives we can. Maybe we won’t all unite for the exact same reasons but there are plenty of reasons in general to unite and do better by our planet.
Greener Living Saves Money
Green home building an renovations are all the rage right now and it is only partly because the home owners care about Mother Earth. They also care about saving money! Adding solar panels and wind turbines allows them to produce their own energy. Others insulate their homes with reclaimed jeans or install uPVC double glazed windows to keep their homes warm in winter and cool in the summer so that energy costs are reduced. Working with a home improvement company or sourcing your local experts gives you a variety of ways to reduce your carbon footprint while making your wallet just a bit fatter.
There are many of us though that cannot afford snazzy solar panels or the price tag of some of the greener building and renovation materials. There are options for just about any budget though. We can reduce energy costs by replacing our old appliances (washing machines, dishwashers) with energy efficient models. They cost about the same as any high end appliance.
Shopping used at thrift stores, consignment shops, and yard sales is good for the planet and the wallet too. We reduce the amount of new products entering the marketplace because we lower demand. We give new life to products already out there, keeping them from the the landfills. Buying used can save us an outrageous amount of money in the long run. Once you get used to that cost savings, paying full price for anything starts to leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Greener Living Is Healthier
Fixing our broken food system benefits not only the planet but also our health. All the pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers we use to grow food with on a large scale are doing terrible things to our soil, to our groundwater, and to local wildlife and ecosystems. They are also extremely bad for our health. Going back to organic, local, and smaller space food production systems will benefit our health as well as the planet’s health, and it will invigorate local economies. Also important is the fact that is takes money away from gigantic corporations who actually work against our interests and health.
Many conscious consumers are now creating their own green cleaners, making batches of crockpot soap, and growing and preserving their own food. They are returning to homestead activities of days past. This is beneficial for saving money but also it allows us to control the ingredients and products we allow to enter into our lives. Conventional cleaners are often filled with nasty ingredients that can make us sick. Good old baking soda and vinegar though is effective and healthy. Growing food at home allows us full control over how it is grown and what is used to control weeds and pests…usually just some brainpower and some bodily effort.
Many greener living enthusiasts moderate their use of a car. This can mean public transportation, which is certainly better for our planet but it can also mean more walking and bicycle riding. This translates into less impact on the planet and a more active lifestyle, which in turn improves our health. We are far too sedentary as a society but the green movement is helping us move away from so much car driving and pushing us toward people powered transportation and more walk/bike friendly cities. Everyone benefits.
How has greener living helped you to save money or improve health?
