We’ve seen many lifestyle trends come and go, but it’s safe to say that being more mindful of the way we affect the environment in our daily lives won’t be going out of style soon.

Caring for our planet bears just as much weight as caring for our own health, which is why more and more people are putting a lot of effort into trying to “go green.”

Unfortunately, some are still under the wrong impression that making an effort to go green is both expensive and time-consuming.

In reality, small changes can provide noticeable benefits to you and the environment.

How to Go Green and Save Green:

1. Go Green with Your Appliances
Newer, energy-efficient appliances need less electricity to work. They may be more expensive, but they can deliver monthly cost savings that can help recoup your initial investment.

If you’re in doubt, you can consult a contractor to help you make smart decisions. A water heater that might seem like a good deal to you could come with hidden energy costs.

For appliances that don’t have energy-efficient models or consume too little electricity to matter, you can help keep them out of a landfill by having them repaired when they break down.

2. Go Green with Smart Food Choices
Organic foods contain no pesticides or fertilizers and are often grown using less water. However, they are also significantly more expensive than standard produce.

If you’re looking for more affordable alternatives, you can:

• Head to a farmer’s market to cut out the grocery store middle man, reducing fuel costs associated with shipping food.
• Grow your own food by planting fruits and vegetables you eat the most.
• Purchase fruits and vegetables when they are abundant and cost significantly less.
• Sign up for community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs and have fresh food delivered to your door while supporting your local farmers at the same time.

3. Go Green and Skip Single-Use Products
Many of the products we buy every day are disposable. And every time we throw them away, we harm both the environment and our pockets.

Bottled water, for example, comes in plastic containers that can take decades to break down, if they break down at all. If you bring your own water in a stainless-steel bottle instead, you not only save money but eliminate a significant source of plastic pollution as well.

Use that same mindset to avoid other single-serve products, including paper towels and facial wipes, which you can replace with cloth products.

You can also bring your own mug when visiting your favorite coffee shop to skip on cardboard cups and plastic lids. Some shops will even give you a small discount for doing so.

4. Go Green and Save on Water
One quick way to cut water costs is by using a simple barrel and downspout.

Collect rainwater and use it to water your garden. Your plants won’t notice the difference, but you’ll see the change in your monthly budget.

You can also cut back on laundry and dishwashing water use by doing full loads. Your appliances need a specific amount of fluid to operate, which means you’ll end up using the same amount of water—and electricity—for fewer loads.

Stop Using Plastic Water Bottles. By using the Get Clean Water Starter Pack, which includes a water pitcher and 3 packs of filters, you and your family can enjoy healthy, great-tasting water for a year (based on an annual usage of 320 gallons). This is about the same amount of water as you would get from 2,400 16.9 fl. oz plastic bottles of water. That means you not only get to drink cleaner water, but you also help protect our environment by reducing the amount of plastic you use.

Tiny changes to your bathroom habits can likewise cut your water use. Think about water when you:
– Brush your teeth
– Wash your hands
– Bathe
– Wash dishes by hand

Turn off the faucet for even a few seconds or minutes when you’re not using it. Installing water-conserving showerheads and faucets can also help to cut back on your usage.

5. Go Green on Your Commute
Millions of people take solo car trips to and from work, which adds a tremendous amount of pollution to the air. Car payments, auto insurance, and gasoline are all required to make these trips possible.

Cut your transportation costs and help save the planet by swapping out your car for a bike. You’ll be part of a growing group of eco-commuters that, over the past decade, has risen by 60%.

You’ll need a good bike and a helmet to make this adjustment, but after these initial expenses, you could ride your bike to work with no associated costs at all.

If biking isn’t right for you, consider sharing your commute with others. Take public transportation or carpool with others to minimize your carbon footprint while saving money at the same time.

6. Go Green with Earth-Friendly Cleaning Products
Some cleaning products use toxic chemicals that get washed into streams and rivers, harming everything across its path. The volatile organic compounds (VOC) in them can also affect indoor air quality and add to outdoor smog.

Make sure the products you use at home are safe for your family and the environment. Shaklee’s Get Clean Starter Kit includes products that are safe around your little ones, powerful against even the most stubborn dirt, green for the planet, and smart on your wallet.

When you purchase the Get Clean Starter Kit you also make a positive impact on the planet:

• Keeps 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills.
• Eliminates 248 pounds of greenhouse gas.
• Shaklee plants a tree with every Get Clean Starter Kit purchased.

Let’s make a concerted effort by making smart choices for the environment and our pockets. Even minor lifestyle changes geared towards helping preserve our planet can be effective if done collectively.

Thanks for reading,

Carl and Suzanne