Smart Ideas For Saving Money While Helping The Environment
As a mom, you're in charge of raising your kids, managing your household, and taking care of yourself. It can be quite a bit overwhelming, so there's no shame if you haven't exactly been doing your part to protect the environment. You're often so busy, you probably go with the simplest option rather than the one that has a smaller carbon footprint. But what if there was a way to save money and time while also reducing your environmental impact? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do it.
Start by making the switch to LED light bulbs, as they use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last 25 times longer. Installing a programmable thermostat is another great option. While you're at work and the kids are at school, the thermostat can turn down the heating or cooling, saving you up to 10 percent on your heating and cooling costs. If you've got a few minutes to spare, try making your own DIY cleaning solutions. Not only are store-bought cleaners bad for the environment, but they can have drastic consequences on your family's health.
You can also consider making a few upgrades to your home's plumbing. For example, water-efficient showerheads can reduce the amount of water you use by six gallons. Low-flow faucets work in a similar way by reducing the amount of water flowing to 1.5 gallons per minute. Finally, high-efficiency toilets use only 1.28 gallons per flush, compared to three to five in a traditional toilet. For more ways to save money while protecting the environment, check out the following infographic.