Eco Friendly Homesteaders

1. Save energy to save money.

Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in thesummer to save on heating and cooling costs.Install compact fluorescentlight bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.Unplugappliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power stripthat senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire"energy use. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating thewater.Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwiseused during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider addingdryer balls to cut drying time.  

2. Save water to save money.

Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your waterand heating bills too.Install a low-flow shower head. They don't costmuch, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back yourinvestment.Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. Theseinexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping waterpressure high.Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Manyplants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in yourarea.  

3.  Less gas = more money (and better health!).

Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs whileimproving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk ofobesity.Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or movecloser. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money inthe long term.Lobby your local government to increase spending onsidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost,these improvements can payhuge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.  

4.  Eat smart.

If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at thestore-and it's even more expensive when you consider the relatedenvironmental and health costs. Buy locally raised, humane, and organicmeat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmerskeeps money in the local economy. Watch videos about why local food andsustainable seafood are so great. Whatever your diet, eat low on thefood chain. This is especially true for seafood.  

5.  Skip the bottled water.

Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water.Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts ofcontainer waste. Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminumrather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work. Check out thisshort article for the latest on bottled water trends.  

6.  Think before you buy.

Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whetheryou've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service likecraigs list or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, andother items cheaply or for free. Check out garage sales, thrift stores,and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.When makingpurchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't. Watcha video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have areal impact, for better or worse.  

7.  Borrow instead of buying.

Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. Thissaves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printingnew books.Sharepower tools and other appliances. Get to know yourneighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering yourcloset or garage.  

8.  Buy smart.

Buy inbulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging. Wearclothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cutsdown on toxic chemical use. Invest in high-quality, long-lastingproducts. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don'thave to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9.  Keep electronics out of the trash.

Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long aspossible. Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes.E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growingenvironmental problem.Recycle your cell phone. Ask your localgovernment to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous wastecollection event.  

10.  Make your own cleaning supplies.

The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaningproducts whenever you need them. All you need are a few simpleingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. Making your owncleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention yourindoor air quality.  

Bonus Item!

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