Be green in more ways than one. The best part? You can start right this second.
Climate change is real and it’s happening. Without major policy changes, it doesn’t feel like one person can make a difference. But what if small choices you make every day could change the world? We’ve got five things you can start doing today that will decrease your personal carbon footprint and save a substantial amount of money in the process.
1. Replace beef with beans
The “musical fruit” is music to our ears. Did you know that if every American replaced their regular beef consumption with beans, we would get more than halfway to meeting our 2020 emissions goals? That’s even if all the other progress we’re making stops in its tracks. This one small change can have a big impact.
There are lots of great bean recipes out there, from chili to burgers. Get creative and you won’t even miss the beef.
And the wallet part? Beans are about $1.50 per can and even cheaper (and more eco-friendly!) if you buy them in bulk from dry goods bins and soak them (typically less than $2 for 12 servings). Beef can run anywhere from $3.99/lb for ground hamburger up to $15/lb for an expensive steak. Over the course of the month, you can easily save $80 if you replace beef with beans for three meals per week.
Want another bonus? Beans are great for you! Red meat? Not so much.
2. Stop eating meat
Plants are where it’s at. Once you stop eating beef, you can start reducing the other animal products in your diet. Start out with Meatless Mondays and then incorporate more meat-free days. If every American committed to Meatless Mondays, it would save the equivalent of taking 7.6 million cars off the road. Just imagine if most of us did Meatless Wednesdays and Fridays too.
Going vegan is even better, but it may not be realistic for you right now. No judgment here—we all go at our own pace and anything you do to reduce the amount of meat you eat is good.
Meat and other animal products are some of the most expensive things at the grocery store. You can save hundreds of dollars a month by buying fruits, vegetables and plant-based protein instead.
3. Grow something. Anything!
If you’re worried about your ability to keep a cactus alive, you’re not alone. I never thought I had much of a green thumb either. But it’s OK to start small, especially if you don’t have a lot of space. Even if all you have is a sunny windowsill, you can grow an herb garden. You won’t have to buy herbs at the grocery store anymore, or any of the extra plastic that comes with it.
If you have a little bit more space, you can start a container garden by growing a tomato plant. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can start your own veggie patch. Start with lettuce, green beans, cucumbers and carrots and never buy another salad.
What if you have no space but an extra green thumb? Find a community garden in your area. If you can’t find one, start your own!
It’s hard to quantify how much money this will save you; it could be $5-$10 per month for an herb garden or it could be hundreds if you can grow enough produce to skip the grocery store in summer and fall.
4. Use people power
Living without a car is a fantastic way to reduce carbon emissions, but if you don’t live in an urban area, it’s probably not realistic to think about going completely car-free.
But could you go from being a two-car household to being a one-car household? It may take some coordination, especially if you have kids, but it’s completely doable.
If lowering carbon emissions isn’t a big enough reason to do it, consider this: According to AAA, between repairs, gas, insurance and depreciation, it costs roughly $10,000 per year to own a car.
Commuting options for one-car families:
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One partner can drive the other to public transit before driving to work, school or going about their day, then pick up on the way home.
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One partner can ride their bike to work
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Carpool with a coworker
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Subscribe to a car-sharing service for the occasional day when you absolutely have to have two cars
Some companies even offer benefits or reimbursement for public transit, cycling or carpooling, so you could end up saving even more. And if your company doesn’t, it never hurts to ask!
Want an even bigger incentive? Walking, biking or taking public transit to work could help you lose weight and reduce your likelihood of developing diabetes and heart disease without changing anything else about your lifestyle.
5. Buy second-hand, rent & borrow
We all have way too much stuff. And if your local library is anything like ours, you have a treasure trove of information and things. Our kids love to read, but instead of ordering new books every month, we head to the library to stock up on new stories. We also check out DVDs for the weekend and my preschooler signs on to ABC Mouse while I search for a book for myself.
I found out recently that we can even borrow gardening tools from our library—this one packs a one-two punch for the earth by reducing materials and, presumably, you’re growing something with the tools you borrow.
Buying essential items from second-hand sales, thrift stores and eBay are other great cost-effective options. If you’re lucky, the pieces will be in great shape when you get them, or you can have fun sprucing them up.
Be Happy. Be Green.
Filleviolette
Filleviolette 