5 More Ways to Go Green and Save Some Green

Many people love the idea of "going green" but often don't know where to begin. Going green doesn't have to be big or costly. It can start with small investments at home!

1. Ecofriendly Light Bulbs

Over the years, companies have been creating lightbulbs that last longer and use less power in an effort to create more environmentally friendly lighting options. Compact Fluorescent light bulbs were one of the first options introduced onto the market that we all recognize (the swirled light bulb). LED light bulbs have also become popular in the past few years. Both offer great benefits for cost efficient and ecofriendly lighting options.

Currently, LED light bulbs are one of the most efficient options. They use 1/6 of the energy that an incandescent light bulb does. Even though they cost on average about $4 per light bulb (compared to the $2.70 per incandescent light bulb), the cost adds up in the long run as LED light bulbs save money with a lifespan of 25,000 hours, whereas incandescent light bulbs only last for 1,000 hours. That's 25 incandescent light bulbs for every single LED light bulb ($67.50 vs $4)!

Another great option for eco friendly light bulbs are Compact Fluorescent (CF) light bulbs. They are about the same price LED light bulbs at about $4, but last for 10,000 hours. They also take a moment to warm up to get to full brightness and can be finicky. All that being said, they still last 10x longer than incandescent light bulbs. That's 10 incandescent light bulbs for every single CF light bulb ($27 vs $4)!

In addition to the upfront cost, the cost of electricity and the electricity usage gap is enormous. Incandescent light bulbs use only about 10% of their energy to create light, and 90% of the energy creates heat. Which also makes them a potential fire hazard. CF light bulbs use 80% less electricity. For example, if you use both light bulbs at a rate of rate of $0.11 per kWh for a year, an incandescent light bulb will cost about $66, but a CF will cost about only $13.20, and an LED light bulb will cost about only $12! That's a huge amount of savings per light bulb energy consumption per year of about $52.80 to $54! And lower electricity usage means less strain on the grid and less pollution being created from the powerplant source. A win all around!

2. Period Panties

Period panties can be a bigger upfront cost, at $15-$50 each depending on the brand. But they are washable, durable, and help reduce a lot of single-use plastic waste. It would take a few years for the cost to even out compared to the yearly cost of pads or tampons, but in the long run, would cost less overall, as most menstruate for an average of 40 years. They're also great for the days leading up to and after menstruation, as frequently, "just in case" pads are used in case their period starts early or skips a day near the end of the cycle. Period panties are more breathable than most pads and are more comfortable to wear than tampons when the cycle is light.

Period panties are a great way to go green and save some green. On average, menstruating adults use 9 boxes of tampons per year costing about $7 per box, or about 12 boxes of pads per year costing about $6 per box. That's a total of about $63-$72 per year, higher if they have heavier and/or irregular cycles. A box of tampons averages to about 20 tampons per box, and a box of pads averages about 40 pads per box. That's 180 tampons or 480 pads each year. That's a lot of single-use items that we can keep out of landfills!

3. Rain Barrels

Rain barrels have become a popular option to save money on watering lawns and gardens, as well as to direct rainfall to help prevent flooding. There are many different styles and sizes available, averaging about $120-$160 per barrel. You can even DIY rain barrels for less cost and customize with your home layout and needs.

They have become a great resource for water conservation and getting the most out every last drop in arid states like Texas with an average annual rainfall of 27.25 inches, or California with an average annual rainfall of only 11.70 inches. But even in "wetter" areas like New York City (44 inches), Washington DC (39 inches), or Chicago (33 inches), rain barrels are a great way to save money and cut down on water consumption.

“Just 1/4 inch of rainfall on a typical roof will fill a rain barrel,” reports the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “A modest amount of rainfall can supply much or all of your outdoor watering needs — a full rain barrel will water a 200-square-foot garden.”

This means that even in areas like Texas or California, a small amount of rainfall can still go a long way. Water usage spikes in summer for lawn and garden care, using nearly 40% of the total household water use. Rain barrels are a great solution to this usage problem, as they can utilize about 1,300 gallons during the summer months, saving an average of about $35 in water bill cost per month ($2 per 1,000 gallons).

While they are great for reducing rain runoff and helping to prevent flooding, it is important to consider taking safety measures when installing rain barrels. Uncovered standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitos. Many rain barrels available in stores have lids, and your DIY project should include some sort of covering to keep mosquitos at bay. Standing water also can grow bacteria, as well as rain water can contain local pollution from the air. Rain water and water stored in rain barrels is not considered safe for human consumption and should only be used for watering plants.

4. USB Hubs

One of the big culprits around our homes for energy consumption are our electronic devices like our computers, phones, tablets, etc. A great way to cut down on electricity consumption when these items are not in use is to get power strips that have On/Off switches and USB hubs that have the ability to turn off individual ports.

Technology improves each year, and companies keep energy consumption in mind with their improvements. That being said, controlling when your devices' energy consumption can be as easy as switching the On/Off switch, rather than allowing them to become "power vampires" by letting them passively draw electricity while they are plugged in; even when they are turned off. The average household has about 1,000 kWh wasted per year, that's about $100! The average TV/DVR consumes about 620 annual kWh electricity ($75 per year) and computers consume about 300 annual kWh electricity ($40 per year). Shutting off these vampire power suckers can save you a little green while helping your household go green!

5. Rechargeable Batteries

Batteries have long been an energy issue as they are, for the most part, treated as single-use items and disposing of them creates an environmental hazard. In the past, some batteries have been marketed as being "rechargeable", but many of them required cumbersome charging devices and if the batteries were left charging for too long, they would explode and leak battery acid. Both a hassle and a danger.

Companies are now filling the gap to solve this problem by creating batteries that are as easy to charge as your phone or other tech toys. Pale Blue is one of the leading rechargeable battery companies with easy to charge batteries that perform about the same as conventional single-use batteries. They boast on their website that a 4-pack of Pale Blue AA batteries can replace over 4,000 conventional AA batteries. That's a lot of e-waste staying out of landfills!

To get a good idea of the impact rechargeable batteries can make, a single Pale Blue battery can last for 1,000+ charge cycles. To figure out what exactly that means for your wallet and the environment, let's compare:

A Pale Blue AA rechargeable battery has a power of 2,550 mWh, a voltage of 1.5V, and a capacity of 1,700 mAh. A conventional single-use AA battery has a power of 400-900 mWh, a voltage of 1.5V, and a capacity of 3,500 mAh.

Even though a conventional single-use AA battery has over 2x more capacity, that means it only takes 2 charge cycles for a rechargeable battery to offer the same capacity. That means a single rechargeable battery can provide the same amount of power as 500 conventional single-use batteries! A pack of 4 AA conventional single-use batteries costs about $5-$10, while a pack of 4 AA Pale Blue batteries costs $30. However, 500 conventional single-use batteries will cost you $2,500-$5,000! That's a crazy amount of savings.

It is true that going green does have upfront cost, but making small and smart choices can add up to big savings over time. Not everyone can unplug and live off the grid, but using rechargeable batteries in your gaming controller, or watering your garden with rain water can make an impact to both the environment and your monthly bills. Let's go green one step at a time!

Looking for more ways to go green? Check out my article 5 Ways to Go Green and Save Some Green