How to Save Money and Planet: Reducing Environmental Impact

Climate change is no joke. While some countries experience its impact harder than others, it’s affecting us all. Luckily, due to environmental initiatives, innovations, and campaigns, people around the world are getting more conscious about their environmental impact. But did you know that preserving the planet can also be a way for you to save more money in your everyday life?

Yes, you heard us right! Some say it’s not easy being green – but with the right approach, it can be both easy and rewarding. The Honeygain team collected 10 tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint at home and at work… All while saving money in the process!

We all know cars are terrible for the environment due to gas emissions – unfortunately, walking or biking is not attainable with long distances, and electromobiles are not yet an option for all of us due to their pricing and shortage of charging points in certain areas. However, in most places, you can reduce your environmental impact by opting for public transport: the fewer vehicles on the road, the less emissions!

Traveling by public transport instead of your car helps you save on not just fuel but also maintenance, repair, and parking costs. According to the American Public Transport Association, your early savings might reach up to $10,000!

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Centuries ago, our ancestors only ate what was available to them – they didn’t even think of having fresh tomatoes in early spring or feasting on prawns in land-locked countries! Of course, this was long before supermarkets and massive distribution chains. We’ve created ourselves the luxury of eating anything we want anytime we want it… But at what cost?

Transporting produce for thousands of miles creates a ton of greenhouse gas emissions – which translates to a terrible environmental impact. In addition to that, the transportation costs add to the final price of the product so you pay more than you would if you chose products that are in season locally. Embrace the summer strawberries and fall pumpkins – it’s better for both your wallet and your foodprint!

Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup says plastic bottles rank as the third most collected plastic trash item during coastal cleanups (the only items found more often are food packaging and cigarette butts). In addition to that, you can usually fill your bottle with water for free in public places like drinking fountains… If you have a bottle, that is.

This one’s especially important in summer when we spend a lot of time outside and lose more liquids due to sweating more. The price of a good quality reusable bottle is comparable to that of 20 plastic water bottles ($20 – which is also the minimum payout sum on Honeygain!), but it lasts way longer – plus, it will keep your drink at your preferred temperature and reduce your environmental impact. In fact, reusing your bottles is a great example of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle principle, which can help you save loads by simply thinking twice about throwing anything away!

We’ve been conditioned to think that taking a shower instead of a bath is almost a water-saving act in itself because you don’t need to fill the entire tub. However, it’s only true if you don’t relax too much and keep the water running for hours on end! It’s easy to lose track of time – but neither the environment nor your bank account will thank you for it.

Some advice on timing your showers using the alarm on your phone - however, it’s not really that helpful: you never know how much time you have left… until you have none. It’s way more convenient (and fun!) to time it using your favorite songs. Find one or two and focus on getting out once they end: the verses and choruses will give you a general idea of how much time has passed, and you’ll move faster with the energetic rhythm!

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They say a modern household now uses 3 times more appliances than it did thirty years ago. However, this doesn’t mean your energy usage should be going through the roof, too! While alternative energy sources are gaining popularity, they’re still not the main source of power in the majority of countries – which means the more energy we use, the more natural resources are used up, and the more fumes power plants produce.

Luckily, electronic devices now come graded by energy efficiency (which is especially important for things like refrigerators that are constantly plugged in!), so you can make the smartest choices possible when shopping. Buying a washing machine or a dishwasher? Mind the capacity, too: the more you can wash at one go, the fewer cycles you’ll need to run – which means saving energy, water, and products.

While we’re on the topic of washing machines, let’s not forget the fact they use energy to heat the water – and you can both save money and reduce your environmental impact by opting to heat it less. Most detergents work just as great with 30˚C – and the Energy Saving Trust estimates this could help you save up to 40% of the energy when compared to washing at higher temperatures.

Speaking of saving money, though, this is actually a double win. Not only do you save on energy, but you also don’t have to buy new clothes as frequently, as cold water is not as likely to cause color fading, shrinking, or ruining delicate fabrics!

If you think this has nothing to do with environmental impact – think again! Opting for cold dishes like salads or smoothies actually helps you save energy in two ways: not only do you stay away from your oven or stove, but you also don’t heat up the inside of your house, which helps your air conditioners use less power.

In addition to that, it’s a great way to get your 5-a-day easier and stay hydrated, as most fruits and vegetables have a ton of water. And while we’re at it… Why not use your next Honeygain payout to treat yourself to a stylish salad bowl which everyone will compliment the next time you entertain?

You’d be surprised to learn how much energy and water you don’t actually use – and yet pay for. Leaving the faucet running while you brush your teeth or scrub that relentless baking dish? Waste. Not turning the lights off when you leave the room? Waste. Keeping your heating/air conditioning units on for hours while you’re out for work? Waste. And it’s not just money you’re losing – the environmental impact is terrible, too.

If you’re looking at how to reduce your carbon footprint at home and work, try to be more conscious about the way you’re consuming water and power on a daily basis. Turn off whatever you’re not using (yes, unplugging your phone charger once you’re at 100% does help!) – the planet will thank you!

Installing solar panels at your house is great – however, it’s not really an option for those who live in apartment buildings or countries that don’t get quite enough sunlight during the year. That doesn’t mean you can’t use solar energy, though!

These days, you can buy a lot of smaller devices that soak up the solar energy when it’s available and use it later. The simplest examples are garden lights or lanterns that charge up in the sunlight during the day and light your pathways for free by night! Other popular solar-powered devices include power banks and Bluetooth speakers. They’re not too pricey, either – you could easily get one with your next Honeygain payout!

The issue of wasting paper for printing is especially relevant in offices. Statistics say an average worker prints out 10,000 pages a year… and wastes more than two-thirds of that by printing unnecessary information, extra copies, or forgetting their documents in the printer completely. This translates to massive costs that could easily be avoided – and don’t even get us started on the environmental impact!

Luckily, virtually everything can be done the paperless way these days. You can easily share files among your teammates (and even collaborate on them in real-time), sign documents using e-signatures, and even use airline apps instead of paper tickets when traveling. Embrace the paperless to save money and trees!

As you can see, being green doesn’t take that much effort– and yet, it feels really good for both your conscience and your wallet 💚 Want to treat the latter even more? Start earning free money with the Honeygain network – join now by clicking the button below and collect a starting gift 🎁 of $2! 👇