These small changes around your home can save thousands of dollars a year while also being more environmentally conscious. From small changes like which light bulbs to use, to revolutionary investments like solar shingles, these changes will make a significant impact on your wallet without impacting the earth:
- Use Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. CFL bulbs last 10x longer than incandescent bulbs or LED lights and uses about 70% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
- Enamel cookware like these from Kettle + Brine or these Carbon Steel Frypans replace non-stick pans containing Teflon or Perfluorooctanoic toxic chemicals. These items last longer as well as retain heat so foods cook more evenly.
- Solar Shingles harness the sun’s energy to save thousands of dollars a year on energy bills. Savings depend on the amount of sunlight a roof receives, but test your savings here.
- Opt for a Geothermal system in place of traditional air conditioning unit. Geothermal pipes are embedded in the yard below ground, where the temperature remains a steady 50-70 degrees year round. The fluid in the pipes absorbs the ground temperature and pumps it back into house – keeping the house the same temperature as the ground.
- Rain-Sensing Sprinklers sense rain at the first drop of water and will stop any active sprinkling system to prevent any unnecessary use of water, resulting in substantial savings.
- Install SmartThings SmartPower Outlet, which allows you to have control over lamps, electronics, and small appliances that are plugged in. From a smartphone, you can trigger lights to turn on or off while you’re away. It will even send alerts if you accidentally leave any devices on.
- Austin Resource Recovery provides a wide range of services to transform your waste into resources with Curbside Organics Collection Pilot. This service provides households with weekly curbside collection of food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings.
- Replacing your showerhead for a luxury, eco-friendly model like these from Nebia save 70% more water with 10x the coverage based on high-tech nozzle technology.
- Paint brands like Colorhouse produce a wide array of colors, without any VOCs (volatile organic compounds), reproductive toxins, chemical solvents, or toxic fumes.
- Control your home’s thermostat with Nest Thermostat instead of a traditional thermostat. Nest Thermostat automatically turns itself down when nobody is home to save energy and adjusts to your preferred temperature when someone returns home.