How Going Green Can Save You Money

Earth Day arrives every spring as our annual reminder to better protect and help clean up our planet. Arbor Day follows close behind, a holiday that occurs during much of the country's planting season and encourages the growing of trees. The messages behind these holidays, and any campaign designed to support protection of our environment, are extremely important in their own right. However, you can often find a few added benefits of "going green," including a healthier lifestyle and saving a lot of money. Try a few of these tactics this spring and know that every little bit helps to protect our planet and your wallet.

[See: 10 Ways to Save Energy and Reduce Utility Bills at Home.]

Reduce energy usage. Spring is the perfect season to start cutting back on energy usage at home. Rather than using heat or turning on the air conditioning, take advantage of any moderate temperatures your area experiences this time of year. Throw on an extra layer on a cool day or open your windows to air out the house and bring in a nice breeze. Ceiling fans are also a more energy-efficient way to cool your home.

Cut back on the electricity you use by unplugging items when they're not in use. This is especially true for computers, which use a lot of energy. Shut them down overnight and unplug chargers once you're done. As simple as it sounds, turning off lights in rooms you're not using can make a big difference in energy usage, and as a result, reduce your electric bill.

The next time you need to buy a new appliance, light bulb or lamp, look for those that are energy efficient with an Energy Star label. Energy Star is a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that works to help businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.

[Read: 6 Ways Climate Change Will Negatively Impact Your Wallet.]

Landscape with a strategy. By strategically deciding where you plant trees in your yard, you can offer shade to your home to keep it cool. The Department of Energy offers plenty of guidance to make a plan that will work for you, with advice on the size and shape of different trees, when to plant and how shrubs can cool the pavement around your home. Look into your local utility companies to see whether they offer free trees to plant that can reduce your energy use. As a bonus, those plants may also increase your curb appeal.

Try another mode of transportation. If you're driving to work each day, or even around town for errands on the weekend, consider alternative modes of transportation. Of course, public transportation isn't an option for everyone, but if it is available, check out the pricing and how you might save money if you switch to a train or bus commute. If driving is the only way to work, ask your co-workers to see whether you can get a carpool started. You'll save money on gas, too.

Depending on how far you live from work or your regular errand stops, you can try walking or riding a bicycle a few days a week. It's great exercise, with zero emissions, and even buying a bike is far cheaper over time. Remember to first read up on the rules of sharing the road to keep you and everyone around you safe.

[Read: 8 Ways to Fight Climate Change While Saving Money.]

Use rain barrels. Here's a no-brainer for cutting back on how much water you use and reducing your water bill. Put up a rain barrel in your yard and attach a hose to the barrel to water your lawn, garden and even indoor plants. You can also use the collected water to wash your car. Purchase a barrel from a hardware store for less than $100, or call your local environmental organizations to see what might be available. Then, simply position your barrel underneath the downspout that routes water from your gutter. Another perk of rain barrels is reducing the amount of stormwater runoff, which can add pollutants to streams, rivers and lakes and cause erosion.

Dry your laundry on a line. You can reduce your home's carbon footprint and cut down your energy bills by drying your clothes on a line whenever possible. Hang a line out in your yard or put a drying rack in your laundry room. Other benefits of drying on a line include less wrinkles and less wear and tear on your clothes over time. Those with pollen allergies should dry clothes indoors.

Remembering to protect our planet is important all year long. Try a few of these ideas for money-saving benefits you can see right away and a long-term, lasting impact on the environment.

Jon Lal is the founder and CEO of coupons and cash-back website BeFrugal.com, which saves shoppers an average of $27 per order thanks to coupons plus an average of 7 percent cash back at more than 5,000 stores. Lal founded BeFrugal in 2009 with the mission to provide shoppers with maximum savings for minimum hassle. The company operates from its headquarters in Boston and serves customers globally. You can follow along with Lal on Twitter at @jon_lal.