9+ Ways To Save Money While Being Sustainable
Ever feel like living sustainably is an expensive luxury you can’t afford? Or that every eco-friendly choice seems to come with a hefty price tag? You’re not alone. I used to think the same until I discovered that some of the most impactful ways to help our planet are also the easiest ways to save money.
Fun Fact: According to PEA, it takes roughly 60 million gallons of water and 51,000 trees to manufacture 3,000 tons of paper towels that Americans send to landfills every day. (All for a product that’s used once and thrown away!)
Actionable Tip: You can simply replace single-use paper towels and napkins with washable cloths to reduce waste and save money in the long run!
See, this isn’t about buying expensive gadgets or making a massive investment either. While eco-friendly choices are sometimes seen as expensive or inconvenient, many sustainable habits can actually help reduce waste, lower utility bills, and cut everyday costs.
Whether you're just starting your sustainable journey or looking for new ways to stretch your budget, there are plenty of affordable changes you can make without sacrificing your quality of life. In this post, I’ll share 9 practical ways to save money while living more sustainably, proving that being eco-conscious and budget-savvy can go hand in hand.
1. Invest In LED Bulbs
When it comes to the easiest and most cost-effective ways to live more sustainably while also save money on your electric bill every month, LED light bulbs are a clear winner. Unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, which waste up to 90% of their energy as heat, LEDs are designed for efficiency.
According to Energy Trust of Oregon, LED bulbs use up to 85% less energy and last 15–25 times longer than regular bulbs! That means fewer replacements, lower electric bills, and a significantly reduced environmental impact over time.
Plus, many LED light bulbs even come in a variety of brightness levels, are dimmable, and seamlessly integrate with smart‑home systems, so you can easily match them to any room’s mood or function.
Fun Fact: According to Ratio Seven Limited, using natural daylight instead of relying on artificial lighting can cut your energy consumption by up to 40%. Additionally, natural light supports circadian rhythms, boosts mood, and increases productivity, all while providing superior visual comfort.
So open your curtains and blinds during the day to use natural sunlight for lighting and reduce even more energy use, carbon emissions, and electricity bills. Also, make it a habit to turn off lights in rooms you're not using.
Actionable Tip: Replace your traditional incandescent bulbs (that waste most of their energy as heat, not light) with energy-efficient LED bulbs to start saving money on your electricity bill every single month!
2. Lower Your Thermostats
Fun Fact: According to Illinois.gov, for every degree you lower your thermostat during winter, you can save an average of 3% on heating costs. (That means if you typically keep your home at 72°F and lower it to 68°F, you could save nearly 12% on your heating bill over the season!)
Adjusting your thermostat just a couple of degrees is another simple yet effective way to save money on your energy bill. And with modern technology, a smart thermostat device can further help by automatically adjusting your home's temperature settings for optimal performance.
Pro Tip: The U.S. Department of Energy confirms you can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply adjusting your thermostat back 7°-10°F for eight hours a day while you're at work. (You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort with a programmable thermostat!)
Beyond saving money, turning down the heat just a few degrees reduces the demand on power plants, which in turn cuts greenhouse‑gas emissions and air pollution. This is another positive step toward a more sustainable home.
Actionable Tip: If possible, try to set your thermostat a few degrees lower in winter and increase it a few degrees during summer. (Combine this with smart thermostat technology, and you’ll see noticeable savings on your bills while reducing your environmental footprint!)
3. Unplug Your Unused Device
Fun Fact: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, standby power alone can consume up to 10% of a home’s annual electricity use, costing the average household as much as $100 per year. (That’s money spent on powering devices you’re not even using!)
Many of your plugged‑in gadgets consume power even when they’re off, a phenomenon known as phantom load. So the easiest and most cost‑effective habit you can adopt is simply unplugging devices you don't use.
Phone/laptop chargers, decorative lights, coffee makers, printers, DVD players, speakers, or gaming consoles in standby mode will continue sipping power whenever they remain plugged in. Over the course of a year, those wasted watts not only inflate your electric bill but also drive extra greenhouse gas emissions at the power plant.
By taking a few seconds to unplug unused devices, you’ll see savings on your utility bill and reduce your home’s overall energy footprint. It's not a lot, but consider that it takes virtually no effort or investment, why not do it?
Also, try to evaluate your electric bill for areas where you can save more energy and money.
Actionable Tip: Unplugging chargers, appliances, and electronics that aren’t in use, or switching to a smart power strip, can immediately cut this wasted energy and give you a few extra dollars each month.
4. Smarter Laundry Habits
Fun Fact: According to the American Cleaning Institute, about 90% of the energy that a washing machine uses goes towards heating water. And according to the Sierra Club, every household that switches to cold water washing could eliminate about 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide a year!
Even an everyday laundry routine can be a hidden cost to both your utility bills and the planet. However, with a few simple adjustments, you can yield big savings benefits from it.
First, always wait for a full load before starting the washer! Running a half‑empty machine uses nearly the same amount of water and electricity as a full one. So unless your washer offers a “quick wash” setting that adapts water levels to the load size, it’s better to hold off until you have enough laundry for a full wash.
Second, switch to cold‑water settings! Since heating water accounts for up to 90% of the energy in a typical wash cycle, you could significantly reduce your washer's energy consumption by simply switching to the cold water setting. Also, using cold water not only cleans most everyday clothes just as effectively but also preserves fabric fibers and colors, helping your garments last longer.
To take it further, whenever the weather and space allow, you should air‑dry your laundry on a rack or clothesline. No electricity required, and your clothes will smell a lot fresher too.
Actionable Tip: Switching to cold water settings for laundry not only saves up to 90% of the energy used by your washer, but it can also extend the life of your clothes and significantly reduce your household’s carbon footprint.
5. Use Your Dishwasher
If you let the machine do your laundry, why not do the same to your dishes? For most situations, using a dishwasher is more energy-efficient, water-efficient, and time-efficient than handwashing dishes.
Fun Fact: According to Flamingo Appliance, the average hand-washing session uses about 27 gallons of water, while the average dishwasher cycle uses between 4-6 gallons. (That’s a savings of over 20 gallons per load, which adds up to thousands of gallons of water saved each year!)
Dishwashers generally heat water to temperatures far beyond what our hands can tolerate, so they sanitize dishes more effectively than handwashing. Plus, by letting your dishwasher do the heavy lifting, you’ll spend less time standing at the sink.
Here are a few ways to maximize your dishwasher’s efficiency:
- Always run full loads: Running the dishwasher half-empty wastes water and energy. Wait until it’s full to get the most out of each cycle.
- Skip pre-rinsing: Modern dishwashers are designed to handle food residue, so scraping large leftover food from plates is enough.
- Let it air-dry: Turning off the heated drying cycle and letting dishes air-dry can significantly cut energy use, with savings ranging from 15% to 50% on your dishwasher's energy consumption.
Of course, handwashing is sometimes necessary for delicate items or when you have only a few dishes. However, embracing your dishwasher is a simple swap that benefits both your utility bills and the planet.
Actionable Tip: If possible, use your dishwasher instead of hand-washing, and always run full loads to save thousands of gallons of water every year! Once you embrace the machine, you’ll wonder why you ever stood by the sink in the first place.
6. Take Shorter Showers
Water conservation is often overlooked but remains crucial for both personal finances and the environment. While it might seem small, reducing your shower length is another simple way to save money and conserve precious freshwater resources.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American shower lasts about eight minutes and uses roughly 18 gallons of water. By trimming just one minute off your shower, you can save 2.2 gallons each time!
Fun Fact: According to a different study done by the Environmental Protection Agency, showering is one of the leading ways we use water in our home, accounting for nearly 17% of residential indoor water use. For an average family, that adds up to nearly 40 gallons per day.
By reducing your shower time, you’re not only saving water, but you’re also cutting down on the energy required to heat that water. Water heating is often the second-largest energy expense in most homes, accounting for about 18% of your utility bill, so shorter showers directly translate into lower electricity bills.
Actionable Tip: If possible, try to cut 2–3 minutes off your shower to save 4–6 gallons of water each time, which helps you conserve water and lower your utility bills.
Notice that the amount of money you can save from your water bill may vary depending on your local water rates. However, its importance extends beyond the water bill itself to include the energy used for heating.
7. Turn Off Water While Brushing Teeth
This is one of the easiest and most impactful daily habits you can adopt. By simply turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, you prevent gallons of clean, treated water from going straight down the drain. (Contributing to overall water conservation efforts!)
Fun Fact: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth wastes up to 4 gallons of water per session! If you brush twice a day, that adds up to more than 200 gallons a month, enough to fill a huge fish tank that holds 6 small sharks!
Every gallon of water you save also reduces your utility bill. While the savings per day may seem small, those accumulated savings can make a noticeable difference in your monthly water bill over time. For example, a family of 3 that turns off the tap while brushing could save up to 720 (8 gallons x 30 days x 3 people) gallons of water per month!
Beyond the environmental and financial benefits, this simple habit also helps build mindfulness around resource use. It’s a small daily reminder that sustainability doesn’t always require big sacrifices, sometimes it’s as simple as turning a handle.
Actionable Tip: Simply turn off the tap while you're brushing your teeth! There's truly no need for the water to be running while the bristles are busy cleaning your teeth.
8. Opt For Eco-Friendly Transportation
Your daily commutes to work and travel adventures can be costly and contribute significantly to your environmental impact. However, I am here to give you a fantastic opportunity to make a positive difference.
Fun Fact: According to Cool California, carpooling with just a friend or coworker to work can reduce your GHG footprint by 2,000 pounds each year. Add more people to your carpool, and the benefits for the environment multiply.
Not just benefits the environment, but carpooling with your friends or coworkers is often a smart, cost-effective, and even more enjoyable way to help save you money.
But it doesn’t stop there! In the same report by Cool California, choosing to walk or bike, even for only a few trips, can reduce the carbon footprint of an average household by up to 1,000 pounds of CO2e annually.
Use public transit when you can or consciously opt for sustainable transportation methods such as walking, biking, or carpooling, and you’ll spend less money on gas, parking fees, or even gym memberships.
Actionable Tip: Shared rides mean fewer cars on the road, less energy consumption, and less money on gas. For short trips, leave the car at home and walk or bike. Walking and biking also reduce your carbon footprint and keep you fit.
You can also check out my in‑depth guide on How to Travel More Sustainably if you are interested in making your holiday trip more eco-friendly. I'll give you 5 actionable tips to reduce your carbon footprint, support local businesses, and experience the destination in a more authentic way.
9. Plan Your Meal
Fun Fact: According to the SC Department of Environmental Services, on average, American households that plan their meals for the week can cut food waste by 21% and save as much as $1,800 in edible food per family each year!
Planning your meals in advance is a game‑changer for both your budget and the planet. When you map out and buy only what you need, you’ll waste less food (and money) at the end of the week.
The best part? It doesn’t take much effort to make a huge impact. To get started, carve out a few minutes each weekend to browse recipes, check what you already have on hand, and write a simple shopping list based on what you and your family want to eat that week.
With this small weekly ritual, you’ll not only see your grocery bills shrink and your kitchen waste plummet, but you’ll also find yourself eating healthier thanks to the balanced, seasonal ingredients you've planned for, instead of relying on last-minute convenience foods.
Beyond the Shopping List
You can take a few extra steps to save even more money and cut down on waste.
- Freeze what you won't use: If you have extra ingredients that might go bad, like leftover rice or vegetables, place them in your fridge for later use. You can also freeze leftovers for a quick, ready-made meal down the road.
- Compost scraps: Turn your food scraps, like banana peel or leftover vegetables, into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. This will redirect waste from landfills and nourish your soil.
Actionable Tip: Plan your meals for the week to avoid buying unnecessary items that could go to waste and save yourself some money along the way. You can also freeze leftovers or compost scraps to redirect food waste into garden gold instead of landfill trash.
Quick Takeaway
Living sustainably doesn’t have to be expensive or inconvenient. In fact, many eco-friendly choices can significantly reduce your utility bills, minimize waste, and lower your overall environmental footprint.
Here are 9 ways to save money while being sustainable:
- Switching to LED bulbs
- Adjusting your thermostats
- Unplugging unused devices
- Adopting smarter laundry habits
- Utilizing your dishwasher
- Taking shorter showers
- Turning off the water while brushing your teeth
- Opting for eco-friendly transportation
- Planning your meals
So there you have it, a roadmap to prove that being eco-conscious and budget-savvy truly go hand in hand. And remember, it is not necessary to do it all at once. Start small, pick one or two practical tips that resonate, and build from there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saving Money While Being Sustainable
Question 1: Is it cheaper to live more sustainably?
Answer: There's a common misconception that sustainable living is an expensive luxury, while some eco-friendly items might have a higher upfront cost, like LED lights, their longevity and reduced operational costs often lead to significant long-term savings.
Question 2: What are the long-term financial benefits of sustainable living?
Answer: You'll most likely see a reduction in your monthly utility bills from adopting energy-efficient appliances and habits. You might also lower your transportation expenses or even reduce your medical expenses by embracing a healthier, more active lifestyle. And as a bonus, your home's value may increase due to your added sustainable features.
Question 3: Should I invest in high-quality items even if they cost more upfront?
Answer: While the initial cost might be higher, investing in high-quality, durable items is often a smarter financial and sustainable choice in the long run. Higher quality products are often designed to last, ultimately saving you money and reducing waste over time. reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Last Updated: October 21, 2025
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