It is more important than ever to realize that our world is the most important resource we’ve been given in modern society. Natural environmental factors have the possibility to affect this generation and so many to come.

So many articles and resources focus on climate change as it relates to our driving methods or our bad habits, such as throwing garbage in landfills instead of recycling. People also worry that alternative methods used to save the atmosphere will have adverse effects on individuals’ pocketbooks.

It needs to be made aware to the general population that you can and should find eco-friendly ways to support change right in your own home. These methods can be simultaneously ingenious: they will help out Mother Earth and cut down tremendously on your utility bills.

First, we need to answer the question of what’s considered a utility bill? Is this just electricity and water? Or can it also include your car insurance and other auto complications?

A utility is a statement of money owed for essential services for a house or business. That means electricity, water and sewage, gas, and garbage disposal. Some will also include telephone, internet, and cable to that list.

Here are five simple sustainability tips to cut down on your utility bills and your damage to the planet all at once.

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Read on to find out five simple sustainability tips to cut down on your bills and your damage to the planet all at once.

#1 – Have Fun With Non-Electrical Activities

Electricity is one of the double-whammy bad necessities of living in modern culture. It costs a ton to pay your electric bill each month, and you are contributing to energy consumption that increases the non-green footprint in your area.

It may not seem like much, but there are tons of ways you can enjoy yourself during leisure time with your friends and family simply by turning the lights out, shutting down the TV and video games, and enjoying old-school fun.

Reading a book, playing a board game, taking a candlelit bath, or some friendly table poker or gambling in a dim kitchen is so good for the atmosphere and will slash your monthly energy bills, especially if you get in the habit of doing this multiple nights a week instead of just once in a blue moon.

#2 – Turn off Unnecessary Water

Water is essential for every home or residence, but we know that humans often consume too much of it without really thinking. This raises your water bill sky high and wastes one of our planet’s essential natural resources. So many people don’t have access to clean water, so when you are lucky enough to have it, you should cherish it and sparingly enjoy it.

Consider taking a shower instead of a bath every once in a while. Most studies estimate that showers are more efficient, but that’s only if you take a shower that is under 10 minutes. Going over that amount of time under the showerhead will actually be more wasteful than filling up a standard-sized bathtub.

Stop running your sprinkler all night during the summer when the grass needs a drink. Think about installing a sprinkler system that will be on a timer and cut out the extra water that is wasted when you have to manually turn the hose on and off.

#3 – Install Solar Panels

Solar panels are one of the more forgotten attributes of green living space. They are a one-time investment that serves the dual effect of lighting your home and recycling the natural sunlight that we enjoy.

You would be amazed at how much you can save on your electrical bills and how much energy is conserved when taking advantage of the natural environment instead of the toxic presence of outdated electrical methods.

The panels are easily installed on most types of roofs and require nothing more than a yearly checkup by an installation professional to make sure they are clean and supply a sufficient amount of energy to your home.

Don’t get discouraged by how much they cost at the initial installation, as they are a long-term win for your finances and especially for the environment.

#4 – Have Fun With Alternate Methods of Travel

Electric cars solve the carbon emission problem when driving motor vehicles everywhere, every day. What it doesn’t address is how expensive it is to buy something like a Tesla, and it gives people the wrong impression about how helping the environment is ultra-aggressive on your wallet.

This means that people need to consider non-motorized solutions to the travel issue. It isn’t always realistic to walk or ride a bike to work. Still, it certainly is something people should strongly desire when taking a short trip to the grocery store or mini-vacation with the family over the weekend to somewhere semi-local.

There are so many extraneous benefits to physical activity serving as transportation. It costs nothing after you buy the bicycle or jogging shoes, it has no negative impacts on the environment, and it’s just as great for your health and wellness. Killing three birds in one stone is not something you have the opportunity to do very often in completing objectives in life.

And if you eliminate car travel from your life altogether, you also get to rid yourself of car insurance fees. While auto insurance is not technically considered a utility, it is a requirement that weighs on your budget if not shopped for properly.

#5 – Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

Back to ol’ reliable. Recycling has been one of the most enduring methods to improve the atmosphere around us. People may get tired of listening to the recycling talk by green activists, but it does work. It can even get fun when you are creative with your recycling.

Discovering new ways to recycle will lower your carbon footprint and your utility bill because paying for composting and waste services weekly is quite expensive. Instead of getting rid of these items in your home, think about how you can use something for a different purpose.

Rinse out a plastic baggie and use it for another snack the next day. Keep your yogurt or ice cream cups and use them when you need an excess container for somewhere else in your household. Use a shoebox as a storage unit for supplies or an art project. The statement “One man’s trash is another’s treasure” can be flipped into “There is no trash.”

You don’t need to go overboard on this strategy because everyone likes new items. Just use your common sense and if it feels like something could be reused or turned into something else, give it a try and see how it goes.

About the Author

Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. He enjoys giving people advice on how to live more effectively and efficiently and save money on their auto and residential expenses.