Six green ways to save money you've never heard before

by Serena Cowdy on 04 September 2009  |  9 comments
Tweet

How to go green AND save money - in six ways that aren't bleeding obvious!

It's not easy being green, especially since - often - the ethical choice is also the expensive choice.

However, going green doesn't always have to cost you more. In fact, there are plenty of ways in which saving the planet could actually save you cash.

Already switched everything off standby, bought energy-saving bulbs and turned that thermostat down?

Keep reading! Here are six innovative ways you can go green AND save money. I've included a 'difficulty rating' for each step, to help you work out how much hassle it's going to be.

1. Get cash for your old mobile

Do you have an old handset that you don't know what to do with? It's now really easy to recycle it for cash. There are several online companies dedicated to re-homing your phone and/or its components - and that'll be one less item in landfill, too.

Read Turn your old mobile phone into cash! to find out more.

Difficulty rating: Easy-peasy

2. Knowledge is power!

Are you 100% confident you're doing everything you can to cut the cost of your energy bills in your home? If not, get a free home energy check from the Energy Saving Trust.

It may also be a good idea to use an energy monitor like The Owl to work out exactly how much energy you're using, and how much it's costing you. You can pick up a good quality energy monitor for well under £50.

Studies suggest users are typically shocked into reducing their energy consumption by around 20%. According to Consumer Focus, the average annual UK electricity bill is £453, so cutting your electricity use by 20% could save you around £90 per year.

Similarly, when you're out buying appliances, look for the Energy Saving Recommended (ESR) logo. This appears on over 2,500 products, including TVs, fridges, tumble dryers and washing machines. Again, you can compare the prices of energy saving products at the Energy Saving Trust website.

Difficulty rating: Easy-peasy

3. Get some balls!

Ecoballs are plastic balls which you put in with your laundry, instead of detergent. Each ball contains pellets made of mineral salts, and these pellets produce ionized oxygen, which - combined with the movement of the balls - lifts dirt away from your clothes.

Using them will obviously save you money on detergent. And because there are fewer chemicals to rinse out of your clothes, you can use a shorter cycle and wash at a lower temperature, saving energy and money that way, too.

But do they really work? In her blog, lovemoney.com editor Donna Werbner put Ecoballs and three other green products to the test - so why not have a read before you buy!

Difficulty rating: Easy-peasy

4. Don't just insulate your home - insulate it for FREE

In recent months, everyone from environmentalists to politicians have been telling us to 'lag the lofts'. Insulating your home is one of the most effective ways of cutting your energy usage and heating bills.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, loft insulation could save you around £110 a year, cavity wall insulation could save you around £90 a year, and double glazing could save you around £100 a year.

That's all very well, but many people are put off taking these steps because of the initial financial outlay involved. Plus, it's bleeding obvious again!

But what's not so obvious is that you could be eligible for a government or local authority grant to cover the work needed. If you're on certain benefits, you could be entitled to government grants of up to £3,500 to improve your heating and energy efficiency.

In England the scheme is known as Warm Front, in Northern Ireland it is Warm Homes, in Scotland it is the Energy Assistance Package and in Wales it is the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme. To find out whether you're eligible for financial help, just click on the link that applies to you.

Difficulty rating: Moderate, if you manage to get funding to cover the project.

5. Get a free bike

Cycling to work instead of driving is greener, cheaper and will even keep you fit (so you can cancel that pricy gym subscription, too!).

OK... so you probably knew that already. But did you know that you can get a tax-free bike through the Government's Cycle to Work initiative? You may also be able to get a free secondhand bicycle on Freecycle or SnaffleUp.

Difficulty rating: Challenging!

6. Stop wasting food!

A third of the food we buy in the UK is thrown away, costing an estimated £10 billion a year.

Food which ends up in a landfill produces damaging greenhouse gases and is a terrible waste of the energy, water and packaging used in food production, transportation and storage.

But the great news is, it's really easy to stop wasting food. Visit the Love Food, Hate Waste website to get recipes for leftovers and tips on how to make the most of the food that you buy.

Difficulty rating: Moderate - but easy-peasy once you get the hang of it!

More: 10 things to put off until the recession is over | 50% chance energy prices will rise