Three Ways to Go Green & Save Green this Earth Day
Earth Day is the perfect reminder to take care of the world we live in, so today, FDLCU would like to provide you with three tips on how to go green while saving you green.
1. Make Eco-Friendly Home Improvements
Make your home more energy efficient, increase its resale value, and save money when tax time comes around by making eco-friendly home improvements. Fond du Lac Credit Union offers low-cost home equity loans to assist in this process. Here are some of the top "green" home improvements:
- Replace your old lightbulbs with efficient, long-lasting, energy-efficient LED lightbulbs.
- Lower your energy bill while increasing your home’s resale value by updating your windows. When purchasing new windows, look for NFRC and Energy Star labels, as well as windows with both low U-factors and low SHGCs.
- Update your thermostat, especially if you’ve recently replaced an air conditioner or heater. The older a thermostat is, the less accurate it will be in detecting temperature levels, and not to mention the more inefficient it will operate. Look into Smart or programmable thermostats, which can provide noticeable energy savings.
- Research renewable energy systems. Installing renewable energy systems or equipment in your home, such as solar panels or solar shingles, wind turbines, and geothermal heating systems can qualify you for a Renewable Energy Efficiency Property Credit, as well as increase your home’s resale value while saving you money month-to-month.
2. Avoid Single-Use Plastics
Single-use plastics are EVERYWHERE. Nearly all products in a grocery store are contained within some form of plastic because it’s faster and more convenient. We’d much rather pay more for fruit already cut up and placed in a plastic container, than buying the whole fruit and preparing it at home.
The sad impact of this reality is that single-use plastics are now in our lakes and oceans, which impact our fish and other underwater creatures, thus impacting you and me. Even when plastic is disposed of properly, there is still an overabundance that will sit in a landfill while either being carried away by the wind or leaking harmful pollutants into a watershed.
Plastic has been found to never biodegrade, meaning that the more we purchase, use, and dispose of it, the more plastics there will be sitting around and damaging our Earth. It may feel hopeless to even attempt to tackle this massive issue, but every little bit adds up.
Here are three of the many ways to help make a change while even saving you money:
- Bring reusable bags with you to the grocery store. Places like Festival Foods or Pick n’ Save will offer you discounts for every reusable bag you bring in.
- Purchasing products with less or no packaging make a huge difference, not only in how much plastic is being disposed of but in how much money you save. Buy the whole pineapple instead of the expensive, pre-cut one in the plastic container. And remember, consumers’ purchase behaviors are what impact ALL of the products you see in your stores.
- Invest in a reusable water bottle and a water filter. Doing this saves an average of 156 plastic bottles annually and prevents you from wasting money on constantly buying packages of water bottles.
3. Manage Your Finances Online
By utilizing FDLCU’s online and mobile banking features, you can reduce fuel emissions and save trees, while saving time and money on gas. Here’s how:
- Convert your paper statements to E-Statements through your online banking account. Access your account’s history without leaving your home.
- Set-up online Bill Pay through your online banking account. You’re not only saving trees by viewing your statements online, but you’re also reducing fuel emissions, as the post office won’t have to deliver your payments and statements every month. Not to mention, you save money on stamps!
- Instead of driving to our branch, use the FDLCU mobile banking app to deposit your checks.