Sustainable living is generally considered friendlier to the environment than your bank account. For many homeowners, expensive upgrades, such as adding solar panels, require too much green. Going green however, does not have to leave you drowning in red ink. The low-cost projects that follow, each about $200 or less, will help you cut energy costs and reduce your impact on the environment without building up a pile of debt.

Source: www.sxc.hu

Plant shade trees

Planting leafy trees around the south and east side of your home can help cut cooling costs while contributing to the fight against global warming. Why leafy trees? Because those big green leaves provide shade that cools your house in summer and relieves stress on your air conditioning system. In winter, the bare trees allow the warm sun to shine through, saving on heating costs and making your home more comfortable. Trees also gobble up carbon dioxide, the leading contributor to the greenhouse effect. Select fast-growing trees, such as maples, burr oaks and river birches. Find out the size of the tree at full maturity before planting; locate it where it provides maximum shade with plenty of room to grow. The purchase price for shade trees is typically $50 or less.

Build a clothesline

Clothes dryers use a lot of energy, costing as much as $100 per year or more. Why not air-dry your clothes for free? Clotheslines do not require energy, and avoiding the intense heat of the dryer may help to keep your clothes looking new longer. Clotheslines are simple to make, just attach a line between two stationary objects. Clothesline kits are available for purchase at many home and garden stores and online. Retractable clothesline and post sets, which can be moved out of the way when not in use, are also available. The cost is typically less than $50.

Install a programmable thermostat

Few energy-efficiency upgrades pay for themselves as quickly as this one can. A typical seven-day programmable thermostat retails at $100 to $150, while properly setting and maintaining it can save homeowners up to $180 per year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This makes for a very fast return-on-investment. To optimize savings, follow manufacturer’s guidelines regarding setting up and using the device.

Source: www.epa.gov

Set up a rain barrel

Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for watering plants or washing your car. It provides a supply of soft water that is free of chlorine, lime or calcium. A rain barrel can save you up to 1,300 gallons of water during the summer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Water conservation good for the environment and it can save you money, too! Rain barrels also divert water from storm drains, which decreases the impact of runoff to streams. A typical 55-gallon rain barrel costs around $100 or less, although decorative models may cost more.

Start a compost bin

Composting is often thought of as dirty smelly, and wormy. However, modern composting is easy, odor-free and friendly to the environment. It creates a rich soil additive that can improve your lawn and garden without adding chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Composting also helps fight climate change by cutting carbon dioxide and methane emissions when organic waste sits neglected in landfills. Composting bins can be purchased for as little as $50, although larger units with more features may cost $300 or more. Better yet; build your own bin. All you need is a small amount of lumber and plywood, some hardware, plastic sheets and a pound of worms.