Learn about how living a sustainable life can actually cost you less money at the end of the day!
With the effects of climate change only intensifying, sustainability efforts are needed now more than ever. However, there is still a commonly-held misconception that incorporating greener practices will incur more costs than they will produce benefits. While it is true that the widespread systematic implementation of green infrastructure is expensive, there are measures that can be taken that not only reduce pollution and negative impacts on the environment, but are cost-effective as well.
For individuals, making small changes to daily habits can significantly decrease monthly spending and drastically reduce waste. Most importantly, making the commitment to shift mindsets surrounding sustainability leads to a larger integration of these practices, setting future generations up for a greener, more efficient future.
Energy
Making sustainability affordable starts at the bottom, with the consumer. Electricity is a primary necessity for any household, but rising costs are proving to become a burden to the average American. Despite a lowered rate of inflation, energy costs have continued to rise post-pandemic, reaching an average of 16.48 cents per kilowatt hour in 2024—the highest average the United States has seen thus far (EIA, 2025). This trend results in residential households paying thousands of dollars each year on electricity alone.
To make energy use both more sustainable and cost-effective, there are a number of solutions consumers can explore. One example is scheduling an energy audit to determine areas where your energy use is inefficient. Individuals’ energy can be flared by something as simple as weak insulation around doors and windows, or obstructed air flow through air conditioning vents. By enlisting for a free energy audit and following your utility company’s recommendations, you could decrease your energy bill by up to 30%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (Stanger & Lindwall, 2024). Not only does this relieve pressure on your monthly bills, but it also reduces unnecessary carbon emissions associated with energy consumption.
Clothing
Another method of saving money while shrinking your carbon footprint is by changing the way you shop for your clothing. The rise of online shopping and fast fashion has made shopping for clothes as easy as the click of a button, which has resulted in an exponential increase in consumerism and rapid cycling of fashion trends.
However, the ease of choosing from hundreds of different styles has overwhelmed the clothing industry with thousands of tons of clothing waste each year from discarded clothes. In the aftermath of this waste, an average of 80% of textiles end up in landfills each year (Virgens, 2022). In the United States alone, the annual number of discarded garments has increased by 10 million tons in the last 20 years (Virgens, 2022). As a whole, this makes the clothing industry one of the top contributors to global carbon emissions and the second leading contributor to global industrial waste.
To combat this problem as a consumer, one of the most effective methods to shift your consumption is to shop for secondhand clothing. Thrift and consignment stores offer clothes that have been lightly used or never used at all, and at a significantly lower price than what new garments would sell for originally. Many of these stores also offer vintage clothing made before the rise of fast fashion, making it much more durable and made to last more than a few washes. Instead of shopping for new cheaply-made outfits every month that quickly fall apart, you can save on clothing by buying pieces that are made to last longer.
One of the main roadblocks to changing the way people shop for their clothing is the culture of consumerism in the United States and around the world. However, there has already been a rise in secondhand clothing sellers with companies like Depop and Poshmark, where people can shop for used clothing online, making sustainability easy and accessible.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Finally, there are small day-to-day changes that you can implement into your daily routine to reduce your daily waste, making a big difference in your carbon footprint over time. For example, instead of using plastic water bottles, consider swapping them for something reusable and sustainable like stainless steel or glass. As for your old plastic water bottles, if you’d like to get some use out of them before getting rid of them, they can be a great receptacle for plant stem propagation—the process of growing new plants out of cuttings from old houseplants.
Furthermore, although there is an initial cost to buying reusable items like stainless steel water bottles, the money that you spend up front actually amounts to far less than the money you would spend continuously buying disposable bottles. In fact, the average American can save up to $1,350 per year using a refillable bottle, which lasts around 12 years. (Boston University, 2023). And these savings don’t just apply to water bottles. Switching to reusable plates, water glasses, and cleaning supplies are all ways to save money over time, and make a big difference in your yearly waste.
Additional Reading: What to Use Instead of Plastic: On-the-Go or At Home
Takeaways
In conclusion, sustainability requires a shift in mindset and behavior, but it is a misconception that this shift will accrue more costs. In fact, it can be quite the opposite. An attitude that frames sustainability as a hindrance rather than an asset doesn’t just harm the planet, it makes the daily lives of average Americans more expensive. Although it takes some effort, the future benefits realized from a sustainable society far outweigh the costs of present discomfort from changing habits, and everyone can contribute.
Written by: Flannery Streiff
Edited by: Henry C. Passerini
Flannery Streiff is a writer and youth program developer for Restored Lands. Originally from Boise, Idaho, and currently based in Michigan pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies and Energy Science from the University of Michigan! Growing up in Idaho, Flannery gained a deep appreciation for all that the outdoors has to offer, which is what brought her to pursue a career in sustainability.
Links:
Boston University. (2023). Busting myths about water bottles. Boston University Sustainability. https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/2023/02/22/water-bottle-myths/#:~:text=Myth%20%231%3A%20Reusable%20water%20bottles%20aren’t%20worth%20it&text=The%20average%20American%20can%20save,cost%20between%20%2415%20and%20%2450
Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2025). https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_3
Stanger, T., & Lindwall, C. (2024). Lower Your Energy Bills Right Now. Consumer Reports, 89(5), 48–55 https://research-ebsco-com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/linkprocessor/plink?id=b8b5e723-eedf-37bc-8da4-4c8eb3f54212
(Virgens, N. das, Silva, S., & Laranjeira, E. (2022). Applications of the circular economy to the second-hand textile and clothing market: the case of Humana in Portugal. International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 16(2), 214–223. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.umich.edu/10.1080/17543266.2022.2150447).
