{"id":4413,"date":"2009-04-15T09:13:26","date_gmt":"2009-04-15T15:13:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=4413"},"modified":"2009-04-15T09:13:26","modified_gmt":"2009-04-15T15:13:26","slug":"how-to-live-richly-go-green-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/how-to-live-richly-go-green-on-a-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Live Richly: Go Green on a Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Go<\/a>There should be no secrets among those who continue to prosper in mostly non-financial ways despite the challenging economic times.\u00a0 These people live (and perhaps work) following the laws of nature more than the “laws of supply and demand” of the increasingly dysfunctional \u201cfree\u201d and global marketplace.<\/p>\n

Here’s how to thrive in the abundance of renewable energy, organic food and a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle.<\/strong> While not all frugality rules, this approach to living more sustainably does require some degree of curtailment<\/a>, scaling down and living within our means.\u00a0 It means using credit cards less<\/a> and relying on community members or family more.\u00a0 However, the result can be a rich life filled with health and well-being, friends and family, more time to do the things you love to do (imagine that!), a greater sense of purpose, and, my favorite, happiness.<\/p>\n

Below are a few suggestions to get you started or continue your journey.\u00a0 Please add some of your own in the comments.\u00a0 Maybe some of the BIG banks or BIG government<\/a> folks might take notice that a few ideas do not involve printing and spending trillions of dollars to “spur consumption.”<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0 Powering the renewable energy revolution<\/p>\n

Times couldn’t be better for installing your own renewable energy system or improving your energy efficiency of your home or business (or both!), depending on the state you live in.\u00a0 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extended the Energy Policy Act of 2005. These new acts extend and expand the federal tax credits available for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements made in 2009 and beyond.\u00a0 There are numerous renewable energy cash-back incentives, tax credits and low interest loans that can help ease the transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to one that thrives on solar income.\u00a0 Check out the Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency<\/a> (www.dsireusa.org) to see what\u2019s available in your state.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We’re looking to add a 1kW or 2kW photovoltaic system to our cabin (to spin our electric meter backwards) and seize greater self-reliance with locally-produced renewable energy.\u00a0 For those of us living in Wisconsin, for example, “Federal and state tax incentives are now available to home and business owners who install energy efficient equipment, adopt renewable energy measures or improve the overall efficiency of a home or building,” according to the Wisconsin Focus on Energy website.\u00a0 “Wisconsin manufacturers can also exempt the sales taxes they pay on energy used to make their products,\u201d perfect for those interested in launching a greentech or clean tech enterprise.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0 Growing at least some of your own food<\/p>\n

In World War II, Americans called them “Victory Gardens.”\u00a0 Today, backyard gardens (or roof top and container gardens, if in the city)<\/a> are one of the quickest ways to secure fresh, organic, healthy, nutrient-rich foods without having them airlifted or sent by ground from over 1,200 miles away.\u00a0 Savings are immediate.\u00a0 Forget about “investing” in the stock market.\u00a0 Invest in your own food; you’ll get an amazing return on your investment in a $1.39 packet of seeds within a matter of months.\u00a0 Nature tends to produce in abundance, not scarcity.\u00a0 Ever see an apple tree blooming in the spring, with hundreds and hundreds of blossoms?<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0 Finding affordable healthcare<\/p>\n

Until affordable healthcare is a right of every citizen in America, if you have kids and are working, consider signing up for state sponsored healthcare, officially called State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), administered through your county’s Department of Health and Human Services.\u00a0 Go to Insure Kids Now<\/a> to see if your working family may qualify.\u00a0 If you don’t have a job (but have kids), start your own home-based business (see below), then apply.\u00a0 Recently, funding has been expanded by congress which extends the reach of the SCHIP program, designed to meet the healthcare needs of children nationally.\u00a0 It’s likely that this is the beginning of affordable healthcare for all, when combined with Medicare for the people age 65 and older.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0 Focus on healthy living and well-being (aka preventative health)<\/p>\n

What’s better than affordable healthcare?\u00a0 Not needing to visit the hospital or doctor’s office in the first place as we suggest in Rural Renaissance<\/a>.\u00a0 Preventative care, whether it comes in the form of what you eat or the regular amount of daily exercise you might get, can go a long way to avoiding any medical bills whatsoever.\u00a0 Instead of watching TV, for example, take up gardening, volunteering for an activity which requires some walking or movement (say, helping with Habitat for Humanity in your community) or going on a regular bike ride with your kids (or walk with elderly parents).<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 Run your own business from a home office<\/p>\n

As my wife and I explain at length in ECOpreneuring<\/a>, it’s time to rethink the old worker model of having to go to an office, work in a BIG corporation, earn lots of income (to have a lot of it taxed away), and retire with the gold watch (these days with a pension and a corporate healthcare plan on the fritz).\u00a0 Lean, green, family-scaled and local, these businesses are owned by millions of Americans\u00a0 who have discovered a good life<\/a> with an enterprise headquartered in a spare bedroom transformed into a home office.\u00a0 Why not you?<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0 Do it yourself<\/p>\n

With millions of Americans out of work and millions more forced to take unpaid furloughs or reduced hours, this is a time where good old American self-reliance can re-emerge in the form of do-it-yourself activities.\u00a0 Forget the daycare, let’s raise our own kids.\u00a0 That leaky toilet or faucet doesn’t require Joe the plumber, just a little research on the Internet or a good book and presto, the leak is gone without spending much or any money.\u00a0 In many cases, it’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with or reach of to neighbors in our communities who still remember how to fix leaks, repair cracks or can apple sauce.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0 Un-shopping: Conserving, not Consuming<\/p>\n

Need not, spend not (and by default: waste not).\u00a0 Buying less and wasting less is the easiest, cheapest way to show concern for the environment.\u00a0 When we do have a need, perhaps a set of jeans or a microwave, why not see if someone already has what you need for free in your community?\u00a0 It’s easy, thanks to freecycle.org, craigslist.org and a growing number of local gift or barter exchanges.\u00a0 What’s in common with all these forms is a transfer to goods (and in some cases services) without the use of money.\u00a0 Individual self-interest is trumped by community interest.\u00a0 So let’s start taking care of our community.<\/p>\n

Photograph Credit (creative commons license):\u00a0\u00a0 Piggy savings bank by alancleaver_2000<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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