While trying to be more environmentally friendly is a commendable goal, a lot of people are wary of making the lifestyle changes it requires. One of the more prominent concerns that people have is the cost required to “go green.” As it turns out, not only can it be affordable to go green, but you can actually profit off of many of the efforts involved. Here are just a few ways that anyone can cash in on environmentally friendly choices.

Tax Incentives

Any time you can write something off on your taxes, it is always a welcome surprise. However, did you know that by purchasing a solar panel system for generating energy for your home comes with a 30% tax credit that you can use as a tax write off? This federal tax incentive has been extended on through 2021. While you can really save on your taxes using this form of alternative energy, you must act before the end of 2021 to take advantage of this government tax break. Using solar energy can also save you money on your utility costs by supplying energy to your home that you don’t have to get through a service. While most people double up by purchasing energy alongside their solar panels, the panels themselves cut down on how much energy you need to buy elsewhere, and many companies will pay you for the excess energy that your solar panels generate.

Trading Cash for Recycling

If you have old appliances or scrap metal laying around, then you might be able to turn these items into cold hard cash. Most scrap metal services will pay you for any metal you can bring to them, including old radiators, appliances, electronics, and so on. While most wires can’t be directly recycled due to their rubber coating, there are places you can sell those, as well, where the rubber coating is stripped and recycled separately from the wire inside. Other recycling services will pay for cartons, recyclable plastic containers, and other materials depending on their specialty. Taking advantage of this is great for the planet and also gives you some extra spending money from what otherwise would just have been trash.

Energy Savings

Going green does more than just earn you cash, however. Eco-friendly lifestyles and behaviors also encourage you to be more efficient with the money that you already have. Replacing energy inefficient appliances, such as your dryer or HVAC system, with energy-efficient models can really help you keep more of your monthly income. This is because energy efficient appliances tend to use less electricity; thus, helping to keep your electric bill at a minimum. Most newer models have been upgraded to meet modern energy efficiency standards, but finding Energy Star rated appliances can take your energy savings one step further.

Saving Water

Whether you are doing laundry in a water-saving washing machine or flushing a water efficient toilet, the amount of water you save matters. While the earth is composed mostly of water, only less than 3-percent of this water is actually drinkable. The rest of the water is salt water and not suitable to use drinking. So, using water-efficient appliances cuts your water bill down and, at the same time, it helps out everyone else by preventing our planet’s drinking water from being used up to quickly. To take your water conservation a step further, you can invest in a greywater recycling plant that can be installed on your property to treat and reuse non-drinking water, or greywater, for your sprinklers, toilet, and other appliances.

While many are wary of the costs of green living, it’s clear that there is more to be gained than lost from making those lifestyle changes. Whether earning cash from recycled items, getting tax incentives from renewable energy solutions, or saving money in utility costs, there are a lot of ways that anyone can gain from protecting the planet. Eco-responsible living is a benefit both to the planet and individuals, and should be highly considered by anyone who wants to live responsibly while making ends meet.