Is going green really cost efficient?

Question

Is going green really cost efficient?

Answer 1

Generally, although green products tend to cost more initially, they save money over time.  CFLs, for example, cost a little more than incandescent bulbs, but they use about one-fourth as much electricity to produce the same brightness, and they last longer so they don't have to be changed as often.

Answer 2

I would said not efficient at all for now.Solar panel is so expensive cuz the sillicon is so expensive.But scientist is working on how to cut down the cost for the solar panel .

Answer 3

Nope, it uses more energy and it will cost you more, especially if everyone does it. Getting "green" foods..... well, also called organic, is expensive. It will go higher if everyone buys it. I refuse to buy energy saving bulbs. That light it gives off gives me a head ache.

Think about this. Do you really want to get a Smart Car? So tiny and makes you more vulnerable to accidents. Or be safe in a nice new truck. Think about it.......Is it worth your whole life to save money on gas?

Answer 4

I can only speak from my own personal experience. Yes. It has hugely helped my finances.  The biggest chunk of savings in is reducing. I've reduced the junkola that I buy. When I do buy stuff I get quality that may cost a little more but lasts two or three times longer. By re-using what I can I don't have to buy as much.  I've reduced my electric and water bill.  My transportation costs have dropped including gas, oil changes, and insurance - and long term less wear and tear on my car means I don't have to replace it as soon.  I use natural products like vinegar and that's way cheaper than cleaners. And contrary to popular belief my food bill has also gone done. You just have to shop a little smarter, but it's possible.

I haven't totally greened my home systems but I have run the numbers and long term that would also be cost efficient in both the savings and the added value of my home.

Answer 5

For me personally, it is more a matter of self-sustainability, reliant on nobody for my needs except me and my own two hands. So, speaking monetarily, you won't see the dividends for some years, but the feeling one gets from being self reliant for energy and food is priceless. So, I would say there are different costs one should take into consideration, and money is just one of them. There have been many times that the lights in town went out, but we were happily sitting in our self powered home watching tv or reading at night, or whatever. Being without power bites, but if you make your own, no problem!

Answer 6

Haha.. I think electric/gas wise... It works out for you.  But if you were gonna try and go all green food wise, as in natural foods.... You get kicked in the butt.

Have you ever noticed how the healthy stuff people should be eating, costs more than want me really want to eat (junk food)? :P

Answer 7

Going green can be cost efficient depending on exactly what you do.  There are the simple things like using energy efficient items and the like.  One thing that more home owners could look into is geothermal power.  The more energy costs rise, the more this form of heating and cooling makes sense.

Answer 8

Some of the things we've started doing out of necessity cause of the gas prices have also helped us to go greener at the same time. I've found if you do your research you can find ways to cut your cost and use greener products at the same time.

Use energy efficient appliances - Lowers electric usage and power bill

Borrow books\movies from library - or buy used copies

Make your house a home - enjoy time at home (Saves on Gas)

Try changing where and how you shop buy concentrated products (smaller pkg less waste)

Mail order - (Shipping can be cheaper than gas)

Air dry clothes\blankets\pillows

Use wash rags in stead of paper towels

Use regular plates instead of foam

Grow your own produce when possible

Compost for your own mulch

Plan your errons and your route for a day you need to be out anyway. This will elimate extra trips back to town.

Recycle - you can get cash for some items if you cash them in like cans.

Go for a walk\jog in your neighbor hood instead of going to the gym (saves gas and membership fees)

Answer 9

Currently green technology is not cost efficient in the short term, but cost efficient in the long term.

A good example is an LED floodlight. You get 100,000 hours out of that bulb over a lifetime. It uses 11 watts of power and puts out enough light for a 90 plus watt lightbulb. It lasts at least 10 years. However the bulb you are replacing is $6 or $7 and the LED floodlight is $195. Now say you have to replace that bulb 2x a year for ten years. That's 20 bulbs. Say $120 in today's dollars. You still pay $195 less the $120 and that's $75 more.

Now extrapolate the 79 watts you don't use over the next ten years of time, and that might be well over a couple hundred dollars.

So in the end you do save money, but you have to wait a long time to see the "green dividend".

Part of this issue has to do with the fact that there isn't enough mass production to make the green technology cheap enough so that it's in reach NOW, not 10 years from now.

Another example would be a solar power pack. It costs a lot of money now to buy the panels and the batteries, along with the step up transformers, etc. But it saves you money over 5 or 6 years so that you break even on your investment at that time and start saving afterwards.

Again the problem is its not cheap enough NOW to show immediate results.

If the price were reasonable and savings were more immediate, then the democracy of the marketplace would dictate that green is cost effective, and therefore, the new technology would overcome the old.

Therefore, until the price of the technology is well within reach of the average consumer, it will be the choice of those that have the wealth to invest in it, and wait for their returns. Otherwise, it is not immediately cost-effective NOW, but likely would be in the future.

Answer 10

in some ways yes, the process of going green takes adjusting and at times can be an inconvenience, but it's worth it in the long run

Answer 11

Ask people in third world countries if they can afford to install some solar panels, or pay taxes for a windmill to be built and you’ll find that green technology is only affordable for the industrialized counties.

To limit them to passive energy and not to build cheap and affordable coal powered plants is unethical and corrupted

Answer 12

It could either be or not.buy energy saving light bulbs,walk or cycle instead of using cars;these are2examples of cost effiecient.pay carbon offset,buy organic stuff;not  cost efficient

Answer 13

To truley go green absolutly. The 1st principal is reduce. If you learn to use what you have and repair instead of replace you can save lots of money. Reducing energy use will save lots of money too. The 2nd principal is reuse, that is not only finding use for things that you may have thrown away or recycled, but also eleminating or reduceing disposable or single use items. The 3rd principal is recycle, you can make some money by recycling some items, you may also save money by reducing your waste or you can make compost with your green waste.

You can also save a lot of money on food if you grow your own or join a community garden or coop. I shop at a certified local farmers market for almost all my produce as well as my meat, the prices are often less than the grocery store.

Answer 14

Typically, no. The more conscientious you are about your choices, the more its going to cost you. I'm no advocate of "organic" anything, being a farmer myself, but look at the cost of food. The people who need good food, have a few options, they can go to McDonald's and get a hamburger for a dollar, or the can go to the store and buy 2 organic soy no-meat patties for 8 dollars plus the cost of a bun and all the ketchup you'll need to choke it down.

going green in other areas will likely save you money... in the long run. Most appliances are energy saving, windows energy efficient, and insulation high R factor. All of these things are considered commodities and allways cost more to purchase. The idea of going green is great and should be practicied by all but in most cases your gonna pay to do the right thing.

Answer 15

On the consumer level, no.  On the national policy level, yes.  The EPA does cost-benefit studies, and if a regulation is costly with little benefit, it does not happen.

So lead out of gas, regulation of automobile exhaust, particulates, etc. have a positive return.

On the consumer side, it gets expensive quickly.  Solar and wind power are extraordinarily expensive, and wouldn't even be considered without the tax breaks.

Organic food is just paying more for food.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) just introduce mercury into your home, and mercury is a very bad pollutant.

If you really want to go green, just spend less money.  That equates to using less energy and fewer resources.

Answer 16

When you just started to go green, it does cost more money. Yeah, you need to buy new energy-saving lamps, reusable bottles, shopping bags. But, energy-saving lamps means you get to buy less lamps for the next time. That means less money to spend on lamps and lighting. While reusable bottles, plates, and shopping bags reduce the usage of the disposable ones. The production of the disposable stuffs takes more energy because there are more quantity needed than the reusable ones. So, yeah, it's more efficient.

Duh!

Answer 17

Well biofuel didn't start showing up at the pump untill gasoline started to get over 3.00 per gallon so no I don't thinks it's cost effective.    Thouu it may be cost effective for the companies that stay in busness when gasoline is over 3 dollars per gallon. The problem with oil right now is simply the fact that most of it is overseas and are american dollar is only worth just a little more than half of it's intended value so there fore we are having to pAY TWICE AS MUCH DOLLARs to compensate for our governments debt owed to other world banks. The good news the price can  and will lower once the economy recovers from the recession. The bad news about biofuel however is that it will be expensive period and will go up in cost with inflation.

Answer 18

It may be cost efficient for society as a whole, and some aspects are clearly cost efficient for the individual.

My economy style solar heated home has saved more already in heating costs than the cost of the house. We have no fear of power outage or gas supply failing, but our winter temperatures do vary from 15C to 35C.

My energy star appliances and LED  and curly bulbs pay for themselves in energy savings. But the return on investment is not high. A car that uses half as much fuel per km driven, and driven half as many km per year will pay you. But having paid very little for it as well makes it a sound buy on the cost side. It has less luxury and prestige than a costly gas guzzler.

Growing your own food organically, yes, it can pay you well. and you have excess to give away.

Not buying a lot of stuff to clutter up the house or the landfill has been cost effective. I do not even buy a newspaper.

All in all, my strategy has been to save money while going green, so for me, going green has been cost efficient. But people who are less cost conscious can spend quite a lot more. But that is true when one is not going green too.

Answer 19

As a matter of fact, it is very cost efficient, and even a great business concept. Check this reference for great ideas for green businesses

Answer 20

It honestly depends on how you go green. There are 2 ways: #1 is to go green by avoiding waste, and reducing what you use. #2 is buy all recycled products, and organic stuff. This can be summed up by saying all your green goes to some business.