Invest in Solar 

Solar is one of the best ways to harness the free power the sun provides, helping you cut down on energy consumption from the grid and save some money in the process. The setup doesn’t have to seem overwhelming—there are plenty of resources online if you want to go the DIY route, or you can hire a company to take care of the installation from start to finish. Besides, if the power goes out, you have a backup to help your generator keep the lights on and the refrigerator running. 

Recycle Greywater 

All that water you use in your house, the stuff that goes down the sink, and the drain in the shower, can be efficiently recycled to use watering the lawn, irrigating your garden, and flushing the toilet. It’s always a good thing to conserve freshwater, but if you’re on a city water system, it can help cut your water bill down significantly. If you have a well, recycling your greywater can help extend the life of your well, keeping you in free-flowing water longer.  

It may seem like a significant upfront investment to install equipment to filter greywater, but you don’t have to go big or go home. You can get shower recycling units that are nearly self-contained, just filtering and recirculating the water from your shower before discarding the water that can’t be purified. Or you can go all in and install a house-wide system. 

Install Proper Insulation 

Just insulating your home properly can save you a bundle on heating costs, while helping the environment by conserving energy. Getting good insulation in the walls and roof means you won’t have to keep cranking the thermostat when temperatures drop during Montana winter. And well-sealed, double-pane windows are worth their weight in gold here. 

Buy Efficient Appliances 

Like the name implies, Energy Star appliances save energy, putting money back in your pocket. When it comes time to upgrade your washer and dryer or your refrigerator, it pays back big in lowered utility bills. A more efficient dishwasher and clothes washer help cut down on water consumption, too, a win-win. 

Switch to LED Lightbulbs

LED light bulbs may be more expensive to buy than incandescents, but the amount that they’ll save you in utility bills and in the cost of traditional light bulbs that need to be replaced more often, well, that’s just money in the bank. If you buy them one at a time as your old ones burn out or go room by room, it won’t seem like such a high upfront cost, either. 

Sustainability in Montana

To get ideas and inspiration, sign up for Sustainable Living System’s annual Green Home Tour, held each autumn. You can also tour Sage Mountain Center to gather information about solar, wind, and dry toilet options for your home or RV. 

For more ways to save money, check out the rest of our blog here.