Earth Day is right around the corner, and many Missourians are looking for ways to lessen their negative impact on the environment. While everyone knows how important it is to reduce, reuse and recycle, many are afraid of what it may cost them to "go green."
 

Consumers and businesses can actually save by going green--and without spending a dime. "Green" practices are often free-of-cost and have high and promising returns on investment.
 

Reduce electricity consumption.

 

Reducing consumption and energy usage is key to saving money and the planet. Often, it's as easy as simply evaluating technology use.
 

When you aren't using appliances and electronics, turn them off and unplug them. Leaving your computer and other electronics on, or even just plugged in, actually uses energy and racks up your electricity bill.
 

In an effort to reduce electricity consumption, it's also recommended to replace old computer monitors with LCD monitors--which use one-third as much energy--and replace screen savers with the "turn off monitor" feature, since it saves energy and increases the lifespan of a monitor.
 

Reuse electronics.

 

Reusing items is another good way to conserve resources and save money. For example, reuse old ink cartridges by taking them to a store that specializes in refilling them. Discarded electronics are another significant source of waste. Websites like Gazelle pay consumers for used electronics; if the electronics are not worth any money, the site will pay for shipping costs to properly recycle the items.
 

Recycle unwanted items.

 

Finally, recycle items that cannot be reduced or reused--many recycling centers and websites offer small monetary incentives for bringing in recyclables. Some recycling centers are willing to pay per pound for aluminum. Recycling is a great way to save the planet by reforming and reusing natural and non-renewable resources.
 

The common misconception of "going green" is that it costs a lot of green. But by merely adapting lifestyles to the rules of the three Rs--reduce, reuse and recycle--consumers can save big bucks while protecting the planet for years to come.