Being green doesn't have to break the bank

(ARA) - Everyone knows "being green" helps save the environment. However, many Americans have a misconception that it's impossible to protect the planet and save money, too. In fact, in a recent study conducted by Earth911, more than 35 percent of Americans stated "money" was the one thing holding them back from being green.

Whether it's turning off the water while brushing your teeth, unplugging electronics when they're not in use or turning off the lights when you leave the room, adopting an environmentally friendly lifestyle on a budget is easier than you think. Below are a few simple ideas from Walmart to make green living a part of your lifestyle.

*Consider buying locally grown food to reduce the carbon emissions produced by long-distance transport.

*Install water filters on your tap-water faucets. This reduces plastic bottle waste and may save you money in the long run.

*Use rechargeable batteries and recycle your disposable ones to keep them out of landfills.

*Pack lunches to cut down on takeout containers. Bringing lunch rather than buying takeout at work or school will also save your family money.

*Recycle your old eyeglasses by donating them to charity. Your eye doctor may even accept used glasses, as many practices now have their own programs.

Like budget-conscious moms, leading retailers are finding that simple measures can mean big savings - both for the environment and consumers' pocketbooks. Walmart reduces waste, energy and fuel consumption, and overall costs - which provides another avenue for offering the lowest prices possible to consumers on everything from organic produce to electronics.

For example, Walmart offers families its Marketside organic lettuce at the same price as regular lettuce by buying in bulk, fully loading its trucks directly at farms and cutting down on transportation costs.

"Whether it's increasing our own energy efficiency or eliminating 100 million miles from our truck fleet, Walmart is constantly looking for innovative ideas to help protect the environment," says Matt Kistler, senior vice president of sustainability at Walmart. "Our sustainable business practices add up to millions of dollars in cost savings, which helps us offer thousands of new product Rollbacks throughout the store. In addition to saving customers money at the register, we are also working to carry products that save our customers money through lower utility bills."

Other examples of Walmart's focus on the environment include:

*Leveraging sunshine to help reduce energy costs by installing clean, efficient solar panels at some of its facilities.

*Using less cardboard on its cereal box shipping cartons, saving over 3,000 tons of wood and more than $1 million annually.

*Saving more than 900,000 pounds of plastic last year through a new design on its Great Value cutlery.

For more environmentally-friendly tips or information on the many ways Walmart works to deliver everyday low prices to its customers, visit www.walmart.com/green.

Courtesy of ARAcontent