It seems like these days everyone is “going green.” At Arvest, we’re all about saving the planet through our various eco-friendly initiatives, such as e.Statements and Online BillPay. We know our customers want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to help the planet can also save money.
Cut Energy Costs
• Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
• Unplug appliances when they are not in use. Or, use a “smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts “phantom” energy use.
• Did you know that 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water? Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible and save money in the process.
Save on Water Usage
• Install a low-flow showerhead. They don’t cost much and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
• Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden which require minimal watering. Find out which of these occur naturally in your area.
Buy Smart
• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food and other items in bulk can actually save money for your family and tend to use fewer materials in the packaging, which helps Mother Earth.
• Wear clothes that don’t require dry-cleaning. This saves money and cuts down on chemical use.
• Do the 1 week test. Try buying a few household products made only from sustainable resources for 1 week and you might be surprised to find out just how easy it can be to “go green.”
Bank “Green”
• Try switching to Arvest Online Banking and Online BillPay to save trips to the bank. This will decrease gas usage and reduce fuel emissions by cutting back on trips to the bank.
• Switch to e.Statements and reduce paper waste.
• Businesses can use Remote Deposit Capture and save time and money. This allows you to send check deposits to the bank remotely – helping you to focus on your business and submit your deposits on schedule, all while saving money on fuel costs.
Small steps can result in big changes for our planet and even bigger savings for us. Our children, grandchildren and many other future generations will thank us for living more sustainably. Let’s start now!