The auto and home insurance market is extremely competitive and bargain shoppers can easily qualify for a variety of discounts. But some major insurance carriers also reward environmentally-conscious consumers who live green lifestyles, offer discounts for paperless billing and if you own a hybrid car, and have public policies stating their commitment to reducing their carbon footprints.

Earth Day this year falls on April 22, 2015 and as people around the world think about the effects of global warming and climate change, many are looking at ways that they can live more eco-friendly lifestyles. Arguably, it’s in the interest of insurance companies to focus on the environment as weather patterns change due to global warming, events like hurricanes and floods become more common – and costly.

In an independent survey of more than 3,000 insurance consumers conducted in 2014 by the independent research firm, Lightspeed GMI, commissioned by InsuraMatch, about 1 in 10 insurance customers say they have an interest in environmental issues. About 3.1 percent said they drive a hybrid vehicle most often.

Major insurance carriers also tout how green they are:

  • Esurance, for example, has publicly expressed its desire to do everything they can to help offset carbon footprints. The company offers a “paperless customer experience” to reduce paper usage, introduced hybrid claims vehicles back in 2006 with a goal of saving 69,000 gallons of fuel by 2017, and has a Recycled Rides program that recruits auto body shops, insurers, paint suppliers and more to donate vehicles to families and service organizations in need.
  • MetLife has announced a goal to reduce their total energy consumption by 10 percent by 2017 (based on the 2012 baseline year that they made the commitment).
  • Progressive Insurance website reports that their social responsibility program includes efforts to reduce the carbon footprint in buildings, equipment and their vehicle fleet. The company reports that in 2013 they recycled 29.66 tons of bottles and cans, 157 tons of corrugated cardboard, and 1,869 tons of paper. They’ve also made paperless transactions the norm, they say.
  • Geico also has a Geico Auto Repair Xpress program that requires a minimum of one person at each auto body repair shop to pass an environmental and safety training program, according to their website.

In the Lightspeed study, 49.8 percent of respondents reported that they viewed it equally as important that a carrier offer both paper and electronic documents. The study showed that 29.7 percent thought electronic documents, which reduce paper use, was a more important factor in their buying decision while 27.8 percent still preferred paper documents and bills.

When shopping for auto insurance quotes that reward those who are environmentally friendly, it’s important to ask an agent whether there are discounts for paperless billing, paying electronically, or even driving a hybrid car. Travelers Insurance offers a discount of up to 10 percent if you own or lease a hybrid or electronic car.

One of the best kept secrets is that some insurance companies will also offer low-mileage discounts if you have a short commute (including whether you work from home or take public transportation to work), according to a US News & World Report article.