An eco-friendly life is essential to preserve nature as we know it for future generations. Reducing your carbon footprint can help the environment and can also cut your costs down too.
If you live in an apartment, you can create a sustainable space with just a few small changes.
An eco-friendly apartment can be good for the environment and you.
Eco-friendly means less resource waste and reduced living costs. It can also mean a happier space with better use of resources like oxygen and heat.
Here’s our guide on how to live eco-friendly in an apartment.
Tips For Eco-Living In An Apartment
An eco-friendly apartment isn’t difficult or expensive to set up. It doesn’t have to cost you anything to live more sustainably.
Most of the switches to an eco-friendly apartments are minor changes that make a big difference.
Here’s how to convert your apartment into a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly place.
1. Switch to sustainable light.
Regular incandescent lightbulbs are one of the least sustainable things in most apartments. An energy-saving LED lightbulb uses more than 60% less power to run and provides just as much continuous light.
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A simple lightbulb change can tick your ‘eco-friendly apartment living’ box.
2. Insulate gaps in doors and windows.
Gaps in doors and windows are barely noticeable but lead to a lot of energy loss in the long term.
If you want a more environmentally sustainable apartment, insulation changes how your space uses natural resources to warm up (and cool down).
It’s not expensive or complicated but cut any heat loss, and you’ll notice an immediate difference.
3. Unplug devices when they aren’t in use.
Always unplug devices when fully charged, and unplug appliances when you aren’t using them.
When you leave things plugged in, the appliance still (technically) pulls a current – even if the appliance is off. This adds up and pushes the carbon footprint of the average apartment.
Just this small change can reduce your daily energy bill – and, of course, help you do your part for the environment.
4. Switch to energy-efficient appliances.
Energy-efficient appliances have been designed to use fewer watts per hour than their older equivalents.
Using older appliances increases costs and leaves a large footprint on the environment to produce and keep in service.
Energy-efficient appliances can guarantee an eco-friendly apartment that uses much less energy (and saves on your energy bill too).
5. Reduce the use of single-use plastics and packaging.
Single-use plastics and packaging are one of the environment’s worst enemies.
Using single-use products (including coffee pods and plastic straws) creates a global environmental problem. They end up in landfills, cost precious natural life, and waste a lot of money.
Discard the use of single-use plastics if you want your apartment to be better for the environment and a more sustainable living space.
6. Recycle waste.
The average person leaves several tons of garbage in their lifetime, made of plastic, metal, and paper. Compounded by millions, this impacts the environment more than anyone can imagine.
Recycle. It’s a small step for the average apartment but a massive step for the environment (especially if more people do it).
As a start, introduce appropriate trash bins for every type of waste. Regular recycling is another small critical change that can significantly impact an eco-friendly lifestyle.
7. Change older chargers for new ones.
Chargers have a lifespan like any other electronic device, but most people don’t think to replace chargers for laptops and phones until they break.
It could mean that your charger is causing more harm than charge and likely costing you a lot of wasted energy.
Has it been a while since you replaced your chargers, or does it feel like it takes longer than it used to for a fully-charged device?
New, energy-efficient device chargers reduce your energy bill and the environmental impact on your apartment.
8. Rely on responsible heat.
It’s nice to have a warm space, but warmth requires electricity to produce – though the type of heater you choose for your apartment can impact its environmental impact.
Older, bulkier electric heaters are energy vampires that suck power straight from your pocket into your apartment.
Eco-friendly heaters have been designed to produce the same heat but with less power. Small artificial fire heaters also rely on less energy and might be perfect for a larger apartment.
9. Consider solar energy.
To reduce your apartment’s energy bill even further, lean on the power grid a little less. Consider using small solar panels if you live in an area with enough sunlight during the day.
Solar panels are enough to empower a small power bank or charge a small device. Regular use of solar will reduce your overall footprint and per-week energy consumption.
You don’t have to get substantial solar panels to make a big difference to the eco-friendliness of your space.
As you live in an apartment, it may be tricky to get them installed, but you should install solar panels if you can!
10. Let nature in.
Any eco-friendly apartment will benefit from the introduction of nature.
Simple houseplants aid oxygen production and guarantee that the air circulating your apartment is cleaner and healthier.
An eco-friendly space can’t be completely eco-friendly without it!
If you let nature in with just a few simple plants that flourish inside, you’re automatically reducing the carbon footprint of your apartment and improving the air quality too.
While we are on the subject, open your blinds and let some natural lighting into your apartment! Not only will it conserve energy, but it will also make you feel more awake.
11. Buy responsible products to stock your apartment.
If you want to ensure that everything in your apartment is eco-friendly, consider the environment when you stock your shelves and kitchen.
Certain companies are high-ranked in their environmental responsibility (e.g., environmentally responsible coffee and chocolate).
Eco-friendly companies guarantee that their products and manufacturing process don’t negatively impact nature or natural habitats.
Buy eco-friendly, and your apartment’s overall footprint and consumption will be less.
Conclusion
Now that you are considering a more eco-friendly lifestyle, you should also involve your apartment community. It is much easier and more cost-effective to work together to achieve your goals.
There are some other things you can do to live an eco-friendly life in your apartment, such as:
- Compost food waste
- Use green cleaning products
- Reduce the time spent in your shower
- Re-use bags for shopping
Good luck!