Low Impact Apartment Living

 Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Living in an economically friendly manner is not reserved strictly for those who own their homes. Apartment dwellers can reduce their impact on the environment in several substantial ways. You don’t have to change the type of insulation in your walls or replace the hot water heater on your apartment building in order to make a respectable difference in your consumption levels. Daily choices can help you sustain a greener way of life, even when you are renting a home from someone else.

Clean with an eye Toward Green

Choose environmentally friendly options for the cleansers and soaps that you use. Green cleaning products are available through most grocery stores today. Read the labels and find the ones that contain less harmful ingredients. If you regularly have your clothes dry cleaned, air them out thoroughly before you bring them into the house. Dry cleaning materials can add toxins to your air that can be harmful. It is also a good idea to search for an environmentally friendly dry cleaner in your area so that you can reduce the amount of harmful chemicals that are used on your clothes in the first place.

Using Less Energy in an Apartment

You may not have much power to change some of the structural elements of your apartment, but you can make some important changes that will cut down on your energy use. Make sure that all of the windows and doors are tightly sealed so that you don’t lose any excess heat or cold. A ceiling fan can help you reduce your reliance on your heating or air conditioning system while it uses far less electricity to operate. Compact fluorescent light bulbs also consume less energy, and they don’t need to be replaced for several years.

Producing Less Waste

One thing you have complete control over is how much waste you and your family produce on a regular basis. Find out what the recycling options are in your apartment building. If there are no recycling services, get together with some of the other tenants and request recycling from the building manager. Many cities have recycling centers that accept donations from the general public, so you could collect your own recyclable objects and deliver them once or twice a month. Self contained compost barrels fit nicely on most apartment decks or balconies and provide a clean, compact way to get rid of your organic waste in a greener fashion.

Controlling the Water

Pay attention to how much water you and your family use. You can purchase a reduced flow shower head from a local home improvements store and install it in all the showers in your apartment. The installation usually involves simply unscrewing the old shower head and screwing in the new one. Try to only run the dishwasher and laundry when you have a full load. Faucet aerators are easy to install in your sinks and they will help reduce the amount of water you use when you wash your hands or rinse your dishes.

Jessica Bosari writes for Affordable Housing for Rent, a site that seeks to help individuals find cheap housing for rent.