Best Tips for Sustainable Apartment Living

Living sustainably in your apartment can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can make many small changes that will add up to a significant impact.

Here are a few helpful tips for more sustainable apartment living:

Grow Some Plants – Not only do plants improve air quality, but they can be beautiful additions to your home. For example, you could be shocked to learn that one of the best plants for improving air quality is the peace lily.

Peace lilies are simple to care for and remove toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from the air.

Of course, if there are pets or young children in the household, avoid poisonous plants.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Recycling is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your environmental impact. Make sure to recycle paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and aluminum cans. In addition, you can recycle electronic waste like cell phones, disposable batteries, TVs, and computers. Specialized recycling companies typically handle his type of recycling.

Some apartment communities make recycling easier for tenants by providing marked bins and pickup services. If none are available in your apartment complex, consider investing in separate receptacles to process your recyclable waste items independently.

Go Paperless – A great way to live more sustainably is to go paperless. Going paperless means unsubscribing from physical mailing lists and instead opting for electronic communications.

For instance, most publications, including magazines and newspapers, are available online. Therefore, you can save on wasting resources such as paper, ink, and postage by switching to digital delivery.

You can reduce your carbon footprint by going paperless with your bank statements, utility bills, and other monthly statements.

Rethink Transportation – If feasible, explore ways to reduce your vehicle reliance. Carpooling, using public transportation, biking, or walking can significantly reduce your carbon footprint by decreasing the demand for expensive fossil fuels.

Declutter – Clutter can be physically and mentally taxing, so regularly declutter your space. Decluttering can be as simple as getting rid of clothes you don’t wear, cleaning your cabinets, and organizing your paperwork. Decluttering makes your home more pleasant and reduces your stress levels.

Keep Your Windows Covered – Inefficient windows can contribute to energy waste in your apartment. For instance, the sun beating inside causes solar heat gain in the summer, driving up your cooling costs.

In the winter, faulty window seals can let the heat escape, leading to higher heating bills. You can combat energy loss by installing and using window treatments like shutters, drapes, or blinds.

Shop Local - Buying local not only supports your community but helps to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. Ideally, when you buy locally, you’re buying goods that have traveled a shorter distance, which means fewer emissions from transport. Consider shopping at farmers’ markets, locally-owned businesses, or online marketplaces like Facebook or Etsy.

Making a few relatively insignificant changes to your lifestyle can considerably impact the environment. We hope you’ll try incorporating some of these tips into your everyday routine to discover how easy sustainable living in your apartment can be.

This article was brought to you by Link Apartments®, a modern brand of apartment communities with locations North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.