Green Living in Apartment

Green Living in Apartments

In order to make your apartment go green you can do many little things that will result in energy savings and support the environment. One major effort is to go natural by using natural lighting whenever possible, such as the sun as well as natural or organic fibers and food. A few green living tips in your household that can help make your daily footprint a lighter one:

• Recycle. Find out what your apartment building's recycling program is and make sure that you have a container.
• Donate gently used items rather than throwing them away. Check with the village or town hall and find out how to dispose of items such as batteries, paint and cell phones in your area.
• Carpooling.
• Bring a canvas or cloth bag to the grocery store instead of using their bags.

Employing simple tips like the ones above you will be making a big difference in the long run. Following these tips will make your apartment into more of a green living household.

Take a close look at the cleaning products you use and see if you can make some changes because many cleaning products contain toxic substances. Using more environmentally friendly products can help reduce the negative impact on the earth and make your apartment a safer place as well. Many of the green products on the market today are as effective as their more chemically packed counterparts. Using less toxic products can contribute to better indoor air quality, as well as help prevent harsh chemicals from entering the water supply. There are also common, non-toxic substitutions that can be made for some cleaners. Here are a few popular natural ingredients:

• Baking soda can be used to deodorize and scour.
• White vinegar is good for cutting grease and getting rid of mildew.
• Lemon can be used to get rid of strong odors that tend to linger in the sink, such as fish or onion.
• Unscented soap is a great all-purpose cleaner.

Making an environmentally friendly apartment is effectively greening your consumption of food and water. Few tips to be eco-conscious about your food and water consumption are:

Food:

• Check out a farmer's market in the area. Produce and other items are sold at these open air markets. See if you have one in your community and shop there as much as you can. You will be supporting local farmers and getting fresh food at the same time.
• Eat local. When eating out, opt for closer restaurants.
• Choose seasonal fruits and vegetables at the grocery store.
• Buy organic and fair trade goods whenever possible.
• Buy foods that have less packaging and recycle what you can.

Water:

• Take shorter showers and ask your landlord if you can install a low-flow shower head to save water.
• Turn the faucet off when brushing your teeth or shaving instead of letting the water run.
• Use a shorter wash cycle for clothing whenever possible.
• Defrost food in the refrigerator rather than under running water.