Green living in St. Joe apartments can be a challenge. Especially if you’re a renter, there are many things that apartment renters cannot do. For example, most landlords will not tolerate installing a 240 Volt charging port for an electric car. Solar panels and greywater systems are also completely out of the question.
But still, there are many ways that you can make your apartment eco-friendly. Whether you own or rent, green living starts with you. No matter your budget, we have some eco-friendly tips on this list for everyone. Here are 8 smart ways to make your apartment eco-friendlier and more stylish at the same time.
1. Switch to LED
When moving into a new apartment, one of the first things you should do is switch out all the old school halogen light bulbs with modern LED bulbs. However, LED bulbs can be a little bit pricey, so you can just hang onto the halogen ones and switch them back when you’re ready to move out.
Lighting is essential when it comes to setting the mood. Natural sunlight works best due to the energy that it brings to a space, but LED lighting works just as well. This can be even more important for St. Joe apartments that don’t get much sun exposure.
LED bulbs are up to 90% more energy efficient than the older incandescent light bulbs. They also last longer and will save you more money on your electric bill. Nowadays there are also plenty of different colors that you can choose from. And today’s LED light bulbs can closely mimic natural daylight.
2. Embrace Minimalism
Embracing minimalism doesn’t mean getting rid of the comfortable lifestyle that you’ve become accustomed to. It doesn’t mean living like a caveman. On the contrary, you will be putting more thought into your living arrangements than most people do. That way, you can decide what is essential and what isn’t.
The less clutter that you have, the more your essential objects can shine. But, of course, not everything can be thrown away, so multipurpose furniture storage will be very useful here. Display shelves are also a good idea, and they will allow you to show off what you want. With minimalism, the core philosophy is “buy less, but buy better.” In practice, this means buying durable items with as little waste as possible.
3. Opt for Low Flow Water Appliances
Not only can you save on your water bill with low-flow running water, but you can also do your part to help conserve water for the planet. It’s easy to switch to these types of appliances even if you rent. Changing faucets and showerheads is easy.
4. Get a Good Air Purifier
For apartment living, a good air purifier is essential. And, even for most households, an air purifier would be well worth the investment. According to the EPA, indoor air pollution can be about 3 times worse than outdoor air quality.
How could that be? Well, according to a study from the journal Science, soaps, deodorants, hairsprays, perfumes, and household cleaners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds are what help create smog. As a result, the level of pollutants in our home can surprisingly match that of pollutants emitted from motor vehicles out on the road.
5. Recycling
Recycling is always a thing that you should do, but the goal is to be doing it less, not more. What this means is to limit your consumption of plastic and other waste materials from the get-go. Of course, it’s nearly impossible to eliminate waste materials entirely, which is where recycling comes in.
Not all St. Joe apartments have recycling options available. In that case, you can try to find other ways of dealing with your recycling.
Here’s how you could make recycling work for you:
- If your building has a designated recycling room, then you can take your recyclables there
- If you have friends who have access to curbside recycling, you can ask if you can bring your recyclables over to their place.
- Bring your recyclables to a drop point
- Ask your landlord to set up curbside recycling or a designated recycling area. Getting signatures from the other people in your building can help too.
- You could also bring your recyclables to work and use their recycling pickup.
6. Consider Sustainable Sleeping Options
Consider getting a new set of sustainable sheets. There are many options among your local brands. Linen is a material made from flax, which is a sustainable crop. Flax doesn’t need as much water or pesticides to grow compared to cotton. Linen products also tend to last longer too. And finally, linen also helps to regulate temperature, making it a great sleeping aid.
7. Ditch (Or Repurpose) Plastic
70% of the plastic we consume every year (3.3 million tons) gets thrown into the trash, and only 9.9% is recycled. Plastic pollution only continues to increase worldwide. The good news is that much of that waste gets diverted to landfills, and some of it ends up on Pinterest as eco-friendly furniture ideas. That’s right, you can turn your old plastic into some amazing and functional works of art. Check out Pinterest for plenty of plastic furniture ideas.
8. Support Local Businesses
Supporting local businesses is a good idea in general, but it’s also very eco-friendly. Many local companies source their materials locally, thus leaving a lower carbon footprint from transporting their goods.
9. Take Care of Your Refrigerator
A refrigerator can consume 25% of your electric bill. Therefore, an energy-efficient fridge is well worth the investment.
A good tip for lowering energy costs further and improving efficiency is to keep the compressor coils clean. You can do this by dusting and vacuuming the back of your refrigerator.
Also, make sure that the refrigerator’s door seal is tight.
10. Keep Your Refrigerator Full as Much as Possible
And finally, try to keep your refrigerator and freezer full as much as possible. That way, it will be easier for things to stay cool.
If you don’t have much food to put in there right now, then just fill up some containers with water. Freezing water in the freezer is fine too. You can always use it or drink it later on.
