As the years go by, more people are starting to watch the news and face the facts that it’s time to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The drive to help our planet thrive has prompted many homeowners to make changes around their homes, like installing solar panels and smart thermostats. It is a great sight to see. However, many people wonder if they can make the same impact when renting an apartment.
The answer is yes. While you may not be able to make substantial changes to the structure of your rental, you can still incorporate plenty of sustainable ideas and do your part to save the world. Let’s talk about how you could make a big difference while living as a tenant.
Start on the Right Foot
If you are really dedicated to starting a more sustainable lifestyle, and you are looking for an apartment that will help you to achieve your goals, then you need to do some research. The first step is to find a community or city that is close to work and family, where you can make your place a home, and then you should start looking into specific buildings. When you do, talk to the landlords and ask if they incorporate eco-friendly aspects into their apartments.
You could ask if they have energy-efficient appliances in each unit and inquire as to if they have a recycling program. As mentioned, many people have an eye on sustainability, so there is a chance that you would find an apartment building that puts in the effort towards the cause. You just have to keep an eye out.
Once you have selected a location, take some time before you sign the lease to inspect the premises and take note of any issues you find. In addition to ensuring that the unit is safe and meets your square footage requirements, you should also look for areas of improvement as far as sustainability is concerned, like cracks around the windows that could contribute to energy leakage or issues around bathtubs and sinks that might point towards water wastage.
Before you move in, address these issues with the landlord, and if they shrug it off, then it’s probably not the place for you. If they tell you that they are working on fixing those problem areas, then ask for a timeframe, and if you are satisfied with the answers, then you may have yourself a new home. You can get bonus points during your relocation if you search online for eco-friendly moving companies near you and use them to help with your transition.
Small Changes Make Big Differences
Now that you are in the new home, there are plenty of ways you can make energy-efficient changes without causing problems with the landlord or going against the lease. A great first step is to switch out any incandescent light bulbs with LEDs because they will not only last longer but also produce more efficient lighting. You can further save energy and reduce your utility costs by turning the lights off whenever you leave the room and by turning off everything, including outside fixtures, when you are not home.
You can also do your part to cut back on water use by turning off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth and by cutting your shower time in half. You can pair these behaviors with low-flow showerheads that will still ensure that you get clean but without wasting unnecessary water. If there is a community laundry room on the premises, then you can help your whole apartment building save energy by avoiding hot water when you wash your clothes which will reduce the need for the washer to work overtime to heat the water.
As far as electricity is concerned, there are many tricks you can try to cut costs and avoid unnecessary energy usage. In addition to turning off electronics when you are out, you can also plug all devices that are near each other into a smart power strip. When we plug our televisions and appliances into the standard wall outlet, they can continue to create electricity via “vampire loads,” but a power strip will completely cut the power so you can be confident that you are not wasting unnecessary energy.
Think About Sustainable Design
While you won’t be able to knock down any walls or make significant changes without approval, you can create a more eco-friendly apartment with smart interior design. For instance, you can brighten your space by placing plants throughout the various rooms of the unit. Plants offer many great benefits for yourself and the world around us. Some of the best plants for the environment include the Areca Palm and Philodendron because their leaves help to rid the air of dangerous pollutants, like acetone, xylene, and formaldehyde.
In addition to creating cleaner air, plants can also do wonders for our mood, and they can even make us more productive, which is especially important if you work from home. When it comes to safe transportation during your move, make it a point to keep the plants hydrated through the entire process from when they leave your old place until they are safe in the new rental. You can do that by placing them in damp soil while you’re packing, and you can place ice packs near them while you’re traveling to provide the moisture that they need.
You can also improve your interior design and help the planet by adjusting the layout of your apartment so that you are planning your space around natural light. So, if you have a home office, you could place your desk near the windows so you can still see your work without the need to turn on lamps. If you don’t work from home, then you could at least place your couches and entertainment area in that bright location so you can enjoy television and your other activities for as long as possible before turning on the lights. In addition to reducing your electricity bill, natural light is also great for increasing your vitamin D consumption and it can also help to reduce stress.
In the end, just because you stay in a rented space, it doesn’t mean that you can’t embrace a sustainable lifestyle. Consider the tips and advice listed here, and you will enjoy your apartment while making the world a better place.
