Green Audit

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Green Apartment Life – Easy Ways To Get Sustainable

March 16, 2009 in Green Audit, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

This week we’ve been looking at green apartment living. So far we’ve discussed:

Now we’ll look at some green tips that apply to anyone, even folks in an apartment, and later we’ll check out some sustainable decor and furnishings for apartment life before wrapping up this series.

When you live in an apartment, some green rules won’t apply. Unless you live in a very flexible apartment complex, you may not be able to do things like install a low-flow toilet, change your heating and cooling source, or build a rain barrel. But there are still plenty of ways to go green when living in an apartment. Such as…

Insulate your apartment. Caulking is iffy in an apartment but weather stripping and door draft stoppers are usually ok.

Ditch your landline phone.

Turn Down the Thermostat. You may be better off than a home dweller in this case, especially if you live on a first or second floor with an apartment above you. The extra layer of housing can help to seal in heat in the winter and keep it cooler in summer.

Live simply for a better, greener life.

Use eco-smart lighting like compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs and LED lighting.

Conserve water!

You can solve indoor air pollution even in an apartment. The same tips that work for a house work for an apartment.

Rethink your disposables. Using items like cloth napkins and cleaning cloths over paper towels is not only eco-friendly, but handy in an apartment. Apartments tend to be short on space and it takes more space to store huge packs of paper towels.

Hold a green audit! Not all green home audit questions will apply to an apartment dweller. However, there’s still a lot you can audit and possibly change to stay green. Check out the following home audits and simply cut out questions that don’t apply – such as roofing or landscaping issues.

Do you live in an apartment? How are you keeping it green?

Your Successful Green Home Trash Audit – Tips for Success

January 24, 2009 in Green Audit, Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle by Jennifer | No comments

If you want to have a successful green home trash audit, here are some useful tips…

Get a smaller garbage can – preferably on that’s good looking. I don’t know what it is about aesthetics but pretty stuff can help to convince you to be more careful. A smaller can leaves little room for trash which encourages you to put that trash elsewhere (i.e. recycle).

Keep recycling bins nearby – not all recycling bins are ugly. Some are very nice, nice enough for use out in the open in your kitchen. If you hide your bins far away in the garage or on the porch, people will be less likely to use them.

Hang signs – sometimes visual reminders are very useful. Hang little signs by the garbage bin that say things like “No aluminum and paper!” If you have kids who can’t read use visuals like a can with an X over it.

Check with your local recycling company before starting your trash audit – it helps to know which categories you should be sorting your recyclable into. Some cities are picky, some don’t care, know your city’s rules.

Work on slimming down what comes into your house – stopping stuff before it comes in means less sorting of trash and recyclables overall. For example, stop your junk mail, buy fewer prepackaged foods, and only buy what you need.

Buy greener garbage bags – if you’re greening your trash you may as well go all the way.

Later some attractive garbage cans, compost bins, and recycling bins to consider.

Are you considering a green trash audit?

How Green is Your Trash?

January 23, 2009 in Green Audit, Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle by Jennifer | 1 comment

Trash audits are icky, but actually one of the easiest green home audits you can do. The point of a trash audit is to find out what’s in your trash, and to figure out ways to better dispose of the items you find.

Why do an icky old trash audit:

To be ethical: Tossing stuff into a landfill is completely irresponsible when other choices are available. You’re making a huge mess for future generations, and that’s not cool.

To help the planet: In order to keep the planet healthy, save spaces for parks, and reduce greenhouse gases, we all need to be trash aware. No matter what you hear, recycling is worth it.

To save money: Most trash companies charge by the bag or can – you CAN reduce your trash to under one bag a week – I promise you. You are tossing stuff that could be recycled. Most everyone does, even me and other green advocates. Everyone make slips and could be better. Think of how little you’ll pay for trash service with just one bag. Bonus money savings – team up with a neighbor or two. Everyone split on trash can.

To be more attractive: Your kitchen will look better without a HUGE ugly trash can. Your street would look way better without so many ugly bins. I think trash aesthetics, or their total lack of I should say, are way overlooked

To complete a trash audit: Read the rest of this entry »

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

September 27, 2008 in Green Audit by Jennifer | No comments

An important step in achieving green living at home (and even out and about) is to know where you stand right now. What level of green are you lingering at? Could you be greener, or are you already an eco-friendly super-star?

One of the best ways to learn where you stand is to calculate your carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is simply a personal score you get that explains where you stand on issues like how you live, work, and play. Although carbon footprint tests vary, depending on where you take yours, they all take basic lifestyle choices into account, such as:

  • Your energy use
  • Commute times
  • Where you live and work
  • If you recycle
  • How often you fly on an airplane
  • Your general energy bill costs
  • Where you live
  • And more

Taking a carbon footprint test is free and only takes about 3-5 minutes. Once you have your carbon footprint score, you’ll know if you’re doing well or if you need to buckle down and work harder at green living – most sites offer tips for how to be more green after the test.

To calculate your own carbon footprint visit one of the following websites:

Green Audit Your Yard and Garden

July 21, 2008 in Green Audit, Organic Gardening by admin | No comments

This week we’ve been going over some easy green audits you can try at home. So far we’ve looked at

Tonight let’s look at our last green audit of the week – your yard. Following are some tips you can use when green auditing your yard and garden.

green yard audit

Do you use a green lawn mower.

Are you using smart water tactics?

  • Watering in the early morning or at night.
  • Keeping your water where it needs to go, not running off into the street.
  • Consider having less grass, and more bark, patio space, or soil.
  • Mulch plants and trees to conserve water.
  • Plant like with like – you don’t need to plant water loving plants among plants that conserve water. You’ll waste water when watering.

Are objects in your yard and garden recycled and sustainable – think about decorations and planters you may have.

Use recycled bags for clippings.

Toss out any toxic chemicals and pesticides and use natural fertilizer, weed control, and pest control options. To learn more read:

Reduce Your Fertilizer Use with Grasscycling

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Garden Pests

Plant organic seeds and organic plants.

A big part of proper green gardening and yard tactics has to do with where you live. There are general tips you can follow, but water conservation is going to be different in New Mexico vs. Oregon, so it pays to learn regional tactics. Visit the National Gardening Association and check out their regional site which will connect you with a regional newsletter and regional gardening blogs.

Visit Mother Earth’s Garden to learn all about green gardening.