how to go green

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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?

Green Apartment Life – Tools for Living Green While Renting

March 14, 2009 in Green Your Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

This week we’re diving into green apartment life – a big deal since the 2008 Current Population Survey notes that about 32% of U.S. residents rent instead of own their home. That’s a lot of households to green up.

Even if you can’t find a totally green apartment community, there are some tools that can help apartment dwellers live green…

An urban compost bin: Anyone, even apartment dwellers can compost. There are plenty of smaller compost bins available. You can set on on your deck or even on your kitchen counter. Once you’ve got some nutrient-rich soil, you can do the following with it:

  • Grow a killer container garden on the patio.
  • Give it to a pal who owns a house and has a garden.
  • Donate it to a local community garden or school.

Rent and borrow: If you need tools for a project, a bike for a specific marathon (i.e. you’re not a regular rider), or a special crock pot, see if you can rent or borrow the item before purchasing one. Why this is green:

  • With less stuff you can live smaller and reduce your overall footprint. Storage space need for items you rarely use is lame and not very green.
  • Buying stuff you only use once is a waste of resources and supplies.
  • Saves you cash that you could use for higher ticket sustainable items. Would you rather own all your own tools that you only use twice a year, or a killer organic mattress?

Be a green human: Technically actions make a far bigger difference than where you live. I.e Portland, Oregon is known as a green hub but just living there does not make you green. You need to practice green living skills like eco-cleaning, saving water, recycling and so on. You could live in an eco-nightmare of a city, but with proper green living skills, your own little home base can still be eco-friendly.

Recycle: Creating a dedicated home recycling area is possible even in an apartment. There are loads of smaller recycling bins available that can make recycling in an apartment easier.

What green living tools are you using in your rental?

How To Green Your Apartment – Find A Green Apartment Complex

March 14, 2009 in Green Building, Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

Sorry to be MIA folks – I caught a bad cold, which actually I think may be allergies, so I was out of commission. However, I grabbed some meds, and it’s all good now. Well, better anyhow. In any case, the other day we started looking at How To Green Your Apartment.

Today we’ll look at the basics about how to actually find a greener apartment to rent.

There aren’t too many actual green certified, LEED, or sustainable (etc) apartment complexes around. However, some are popping up. The downside is that you’ll likely pay more rent for a “green building” and most of the ones that have been built are in major cities or places that are known as green hubs. If you don’t live urban you’re almost out of luck. That said, it doesn’t hurt to do a search. Your local chamber or commerce, real estate agent, or apartment finder company may be able to help you find a greener building.

Tips for any apartment building: Read the rest of this entry »

Green Apartment Living – How To Green Your Apartment

March 11, 2009 in Green Your Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

Often folks discuss changes you can make to your dwelling that are pretty specific to a home you buy which can leave apartment dwellers feeling left out in the cold.

However, green living is not just for folks with a mortgage. Anyone can live green; no matter if you live in a house, a duplex, an apartment, or RV. Ok, an RV is pushing it because of gas issues, but you get my drift.

This week I think we should look at some green living concerns that affect apartment dwellers. To get started, here are some posts from the past that can apply to anyone, in any sort of home setting.

This week we’ll also look at how to green audit an apartment vs. a house, green changes you can make that won’t flip out the landlord, see if we can find some green apartment choices, and more…

If there’s something specific you’d like to learn more about that relates to green apartment living let me know in the comments.

Going Green? How to Cover the Basics….

November 17, 2008 in Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

Get motivated. Look to eco blogs like this, green living books, or even your TV for green shows to get inspired. When you surround yourself with green, it makes going green a snap.

Own your actions. Yeah, some folks don’t believe in global warming. Whatever, that’s your choice. However, some use theories like this to avoid green, as in why bother, we’re not the ones making the problem. Even if you don’t believe in global warming, your actions are important for other reasons. Clean beaches and forests, green spaces for kids to play, and your health. Believe what you like, but green actions are for us all.

Invest in green companies and products.

Naturally clean your space – cleaning products are one area that anyone can green up in no time flat. Why buy toxic chemicals when you don’t have to?

Green all of your special events, vacations, and holidays, along with your everyday world.

Get a child involved. Kids are going to be around longer than we adult are. Think about the green ethics and values you’re passing on to them. Have you even talked to a child lately about going green? You should.

Reduce your consumption of consumer goods. Think before you buy, each and every time.

Eat organic, vegetarian, or natural. Grow your own food if you can. Do something with your food that helps to lower your footprint.

Eco up your energy use. It’s hard to know how much energy you use without running some easy energy audits. Anyone can do this, and it’ll green your home plus save you money.

Never assume that one action won’t make a difference. That cloth napking you use at each meal, that one can you recycle, the one organic product you purchase – these steps all matter.