Living in an apartment doesn’t necessarily mean you have to live an unsustainable lifestyle. There are many ways to make your home greener without having to make any drastic changes. Here are some simple, eco-friendly steps you can take when living in an apartment. From composting your waste to using reusable produce bags, you can improve the way you live with just a few simple changes. Check out these tips for more information on how you can have a more sustainable lifestyle with just a little bit of effort!
Composting your waste
With an apartment, it can be difficult to find space for a composting bin. If you don’t have one at your apartment, that doesn’t mean you can’t compost your waste. You can set up a composting station in one of your kitchen cabinets or on a shelf. It will take some planning and preparation, but it is possible to create a composting station in an apartment!
Start by looking for a container with a tight-fitting lid that will fit inside your cabinet or on your shelf. Then, fill the container with leaves, weeds, grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, and any other organic materials you would usually throw away. Or you can purchase a reasonably priced tabletop composter that takes up very little space and might even include a charcoal filter to reduce odors. For the best results, you can add soil and earthworms to the bin. The most common reason that people add soil is that it turns the soil into highly nutritious soil that can then be used to help your garden grow. However, it does one other thing that is likely a higher consideration when it comes to apartment living. The soil helps the smell of rotting food escape the container. The worms also serve an important role. By adding earthworms, preferably the red ones, the worms to help break down the food faster.
Using reusable produce bags
One of the easiest and possibly best eco-friendly habits you can adopt is using reusable produce bags. These reusable bags are made out of fabric, which means they’re easier to clean and more durable than their plastic counterparts. Plastic is one of the most harmful pollutants in our oceans, so switching to reusable produce bags will help reduce your plastic footprint on the environment. Many grocery stores now offer reusable bags and some even require it. If you live in an area where plastic bags are still highly used and reusable bags are challenging to find, then you may consider ordering reusable online. There are many designs for reusable bags so you may find one that fits your personality perfectly.
Reusable produce bags are also great for people with food sensitivities or allergies because you don’t have to worry about what type of material they’re made out of if they come into contact with food. Take it one step further and use reusable bags for all your shopping, not just the grocery store. The bagging process of your goods is the exact same as it would be at a grocery store. You provide the person bagging your products with the bags and they will place the items inside that bag instead of the plastic bag that they would use regularly.
Shop local for fruits, veggies, and other foods
If you’re buying produce, shopping local is the way to go! Buying produce from your local farmer’s or community market cuts down on transportation costs while simultaneously supporting your community. The more people who shop at their local grocery stores, the better chance they have of staying in business. Additionally, when you buy produce locally, the food sometimes doesn’t have to travel as far which means it’s fresher and has a longer shelf life.
One benefit of living in apartments is that you’re often close to several local markets where you can shop for local foods. This means you can spread your local dollar around, making a difference for more than just one market.
Switching out the lightbulbs
One simple way to make your apartment living more eco-friendly is by switching out the lightbulbs in your home. You can save energy which means saving money in the long run, and you’ll also be doing good for the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. Swap out incandescent or CFL bulbs in your home for LEDs to save on energy costs and bulb replacement costs. An LED bulb lasts approximately 25,000 hours compared to a CFL bulb that only lasts around 8,000.
Building a rainforest of plants
One of the simplest things you can do to make your apartment greener is to plant a rainforest of plants. Plants are good for you, they make the air cleaner and make your home feel more alive. Plus, they help filter toxins from the air. Even if you don’t have much space, there are plenty of small plants that would be perfect for your home. You can even try growing edible plants like tomatoes, herbs, or lettuce to save money on groceries!
A green lifestyle can be for anyone, but it does take some work. The more you put into your new lifestyle, the more you will get out of it.
We hope these tips have helped you get started on the path to living a greener life. If you have any other great ideas, please share them in the comments!