This post has 4 practical tips to help you create an eco friendly apartment.
Creating an eco friendly apartment doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. With a few small changes, you can greatly reduce your environmental footprint and save money while keeping your day-to-day relatively unchanged.
From energy saving to waste reduction ideas, this post offers a wide range of tips and tricks to help you on your way to an eco friendly apartment.
Whether you choose to implement all of these ideas or only a few, every little change towards eco friendly and sustainable urban living makes a difference.
So, join us as we explore these practical hacks and discover how you can make a difference every day.
1. Eco Friendly Apartment: Optimize Energy Efficiency
Lowering the amount of electricity used daily is a great way to live more sustainably. Not only will these habits lower your bills and reduce your consumption, but simple ideas like opening curtains in the winter to allow the sun to heat the room add a cozy comfort that you just can’t buy.
Here are some simple ways to reduce energy consumption:
Unplug And Turn Off
Growing up we all heard the yells ” Who left this light on?” it turns out our parents were right. Lights left on and electronics left plugged”d in when not in use do use energy constantly.
This tip is more about habit-making than a one-time action, but it does make a difference.
Alternatively, opt for eco friendly household smart options.
LED lights & Smart Power Strips
If you are not using LED bulbs now is a great time to start. Next time you need to change a bulb swap it out for an LED or Smart bulb. LED and Smart bulbs use drastically less electricity and come in a wide range of tones and programmable colors. They are great for lighting an apartment hallway with no natural light. A smart bulb can be turned off even when you are not home, and a timer can be set to ensure no light is left on.
This same programmability is available with smart power strips, program the strips to turn off at the same time every weekday while you’re at work so you are using next to no power when you are not home.
Up Your Insulation
Improving insulation around windows and doors makes a massive difference in heating and cooling costs.
Traditional heating and cooling is a large drain on resources, using a lot of electricity and gas to maintain.
While living in an apartment means you can’t simply insulate your walls or replace windows and doors, there are stylish ways to improve insulation.
- Thermal Insulated Curtains work remarkably well for both winter and summer and double as blackout curtains.
- Door Curtains are an old but terrific option. Originally used to stop cold air from leaking in through doors, they can be made from thermal curtains or wool blankets. Hang one up and feel the difference in both summer and winter.
Follow The Sun
In summer, close everything up before the sun starts to heat up. This is a cooling technique I learned from years of living in the South of France. From mid-morning or just before the sun starts to heat up (about 9 AM for me), close everything – shutters, blinds, and windows. Shutters stop the sun from hitting the glass, and thermal curtains help minimize heat from entering your home. Once the sun goes down, open everything up for the night. Rinse and repeat.
Many eco friendly apartment buildings are designed with energy efficiency in mind, using smart insulation, shading systems, and passive cooling techniques. You can replicate these features in your own sustainable home by incorporating thermal curtains, energy-efficient windows, and strategic sun exposure to reduce reliance on artificial heating and cooling.
In winter, allow sunlight to soak into your space during the day, then close blinds and shutters at night to keep warmth in. These small changes can help transform your home into a more sustainable urban living environment, reducing energy waste while keeping your space comfortable year-round.
2. Eco Friendly Apartment: Reduce Water Consumption
Water is a precious resource, and conserving it is a key part of creating a sustainable home. In many eco friendly apartment buildings, water-saving features like low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, and rainwater collection systems help reduce overall consumption.
Whether you live in an apartment or a house, adopting similar strategies can make a big impact on both the environment and your utility bills. By making small, mindful changes, you can significantly cut down on water waste while maintaining an efficient and eco friendly apartment lifestyle.
Install Low-Flow Faucets & Showerheads
Low-flow and aerated faucets and shower heads can reduce your water consumption by up to 60%.
A water-efficient showerhead doesn’t affect water pressure. However, if you have a water pressure issue, opt for a high-pressure showerhead with a flow rate below 2 GPM (gallons per minute). A flow rate under 2 GPM is considered water-efficient.
Use A Dishwasher
Dishwashers have proven to be more water and energy-efficient than washing dishes by hand.
If you have a small kitchen, you can still have your dream eco friendly apartment with a mini or portable dishwasher. They are just as efficient as a traditional dishwasher and even more so due to their smaller size.
Shower Bucket
While this might seem extreme, placing a bucket in your shower catches a lot of water.
You can use this water for your plants or, if you don’t have a laundry room, for handwashing clothes using a portable washing machine.
3. Eco Friendly Apartment: Make Sustainable Choices
Making sustainable choices is one of the easiest steps.
Every choice, from reducing energy consumption to using reusable cutlery, makes a difference.
Buy Energy-efficient Appliances
Purchasing energy-efficient appliances not only reduces your impact but also saves money over time.
Remember, the most expensive doesn’t always mean the most energy-efficient. Do some research to find a balance between quality and efficiency.
Choose Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products And Personal Care Items
Opting for eco friendly and soil-safe cleaning products makes a huge difference in improving water quality.
Outside of medical or health reasons, natural personal care options are not only great for your skin but also better for the environment.
Opt for second-hand or upcycled furniture
Living in eco friendly apartments means making conscious choices about furniture. Second-hand and upcycled furniture prevent waste and landfill overflow while giving your home a unique aesthetic. You can find stylish and high-quality pieces in thrift stores, marketplaces, and even curbside pick-ups in urban areas.
Before tossing out old items, consider upcycling! Simple changes can give everyday objects a second life, reducing landfill waste while adding character to your home. Check out these Easy Upcycling Ideas to Transform Everyday Items for creative and sustainable inspiration.
4. Eco Friendly Apartment: Minimize Waste
In apartment living, minimizing waste is key to sustainability. By making eco house swaps, you can reduce unnecessary clutter while also lowering your environmental impact.
Recycle And Compost
Recycling packaging and composting food scraps can easily cut your trash by at least half.
Composting in an apartment seems hard and smelly however there are so many options available that not only do a great job at dealing with food waste but also minimizing waste.
As for packaging jars are perfect for food storage, glasses, and home decor.
The easiest way to rescue food waste and packaging is to keep a well-stocked and organized fridge.
Looking to add a personal, eco-conscious touch to your space? Try DIY decor! Repurposing materials and crafting with sustainable supplies can help reduce waste and make your home more unique. Get inspired with these Spring Arts and Crafts: Sustainable DIY Decor ideas.
Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Reducing single-use plastics is one of the most impactful ways to create a nature friendly home.
Some easy swaps include:
- Reusable shopping bags
- Travel mugs
- Using jars or old food packaging for bulk food purchases
- Beeswax wraps instead of cling film
5. Eco Friendly Apartment: Bring Nature Indoors
Bringing nature inside is a terrific way to add ambiance that looks amazing. It’s an easy and cheap stress reliever and that improves not only air quality but the feeling of a space.
Grow Your Food
Growing indoors is a lot easier than it might seem and even easier if you have a balcony or an outdoor space.
From plants in the window to a full hydroponic setup like Click And Grow that is not only easy but looks great in any space.
Decorate With Plants
Plants add beauty and health benefits to sustainable homes. The biophilic design philosophy focuses on improving well-being by incorporating natural elements into your space.
If you compost in your eco friendly household, you can use the compost as fertilizer for your indoor plants, creating a closed-loop system.
Adding greenery is one of the easiest ways to enhance your living space while promoting sustainability. Not only do plants improve air quality, but they also bring life and warmth to any room. For more inspiration, check out Using Plants to Decorate: How to Transform Your Home with Greenery
Creating a Sustainable Home is Easier Than You Think
Building a more eco friendly apartment or sustainable home doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Small, thoughtful changes like reducing water consumption, improving insulation, and choosing sustainable materials. Have a big impact on both the environment and your daily life.
Many eco friendly apartment buildings are designed with sustainability in mind, but even if yours isn’t, you can still adopt simple habits that make a difference.
Sustainability isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. Every small swap adds up, whether it’s switching to energy-efficient lighting, reducing plastic waste, or finding creative ways to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. By making these changes, you’re not only lowering your environmental footprint but also creating a healthier and more efficient living space.
What are your favorite sustainable swaps? Share them in the comments! And if you found these tips helpful, don’t forget to share this post with friends who are looking to create a more eco friendly home too.