Tips for Green Living
Published on December 12, 2022 by Amy
LoAs a renter, you may feel limited in your ability to make environmentally-friendly choices. However, there are many simple and affordable ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle, even in an apartment. One of the easiest things you can do is to reduce your energy consumption. These not only help the environment but can also save you money on your utility bills. Read through our heating and cooling, electronic devices, and household appliance tips below!
Quick Tips:
- Remember to turn your lights off when leaving a room.
- Make sure all air registers are clear of furniture so that the air can circulate freely.
- In cooler weather, take advantage of the sun's warmth by keeping window shades open during daylight hours. Alternatively, close window shades to keep the sun's heat at bay during the summer months.
Heating and Cooling Tips:
- Energy-saving temperature. Adjust your thermostat to an energy-saving temperature when away from home or sleeping. An energy-saving temperature will be close to the outside temperature while still being comfortable inside.
- Schedule your thermostat. Program your home’s smart thermostats around your schedule to make energy conservation even easier!
Electronic Device Tips:
- Unplug electronics when not in use. Many products use energy even when switched off.
- Use a power strip. Using a power strip can provide a central turn-off point when you are done using equipment, eliminating standby power consumption. Smart power strips will automatically turn off when items are not in use!
- Sleep mode. Switch home office equipment to “sleep mode” to conserve energy, extend your equipment’s life expectancy, and emit less heat to the surrounding area.
Household Appliance Tips:
- When using the stove
- Use the right size pot on stove burners. A 6” pot on an 8” burner wastes over 40% of the burner’s heat. This will help keep your kitchen cooler as well!
- When washing dishes
- Run the dishwasher only when enough dirty dishes have accumulated for a full load to conserve energy and water.
- Turn off your dishwasher’s heat dry setting if possible and allow your dishes to air dry once the load is complete.
- When doing laundry
- Wash your laundry with cold water when possible.
- Clean the lint trap before running the dryer. A clean lint trap will allow your dryer to move heat and circulate air as efficiently as possible.
- When possible, air-dry your clothes instead of using the dryer.
Additional Resources:
We hope you find these green tips easy to incorporate into your daily life.