Eco-Friendly Features to Make Apartments More Green

Climate change is a real and serious problem, and it’s clear that the responsibility is on us as individuals to do our part in reducing the amounts of greenhouse gas emissions that we produce. Residential housing plays a significant role in the creation of emissions that are harmful to our planet. Sustainable housing isn’t just possible with new buildings.

You can take steps today to create an eco-friendly home and do your part in shaping a brighter future. It’s possible to make your apartment sustainable with a few simple changes. And we’re not talking about expensive renovations or needing to own the property!

TK Property Group is an investment company that specialises in residential property investments, especially new-build apartment blocks.

They’ve provided us with some helpful advice on why it’s important to have a green apartment and how you can make your home eco-friendlier.

Why It’s Important to Have a Green Apartment

The first priority for having a green apartment is to help in the battle against climate change. As we’ve mentioned, climate change is a real problem and we are seeing the effects it has on the planet each year. However, climate change is also still a controversial topic, and questions remain about whether countries and businesses are doing enough.

Therefore, it’s up to us as individuals to adapt our lifestyle to help the environment.

The benefits of having a green apartment are not just to help save the planet, either. Going green can help you reduce your energy consumption and in return, save you money. Given the current cost-of-living landscape largely enforced by the energy crisis, this is a massive benefit to our lives.

Other benefits of going green include creating a healthier you. Sustainable living is proven to enhance air quality, generate a more pleasing environment, and bolster mental health and well-being. Finally, if you own the apartment and decide to eventually sell it, you will likely benefit from a higher resale value.

In case you search for apartments for rent in Charleston, then it is always important to use a platform that can filter and match you with the right renter.

How to Make Your Apartment Eco-Friendly

So, what can you do to make your apartment more eco-friendly?

As stated, you can take steps today that don’t involve huge amounts of money or having to be a homeowner. Below are just some actions you can take.

Replace Your White Goods

One of the first steps you can take is to assess your white goods and whether they are energy efficient. Every day we use various types of white goods, including refrigerators, freezers and washing machines. These products are essential for day-to-day living, but they also use considerable amounts of energy.

You can shop around different stores to find replacement products with a more efficient energy rating. Reducing your consumption will not only help the climate but also ease your financial worries during the energy crisis.

Do you thoroughly clean your white goods or defrost the freezer regularly?

Maintaining the equipment is vital for ensuring they continue to operate efficiently. Adjusting how you use your washing machine can also go a long way to acting more energy efficient. Using cold water and operating the machine outside of peak hours will help you consume less energy.

You should avoid using the machine more than needed, instead choosing to fit as much washing as you can in a single load.

Consider LED or CFL Lighting

Traditional halogen bulbs are old-school products that don’t do very well in reducing energy consumption. We use lights regularly for long periods, so it’s essential to have a light bulb that is energy efficient. You save energy by replacing your existing bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs.

These bulbs use fewer watts, last longer and are more durable, so there’s no reason not to go for them. As well as replacing the bulbs, you can get into a routine of switching lights off when they’re not needed. If you are away from home but wish to deter burglars, consider smart technology to schedule the lights to activate and deactivate at certain times.

Monitor Your Usage

How much electrical equipment such as television, chargers, computers and games consoles do you keep plugged in at all times? Even when on standby, these products will continue to consume significant amounts of energy. In the current energy situation, there are no excuses for not embracing smart systems.

You can use smart technology to monitor your usage and learn how and where you can consume less energy.

When equipment is not in use, you should switch it off by the wall instead of leaving it on standby. You can even invest in a smart plug which provides greater flexibility, allowing you to shut off sockets at certain times or manually control when you’re not at home.

Insulate Your Property

Why spend so much money and energy on heating your apartment when you can insulate it instead? If your apartment is old, there’s a good chance it may be poorly insulated. Proper insulation has only become the best practice in recent decades. Firstly, if you haven’t done so yet, get double-glazing windows installed.

Double-glazing is one of the most effective ways to keep warm air in and cold air out, especially during the winter months. You can also pair this step with thick curtains. If the underneath of your doors has a gap that is letting air escape, buy a draft stopper. Remember to keep doors in any of your rooms closed when possible. Like with the previous section, you can use a smart thermostat to control your apartment’s temperature to match when you will be home.

Recycle

Be honest, do you recycle?

And by that question, we mean do you recycle everything that you possibly can?

Recycling should be the norm in our society nowadays. However, it’s not uncommon to get lazy once in a while or to recycle something that isn’t recyclable. Every little helps in the climate change fight, so you should do what you can to recycle properly.

Get into the habit of separating waste and recyclable items. If your apartment has no facilities, see if there is a recycling drop-off point in your area, or speak to friends to see if they have curbside pick-up. Where possible, avoid using single-use items and opt for reusable products like coffee cups and straws instead.