How can I make my apartment greener at low cost?

Question

I rent a little flat out in Rome (http://www.holiday-velvet.com/rome/rome_apartments/details/nolita/id/428) and recently got complaints that it wasn't green... So I will provide for different bins and buy energy saving bulbs but what else can i do without spending a fortune?

hahaha! not green the color of the apartment! I meant green as in "eco-friendly"... : )))

Answer 1

Reuse your bath towel. A week of using the same one saves a load of towels from being washed every week.

Open blinds and turn off lights during the day ad at night turn on one dim light somewhere in the middle of your home so you can use that one instead of multiple lights on everywhere.

Wear a set of jammies to bed, in the morning take them off and put up to sleep in the next night. If you are a clean person who doesn't sweat at night, you should be good to wear the same jammies every night for a week or so before washing again. That saves a load of jammies to be washed every week!

Use a sheet to seperate you from your comforter so you can go longer without having to wash the comforter.

If you have a VCR that is flashing the 12:00 annoying time, unplug it. It actually takes up more energy than you realize.

Buy rechargable batteries.

Buy a solar powered calculator.

Use a low flow shower head.

Use baking soda as a cleaning product, it's less harsh than chemicals and cheaper too.

Donate unwanted items on freecycle.org

Use weather stripping to keep your home warmer or cooler.

Recycle grocery store bags by using them as trash bags.

Use regular toothbrushes and razors instead of the battery operated kind.

If you own hair rollers, don't plug them in to use. Instead, roll your hair with the rollers at night, then in the morning wake up and taske them out and it is just as effective without wasting any power at all on them.

Answer 2

I'm not surprised you are being asked about this as Europeans are very sensitive to environmental issues. Here are a few additional ideas to the bulbs and recycling bins: post public transportation information as well as recycling instructions in the apartment, have reusable shopping bags or a small cart available, make sure the beds have adequate blankets so people don't have to turn up the heat, make sure any cleaning products are "green", and leave some comfy throws or sweaters in the living room. Good luck!

Answer 3

i wasn't sure from your question whether or not you were the landlord or the renter, so my answers will be based on the idea that you own the place and rent it out to others.

install insulating window coverings - make sure your tenants realize that the the blinds/drapes are to be drawn during the heat of the day to help keep the heat outside where it belongs. have the plumbing checked for leaks and have any that might be found fixed - dripping faucets waste untold amounts of water! a previous poster suggested taking showers instead of baths - actually a shallow bath uses less water than a 5 minute shower. check the walls for insulation, and the ceiling if you are on the top floor. if you cannot replace the windows with newer, energy efficient ones, then make sure that you insulate around the doors and windows or seal them well with caulk and weather stripping.

Answer 4

Most power companies offer a "load management" program where they install a small device that cuts off things like your a/c and large energy users for brief periods thoughout the day. You generally get a small credit on your power bill and of course, it saves energy. Check with your apartment manager to see if they allow this type of thing. Many do. They may even consider having them put in all of their units. I suggested it where I used to live, and the management had them installed in all the units because they got some type of tax credit for it.

Answer 5

Use reuseable shopping bags(use for all shopping even when you buy clothing and shoes). When possible use or buy 2nd market goods (like furnishings and cookware from a thrift store). Take advantage of local fresh goodls like farmers markets and family owned bakeries. If you use hairspray make sure it is CFC free and the container is recycleable. Make a small herb garden for your kitchen or patio - it is lovely and good for your apartment and nothing is nicer than growing your own seasoning for a salad or pasta. Ask your neighbors what they do to live more green and see aht things work for you.

Answer 6

A few simple little things u can do

Take a shower not a bath
don't wash tiny amounts of clothes
don't run the tap when cleaning your teeth use a glass
don't leave T/V's and things on stand by
Boil only enough water to make your tea coffee
watch a little less TV

Basically if you don't need it don't use it

Answer 7

Houseplants are the answer in more ways than one. They help clean the air, do away with odors and if you choose something that flowers, like an African Violet or Orchid, you get beauty too.
Ferns are always nice but some are picky inside, however nothing is more green than greenery.

Answer 8

You can do simple things like turn your AC or Heating 2 degrees up/down. This can actually save up to 46% in heating and cooling costs. You can also replace old appliances with Energy Star appliances that use ALOT less energy.

Answer 9

hi I was renting out a little flat in melbourne,
make sure you got a good grip on what your energy usages are and what each appliance uses and dont let it be on standby constantly!!!.
Buy second hand clothing and goods and shop at markets.....
Also use a bicycle and public transport and look if any electricity providers do certified green power and you have greatly lifted your footprint!!

Answer 10

On the individual scale? Ever heard of ''Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle'' (the three R's)? Major corporations are implementing it but if every individual were to practice it as well the effects would be immense.

GO TO:
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/reduce.htm

http://www.42explore.com/recycle.htm