4 Ways to Be More Sustainable in an Apartment

If you live in an apartment building, chances are you have no control over the building's power consumption. However, there are ways to reduce your own electricity use. One step you can take is to install handy devices that monitor and regulate your energy use. Replace incandescent and fluorescent lightbulbs with smart LED lightbulbs that save a great deal of energy.

You can also install a smart thermostat for greater control over your heating and resource use. There are also ways for you to take advantage of renewable energy in your apartment. Portable solar panels and batteries provide a sustainable way to charge mobile devices. Items such as flashlights, cameras or watches may have solar-powered variants.

As more items become recyclable and recycling programs are more widespread, the recycling of waste items is perhaps the easiest, most readily available way to reduce your ecological impact in an apartment. Make sure to check with your municipal services to find out the proper way to recycle your papers, plastics and other items.

Ensure that recyclable food containers are thoroughly cleaned before recycling to reduce pests. Be sure to sort them into their appropriate categories where applicable. In the case of more specialized items such as electronics, many electronics retailers offer recycling programs for old electronics or other items, which provides a sustainable alternative to landfills.

Another way to promote recycling is to purchase items that consist of recycled materials, which helps support the market for sustainable goods. Another creative way to recycle is to reuse items for different functions. For instance, plastic ice cream containers, once empty and thoroughly washed, are ideal food storage containers for packed lunches for work or school.

Not only do organic, sustainably sourced foods have many health benefits, but they have a beneficial impact on the environment as well. If you’re looking for ways to be more sustainable in an apartment, it's possible to maintain a small garden that reduces your ecological impact. A garden doesn't need to be large to supplement your diet with healthy, sustainable food and help you live an environmentally conscious lifestyle. It's possible to garden in an apartment with pots, hydroponic planters and even grow lights that keep your plants thriving all year round.

Another way to bolster your garden is to repurpose your food waste into fertilizer with composting instead of sending it to a landfill. You can also get healthy groceries and produce from local sources such as farmers' markets to help support widespread sustainability.

Not all your options to improve your sustainability take place inside your apartment. With a few simple adjustments to your methods of transportation, you can greatly reduce your environmental impact. Ideal for urban settings, electric vehicles such as bikes and scooters are a convenient and energy-efficient mode of transportation you can depend on.

Electric bikes often feature a compact and lightweight design, and some are even foldable, making them easy to store and an effective option for apartment life. Just be sure to read up on the things you should know before you buy your first e-bike, like battery capacity and motor types.

If you're unable to keep a personal vehicle, choosing to use public transportation can help optimize energy consumption and reduce your carbon footprint. When the distance is too far for an electric vehicle or public transportation is too inconvenient, you can also always turn to your community. Consider joining a carpool group or making use of a rideshare app. Often, the best way to conserve resources is to share them with others.