Going green and becoming environmentally friendly is something many people have done. However, you might regard it as a bit of a challenge if you’re a homeowner in a New York City apartment.
How does one turn an apartment into an environmentally friendly location in the middle of a city that’s overpopulated, overcrowded, and full of pollution thanks to all those taxi cabs? It’s simple, really; going green does not require a big yard and ample landscaping.
These following three tips can help you go green at home.
1. New appliances
Many people assume they need a big yard in which they can plant a garden and add trees and stop watering often to become green. But you can live in a cardboard box and go green if you simply replace your wasteful old appliances with newer, more energy-efficient ones.
Try looking for appliances that are graced with the Energy Star label, because they’re the ones that are designed to achieve the greatest environmental efficiency, so they’re green-friendly.
2. Install ceiling fans
The city gets hot in the summer, which causes many residents to turn up their air conditioning. Instead of turning down the temp on your thermostat and wasting electricity in a not very environmentally friendly manner, try installing a ceiling fan or two.
This will help you keep your apartment much cooler without having to alter the temperature on your thermostat. You can keep it at a comfortable level that’s not wasteful and use the fan(s) to sustain your comfort.
3. Change the lights
It’s time to get rid of those old light bulbs that came with your apartment and put in “green” bulbs that offer the same amount of light for less than half the energy. Not only can changing your bulbs to something more energy efficient protect the environment, but it can lower your energy bill by more than 30 percent.
Living in the city provides you with ample opportunities to go green. You can walk instead of taking a cab, bus, or train. You can open your windows instead of using your heat or air, and you can shop organically. Sometimes it’s the simplest changes inside your apartment that make the biggest difference for the environment.
And don’t forget that a green apartment will become an increasingly powerful attraction for many future buyers. When it’s time to sell, you might encounter a lot more interest in your place than in others where the owners haven’t made such an effort to go green.
