You don’t have to abstain from showering and start hugging trees to prove that you’re eco-friendly. Luxury Apartment broker Platinum Properties has tips to help you reduce your carbon footprint and save you money.

 

1.You don’t need light 24/7

 

 

  • Turn off the lights whenever you leave a room
  • Take advantage of natural light
  • Turning on a lamp in a bright room filled with sunlight is just silly

 

2.CFL and LED light-bulbs

 

 

  • Much better than traditional incandescent light-bulbs because they:
    • Last a lot longer
    • Use less energy
  • Purchasing these seems more expensive at first, but saves you a lot of money in the long run

 

3.Draught-proofing!

 

 

  • Use draft guards or weatherstrips for doors and windows
  • Keeps heat or cool air from escaping rooms
  • *DON’T* do this for areas that produce moisture or have open fires or exhaust (kitchen, bathroom, boiler room, etc.)

 

4.Programmable Thermostats

 

 

  • Perfect because it automatically adjusts temperature
  • Your place doesn’t need heat or A/C while you’re gone
  • And you don’t need it while you’re already asleep either

 

5.Furniture Placement

 

 

  • Try not to block any vents or radiators
  • This is super important for proper air circulation
  • If your couch doesn’t fit anywhere else, at least make sure there’s a good amount of space between it and the wall for air flow

 

6.Scrape, don’t rinse

 

 

  • Scrape off food instead of rinsing dishes before putting them in dishwasher
  • Most of today’s dishwashers are powerful enough to rinse off food on their own
  • Only run the dishwasher when you have enough for a full load
  • Air dry or wipe down the dishes when possible

 

7.Curtains, Shades, and Blinds

 

 

  • Use them for temperature control in your rooms
  • For the winter:
    • Open during the day to let in heat
    • Close curtains at night to prevent heat loss
  • For the summer:
    • Do the exact opposite as you would in the winter
    • If it’s still too hot, use a fan instead of the A/C

 

8.Unplug Appliances

 

 

  • If your phone is done charging, unplug the charger from the wall
  • Unplug EVERYTHING (except the refrigerator, of course) when you’re away on vacation
  • Use power strips so it’s easier to turn off multiple things at once

 

Summary

When you get your next energy bill, you’ll see how much money you save by applying these tips. Plus, you’re also lending a hand to save the Earth. Kudos to you!

If you’re looking for a new apartment that has a beautiful living space filled with natural light browse through our listings.

Isabelle Fleury