Saving Energy While Living in an Apartment

This post is part of the Blog Action Day movement: thousands of blogs talking about the environment on October 15.

With all of the buzz words like eco-friendly, environmentally conscious, and green living, apartment dwellers seem to be getting the short end of the advice stick. After all, there is only so much you can do to make improvements. Here are some ideas you can do:

Water Conservation

• Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth
• Fill a pop bottle with water, cap it and slide it into your toilet tank.
• Run your dishwasher when full, otherwise supplement in between times by filling a sink a quarter of the way.
• Save laundry until you have a full load. Partial loads cost money.

Energy Conservation

• Switching out to CFLs can save you $30 per bulb
• Turn off lights when not in use
• Unplug appliances when not in use. They still use energy even when not in use.
• Consider signing up for alternative power options available through the power company. It may cost a little more, but it reduces our reliance on oil.

Recycling

• If your state offers a can and bottle deposit, take advantage of it and return them. Use the money for a fun fund, vacation savings, grocery bill supplement, etc.
• Consider container gardening if you have a deck or porch. Many vegetables thrive in containers including lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, zucchini, and peppers.
• Want to save on fertilizer? Start a worm colony also known as vermiculture. The process is simple, uses vegetable scraps & newspaper, and no, it doesn't smell.
• Instead of buying plastic bags for garbage, use the ones you've collected from stores. These are also handy for pet poop bags and diaper disposal.