4 Tips to Create a More Eco-Friendly Rental Home

Posted On Thursday, 05 November 2020 21:26

Living an environmentally-friendly life is important for improving the planet and making a difference. Implementing eco-friendly practices at home is vital to producing real change.  

If you’re a renter, opportunities for creating a meaningful change may seem severely limited. Fortunately, you can transform your home to benefit the environment with a little creativity and dedication. 

Here are 4 tips to create a more eco-friendly rental home:

1. Develop Mindful Habits 

Establish an eco-friendly rental home by developing mindful habits. 

Mindfulness is essential to noticing our daily actions and making a conscious change. Regardless of your living situation, significantly reduce your carbon footprint by discovering small alterations to positively transform your lifestyle. 

Sustainable practices to implement in your day-to-day activities include:

• Changing your transportation habits by cycling or walking when possible
• Turning off lights, electronics, or appliances if they’re not being used
• Using your appliances less by only running full loads
• Starting a small garden to produce your own food, such as vegetables and herbs
• Purchasing biodegradable or reusable products to reduce waste
• Donating clothes or products rather than throwing them away

Additionally, prepare yourself for success by simplifying your sustainable habits. For example, plug your electronics into a single power strip, so you can simultaneously turn everything off. Or, place your reusable products, including bags and containers, nearby to serve as a reminder to use them first. 

Adopt environmentally-friendly behaviors to form a mindful attitude and beneficial habits. 

2. Recycle Everything

Recycle everything you can to drastically minimize waste.

On average, people produce over 4 pounds of trash each day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste every year, resulting in an approximate total of 200 million tons of garbage generated by Americans per year. Without recycling efforts, the garbage piles up to destroy natural habitats, release harmful toxins, and diminish our resources. 

Make an incredible difference by recycling your contribution of waste. Purchase a recycling bin and prioritize the process. 

It’s estimated that 75% of waste is recyclable, and only 30% of it is actually recycled. Before discarding any item, check the packaging to learn if it’s recyclable. You may be surprised what you discover. 

Understand the importance of recycling to substantially improve the environment through your at-home efforts. 

3. Change the Lights 

Change the lights to create an eco-friendly rental home. 

Traditional incandescent light bulbs use an enormous amount of electricity to generate light. The majority of used energy is completely wasted because 90% of the light bulbs energy comes off as heat. 

Switching light bulbs is a simple method for saving money and conserving energy in your home. 

Energy-efficient light alternatives include halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Each option provides quality lighting, meets energy standards, and offers long-lasting results. 

LEDs are the most popular light bulb choice. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LEDs only use 20-25% of the energy and last 15 to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs are more expensive initially, but they save you more money in the long run because they use a minimal amount of energy and last a long time. 

Alter your energy consumption by easily choosing a smart, energy-efficient light bulb. 

4. Switch to Alternative Energy 

Switch your rental home to alternative energy to benefit the environment.

Choosing alternative energy typically involves constructing wind turbines or installing solar panels. Obviously, each of these options are impossible for renters; however, advancements in the energy industry have made renewable energy options more accessible. 

Community solar is an incredible program for accessing solar power without the installation process. A third party, typically a utility company or private business, installs solar panels in a certain area. Sunlight is then converted into electricity, delivered to the power grid, and distributed to the public by the local utility. 

Joining a community solar project is as simple as finding a local solar farm and subscribing to the service. Once you’re a member, your share of generated solar power is turned into credit and deducted from your rental home’s electric bill, effectively saving you money and improving the environment. 

Participate in a no panels solar power opportunity by locating a community solar project near you. 

Promote cleaner and greener living by discovering alternative energy options for renters. 

Creativity and determination are required for developing an eco-friendly rental home. 

Discover small and meaningful changes to incorporate into your temporary space to make a big difference for the environment and the future.

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