8 Tips for Eco-Friendly Apartment Living

I haven’t lived in an apartment complex for a long time, but hear that it comes with a slew of challenges like not having access to recycling, composting, and generally not having control over your own space.

Now, I do rent so while I don’t have a lot of apartment experience, I do understand what it is like to not have complete control/ownership over my own space.

No matter how bad I want an electric car… my landlord is NOT putting in a 240 Volt charging port…

He’s also not going to install solar panels and a grey water system, but that would be dope and super green. So, I wanted to round up all of the small things that you could do to make apartment/renting a little more eco-friendly.

1. lightbulbs baby:

The first thing I did when I moved into my rental was switch out alllllll the light bulbs. Instead of using the old school halogen light bulbs that came with the place, I switched them to LEDs. This of course lowered my electricity bill and are much more eco-friendly.

Since LEDs are a little spendy… I kept all of the halogen bulbs and then just swapped them after I moved out…

2. energy, energy:

Just because you can’t get solar panels installed in your apartment doesn’t mean you can’t switch to renewable energy. Companies like Arcadia Power and Clean Choice Energy are energy suppliers.

When you sign up, they work with your existing utility company to make sure all of the energy you use is supplied by clean energy sources. This doesn’t cost anything extra for you and in fact, you’ll probably see your electricity bill go down!

And, did I mention if you sign up for Arcadia, you’ll also get $100 in Reformation credit? Yah. Clean energy AND sustainable fashion… being eco-friendly never felt so good.

But, in all seriousness, they just dropped their new shoe collection and I’m seriously lusting over a pair of their gold menage sandals.

If Arcadia nor Clean Choice supply your area, a quick google search should turn up an alternative!

3. recycle?

I’ve heard recycling in large apartment buildings can be tricky because of trash chutes?

I’ve lived in two apartment buildings one was two stories and the other was four stories… neither of them had trash chutes.

There was a dumpster and you were required to take all of your stuff out to the dumpster.

Come to think of it… the two story apartment didn’t have recycling which is a super bummer. If I didn’t have recycling available at my apartment or only had a trash chute, then I would try to find another way of dealing with my recycling.

One of the great things about living a zero waste lifestyle is that I don’t have much recycling at all because zero waste is about recycling less - not more! You can read more in this post What is Zero Waste?

So here are all the ways I would make recycling work for me:

1. I would walk my recyclables down separately if my building had a designated recycling room.

2. I would ask my friends who had access to curb side recycling if I could bring my recycling over to their house.

3. I would bring my recycling to a drop point.

4. I would ask my landlord to get curbside recycling or set up a recycling area and get signatures from other people in my building.

5. I would bring it to work and use their recycling pick up.

Also, check out my series How to Recycle the RIGHT way.

4. compost:

Compost is another tricky one. If you have a small balcony you could easily implement a tumble bin, but if you don’t things might be a bit more challenging. I’ve got a ton of tips in my post How to Compost in an Apartment.

5. shower heads:

Who’s got two thumbs and swapped her wasteful shower head out for a very efficient one!? THIS GIRL.

JK. My husband did it as a surprise and it was the sweetest thing ever. He bought this shower head which hasn’t sacrificed water pressure - which is so important to me! High water pressure = big hair. I’m from the south and you know how we like our big hair. Volume baby.

So, we saved the original shower head and will swap it back once we move.

6. insulate:

I’m not sure how insulated your apartment or rental is, and it’s not like you can start swapping out windows and filling in walls. However, if you are building a home and looking for eco-friendly insulation… could I recommend old denim?

I’ve rounded up a few easy solutions to help insulate your home to keep it warm or cool depending on the season. This will help keep your energy bill down which is good for the planet!

CURTAINS:

Dress your windows! Curtains help insulate a room blocking drafts and retaining heat in the winter. They also help to shade the room from the sun in the summer which will keep it cooler.

According to energy.gov: “Studies demonstrate that medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33%.” That will save you some cash on the air-conditioning bill. Not to mention that window treatments add a good design element to a room.

DRAFT STOPPER:

Stop drafts from coming in with a weighted blocker that you can take with you when you move.

WINDOW INSULATION:

Alright, so I know that these are plastic… but if you have old, thin, vintage single-pane windows and your house is freezing! These could really help reduce your energy cost. Which in the long run is actually going to be better for the planet than a little bit of plastic waste.

7. furniture and decor:

If you need to go shopping, opt for second hand! This is a great way to bring character to your apartment, you’ll get a bargain, and it’s great for the planet.

Check out my 10 favorite places to shop secondhand online.

Of course, if you can’t find something that you need or like, then check into getting something sustainable. I have two end tables from Urban Wood Goods which was made our of reclaimed wood that I absolutely love!

8. check your fridge:

Your fridge might be one of the biggest users of energy in your home. In fact, 25% of your electric bill may be from the fridge alone. When I moved this last time (check out my Zero Waste Home Tour and Zero Waste Home Tour Treehouse edition ((I’ve moved a lot)) the fridge was from the 70s or 80s.

It was absolutely ancient and the shelves were actually duct taped inside. It was completely falling apart and the cooling was sporadic.

Thankfully my landlord got us a new energy efficient fridge! But, to keep it working well, it’s important to keep the compressor coils clean!

If you can, try to dust and vacuum the back of your fridge to ensure your energy bill stays low. Cover Make surer your fridge's seal is tight and keep your freezer full.

The more stuff you have in your fridge, the easier it is for it to cool. So, if you don’t have a bunch of food in there, just fill up some old mason jars full of water.

Check out my guide How to Freeze in Mason Jars because yes, you can freeze in mason jars!

I would love to know how you’re keeping your apartment eco-friendly?

4 Farmers Market Essentials

I love going to the farmers market. Every Saturday I look forward to seeing all the fresh, seasonal produce.

Supporting local farmers is so good for the environment and local economy. It also puts a face behind the food you consume, a key step that’s missing at the supermarket. You never get to meet the people who grew your food at the grocery store.

Related: A Trip to the Farmers Market

Local food also means fresher food. The taste can’t be beat, and neither can the fact it doesn’t have to travel half way across the world to reach your plate. Certainly, cuts down on carbon emissions!

Also, it’s important to eat in season produce as much as possible.

What’s in season depends on your region and what the farmer decides to grow, but seasonal foods have higher nutritional density. Plus, it’s much easier to find plastic free berries at farmers markets during the spring and summer than the winter!

Here are my top four essentials for the farmers market that help me stay waste free every time I go.

1. reusable produce bags

These are my life line. I use them to store apples, pears, carrots, huge heads of lettuce - you name it. All kinds of produce gets put straight into my reusable produce bags.

You can find several different kinds on the market. There are ones made from cloth which can be composted at the end of their life. There are also produce bags made from synthetic fabric that are very durable.

Both cloth and synthetic produce bags are machine or hand washable. They also have these handy drawstring tops to secure all your food in place (assuring no produce tumbles out).

Whichever type you use is up to you, but they certainly beat single use produce bags every time. They’ll help you cut back on so much waste.

There’s also different sized produce bags available too. I personally just use the large sized ones because it’s guaranteed to fit anything I want. I tend to get things in large quantities, so I like a bag that can keep up, you know?

You can also make your own produce bags from some scrap fabric you have lying around, if you’re good at sewing. Or, you can even use an old (clean) pillowcase to house your fruits and veggies. Whatever works, right?

I recommend bringing anywhere from 8 to 10 produce bags. It depends on how much food you plan on getting, but you can never have too many (just in case).

2. tote bags or baskets:

While at the market, you’re going to need a place to store all those fruits and veggies you put in your reusable produce bags. I use a tote bag, but baskets are really cute too.

My farmers market gives out free tote bags in an initiative for New York to go zero waste by 2030. I have several of these tote bags because it’s important to support efforts like this, plus why refuse a free reusable bag?

You can see if your farmers market gives any away for free. If not, reusable bags aren’t too hard to find. Most grocery stores sell them right at the cash register.

There are also several companies that make reusable tote bags such as Blu Bag or BagPodz.

Related: Reusable Bags Made Easy

I recommend taking anywhere from three to four tote bags with you to carry all your supplies comfortably. It might be nice to ask a friend or family member to come and help you carry them as well.

Bringing a basket to the market is also a really cute way to carry around your produce before and after purchase. Just be prepared: If you get a lot, it easily gets heavy to hold!

Make sure to get a basket that’s sturdy and comes with handles for easy holding and carrying.

You could even get a wicker trolley to take with you to the market. Just imagine how cute and efficient you’d look carting it around with all your plastic free goodies.

3. mason jars or containers:

Sometimes, bringing a mason jar or container is a really good idea. If you have a meat or fish vendor at your market, and you happen to eat meat, you can ask them to put it in your own container.

This eliminates the need for it to be wrapped in paper or plastic. Most of the time if you’re nice, they’ll say yes without even blinking an eye.

As always, do your best to keep your meat consumption to a minimum. Eating a more plant-based diet is overall better for your health and the environment.

Mason jars and containers from home are also great for storing berries in. Berries sweat a lot in the summer, so they can easily stain your cloth produce bags.

Lots of farmers markets sell berries in the summer months in paper containers (which you can return the following week by the way).  That said, berries tend to bleed and get crushed easily, so putting them into a mason jar will protect them better.

Before you do that though, make sure to ask the farmer if that’s okay and pay for it first. Don’t want them thinking you’re stealing!

4. beeswax wraps:

If you enjoy getting bread or cheese from your farmers market, consider bringing some beeswax wraps with you. Assuming the bread or cheese isn’t pre-wrapped there, you should be able to get it in your beeswax wraps.

Cheese tends to come wrapped in plastic or paper, so walk up to a vendor and see if they pre-wrap them or not. If not, ask them if you can have a piece put into your beeswax wrap before they wrap it for you.

This will prevent any waste from being generated, and keep the cheese fresh. Just make sure to store it properly when you get home (yes, it can stay wrapped in the beeswax wrap).

If you plan on getting a baguette, there are baguette sized beeswax wraps available. Just ask for your bread to be wrapped into it, simple as that.

You can also use two large beeswax wraps to wrap a round loaf of fresh baked, package free bread. Personally, I get a loaf of bread to go in my cloth produce bag, but it’s totally your call.   

For more tips, be sure to check out the ultimate guide to zero waste grocery shopping.

What are your farmers market essentials?

Guest Post: Ariana Palmieri is the founder of Greenify-Me.com, a blog dedicated to zero waste living and sustainability. Her work has been featured on MindBodyGreen, Green Matters, The Penny Hoarder and several other publications. Get her free e-book "10 Ways to Reduce Trash" by signing up to her newsletter and learn how to reduce your waste today.

All-Natural Cough Remedies

California is in full bloom, and lots of people’s allergies are causing runny noses, watery eyes, and lot’s of coughing. If you’re starting to feel a sore throat coming on, or already have a cough, there are several zero waste cough remedies that could help.

First and foremost, always remember to put health first! Going to see your doctor and resting up are two essentials to this.

With that said, there are lots of natural remedies to coughs. Here are a few I personally prefer.

Related: Zero Waste Cold and Flu Remedies

honey:

Local raw honey is one of the best treatments for a sore throat and a cough. Not only does it taste delicious, but it will help sooth your throat.

Just make sure to get local raw honey, as store bought honey is often “ultra-filtered” through heat and pasteurization. This processing destroys the beneficial compounds, pollen and enzymes that make raw honey so nutrient dense.

You can look for local raw honey at your local farmers market, or check online. Just do a quick google search of “local raw honey near me” or specify the state you’re in.

When you get your hands on the honey, you can eat a tablespoon of it straight up to help with a cough. Two to four tablespoons of raw honey a day is best (one at night, one in the morning).

However, if you have a coughing fit, feel free to reach for the honey to help calm it down!

You can also mix in two tablespoons of honey into your tea, and drink this honey tea at least twice a day. Tea is very soothing to the throat as well, so the two combined should help nicely.

ginger:

Believe it or not, ginger may actually help ease a dry throat, seeing as it has anti-inflammatory properties. As a bonus, it also helps relieve nausea and pain.

If you find yourself coughing a lot, ginger can help relax membranes in the airways, which can help reduce the amount you cough.

I suggest brewing up a cup of ginger tea using fresh ginger slices. You can add them directly to the hot water and let it steep a few minutes.

You can also add honey or lemon juice to improve the taste and increase the benefits of ginger tea. Opt for organic ginger whenever possible too.

Drink ginger tea at least twice a day for the best results.

fluids:

As a general rule, you should always consume more fluids when you’re sick. Your body really needs them to help flush out toxins.

Make sure you’re getting enough water, for starters. You should be aiming for at least 8 cups of water a day.

Drinking liquids at room temperature can also help alleviate a cough, runny nose, and sneezing. So the next time you reach for some water, consider not drinking it ice cold.

However, drinking some warming fluids will also help with a sore throat and cough. Specifically, hot drinks.

Try to consume more tea and soup whenever you have a cough. Consuming fluids will be easier on your throat and make you less likely to cough.

I recommend trying licorice root or marshmallow root tea for a stubborn cough. Both those herbs are great at relieving any tickling, itching or irritation you might feel in your throat that causes you to cough in the first place.

Make sure you brew some zero waste tea, if you decide to drink it. Most tea bags are made from plastic, which isn’t healthy for you or the earth.

Choose bulk teas, or purchase tea from companies that make compostable tea bags whenever possible (Yogi Tea is my favorite). Loose leaf tea in reusable tins are great as well.

You can also try drinking clear broths or plain old warm water (with a slice of lemon perhaps).

steam:

If you have a nasty wet cough, steam might be able to help provide some relief. Take a hot shower with eucalyptus or bath to allow the bathroom to fill with steam.

I know baths aren’t the most environmentally friendly option (so much wasted water), but if you don’t take a bath too often, it’s okay to treat yourself when you’re sick.

Besides, there are plenty of other ways to reduce your water footprint, such as cutting out meat and dairy products from your diet.

Related: 5 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Whatever you decide to do (bath or shower), stay in the steam for a few minutes until your symptoms subside. Just make sure to drink a glass of water afterwards to prevent dehydration (and to cool down).

You can alternatively make a steam bowl to save water. Just fill a large bowl with hot water: You can add herbs or essential oils to it if you so choose. Eucalyptus or rosemary are nice choices that also help relieve decongestion.

Place a towel over your head and lean over the bowl, inhaling the vapors for about 5 minutes. This will help loosen you up and ease your symptoms.

salt water gargle:

My boyfriend loves doing this every time he feels a sore throat coming on. More than half the time, it actually works too.

This simple remedy is the most effective way to treat a wet cough and a sore throat. That’s because salt water actually reduces phlegm and mucus in the back of the throat.

All you need to do is stir half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and let it dissolve. When the solution cools slightly, just gargle with it a little at a time, making sure to let it sit on the back of your throat for a few moments before spitting.

Gargle with salt water several times each day until your cough improves or completely subsides.

Altogether, please make sure to see a doctor if your condition worsens.

If you wind up needing an over the counter medication for your cough, don’t beat yourself up over it. Waste happens.

If you’d like to stay as healthy as possible this winter, I recommend trying some of these natural immune boosters. The best cure is always prevention, after all!

What are some zero waste cough remedies you prefer?

Guest Post: Ariana Palmieri is the founder of Greenify-Me.com, a blog dedicated to zero waste living and sustainability. Her work has been featured on MindBodyGreen, Green Matters, The Penny Hoarder and several other publications. Get her free e-book "10 Ways to Reduce Trash" by signing up to her newsletter and learn how to reduce your waste today.