Being kind to the planet and living a more eco-friendly life is an increasing priority for most of us today. If you are living in a rented property, there are plenty of things you can do to cut down your carbon footprint and be an eco-friendly tenant. The best way to be eco-friendly is to introduce small changes in your everyday life that are kinder to the environment. Of course, there are big things you can do, like choosing not to own a car or choosing to rent an eco-friendly property, but the little things matter too.
Though some tenants haven’t got a choice about their energy supplier, many do, and there are plenty of options for eco-friendly energy companies. There has been growing pressure from environmental advocates for energy companies to start using renewable energy sources, and some companies even provide only clean energy. Shop around for a good deal and you should be able to save money too.
There are plenty of other ways you can reduce how much energy you use, like only filling the kettle with the amount of water you need, turning off appliances you aren’t using and making sure things are unplugged rather than on standby. Energy efficient lightbulbs and appliances are another great way to cut down your energy consumption, and you can ask your landlord about this too. Eating less meat is another choice that many people are making to reduce their environmental impact. Meat production contributes hugely to deforestation and it is one of the biggest contributors of carbon emissions.
Buying second hand or recycled products as we well as eco-friendly products is another great way to cut down your consumption in general, and recycling is, of course, essential for cutting down how much plastic we use. Walking instead of driving makes a huge difference to your carbon footprint and if you are looking for a new rental property, try and find one that is within walking or cycling distance from where you work. There are also a number of eco-friendly public transport choices which are worth considering too.
Look for an eco-friendly property like West Point Studios by RW Invest, which features modern low-carbon technology including solar panels, 100% energy efficient LED lighting, air source heat pump, underfloor heating and a heat recovery ventilation system. Features like this mean that renters can enjoy having a high-end, modern property, without negatively impacting the planet.
Another important thing for eco-friendly tenants to keep in mind is how much water they use and try and reduce their water consumption. A low flow showerhead can save you between 25 and 60% more water and having shorter showers can cut down your usage even further. Turning off taps when you aren’t using them is another small change that makes a big difference. If you are brushing your teeth, the average faucet lets out 2.5 gallons per minute, so try and turn off the taps as much as possible. Reducing how much water is used when you flush the toilet can be a quick and easy way to cut down too.
