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As world leaders and businesses scramble to create and adhere to sustainability plans in an effort to combat climate change, many individuals around the world are also changing what they can about their own lives and habits to protect the environment. We all live on Earth and hold collective responsibility for its future. If you’re seeking ways to reduce your environmental impact as a tenant, we have practical tips and best practices for you to adopt in your life.  

What is sustainable living?

Sustainable living involves consciously adhering to particular lifestyle habits and principles in an effort to reduce your consumption of Earth's natural resources. From waste reduction to shopping smarter, there are relatively effortless ways to live more sustainably.

What does it mean to reduce your environmental impact?

Reducing your environmental impact means minimising the harm you have on the planet. It is often equated toreducing your carbon footprint which involves changing how you approach and participate in everyday activities that produce greenhouse gases -- from what you eat to how you travel. It can also involve reducing your dependence on natural resources by adopting new habits. 

How to be a more eco-conscious tenant

If you want to tread lighter on the Earth, here’s how to be a more eco-aware tenant from day to day.

Assess your current habits

The best way to start your sustainability journey is to figure out where you’re starting from so you can adopt better habits and plot a path towards a greener lifestyle.

Energy: Reduce your consumption

Energy consumption has a huge impact on the planet. The first step to reducing your energy consumption as a tenant is to adopt energy reduction habits such as turning off the lights when you leave a room, using less hot water, and unplugging devices that are not being used (to combat phantom power. 

Water: Change your habits to reduce consumption

Water is a valuable resource that is easily wasted. You can do a lot as an individual to conserve water -- from taking shorter showers to turning off a running tap when you brush your teeth.

Waste: Change your habits to reduce waste

You probably remember the three Rs -- recycle, reduce and reuse. Adhering to these basic principles will help you produce less waste and divert waste from landfills. 

Reducing and reusing is beneficial for you and the planet because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, prevents pollution, saves energy, reduces the amount of waste that will need to be recycled or sent to landfills and incinerators and saves you money. 

To reduce food waste at home, you can start composting your food scraps in your apartment. The soil that is produced by composting is nutrient rich and perfect for your houseplants! Be sure to recycle plastic, glass and paper items appropriately by following recycling best practices.

Adopting habits to increase how much you reuse is only getting easier for consumers as governments, major retailers and businesses phase out single-use plastics like shopping bags and straws. If you’re not already doing it, bring reusable bags to the store, bring your own containers when you buy in bulk, provide a reusable coffee tumbler to your barista and use glass containers or silicone freezer bags to store food and leftovers. These little habits all go a long way to reduce the waste generated in your day to day life.

Shop sustainably

What you buy matters a lot when it comes to protecting the environment. Buy in bulk to help reduce packaging waste. Look for ethically-produced and eco-friendly products whenever possible like biodegradable shampoo and fairtrade items. You can also reduce greenhouse gases and waste by giving items new life by shopping second hand.  

When it comes to food shopping, buy minimally and focus on what you need. Avoid processed foods that are heavily packaged and steer clear of meat and other foods that have a big carbon footprint. Instead focus on local and  eco-friendly foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds and nuts. They’re good for you and for the planet.

Lean on green transportation

Cars produce a staggering amount of pollution. You can lighten the environmental load by reducing how often you drive and carpooling when you need to. If you don’t have to commute by car, public transportation, riding your bike and walking are excellent green transportation options.

We hope this article helps you reduce your environmental impact as a tenant. You don’t need to do everything we discussed -- every step towards sustainability is worthwhile! Do you have special sustainable habits? Let us know!

Looking for a new apartment to call home? Panoramic Properties would love to welcome you home. Please visit our website to browse our available apartments.