How To Live Sustainably in an Apartment 

Living sustainably doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you’re living in an apartment. There are plenty of ways to make your home more environmentally friendly and reduce your carbon footprint without making too many major changes. There are also a bunch of sustainable building practices to look for when you’re searching for a new apartment or home. Here are a few tips on what to look for.

Sustainable Building Features

Firstly, before you even purchase look at the apartment’s sustainability features and building processes. When looking for the perfect home, apartments that feature cross ventilation, double insulation, double glazed windows, energy-efficient appliances and fixtures, grey water and LED lights, are all amazing features that reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills (plus they are all standard features of a CORNUS apartment). Let’s take a deeper dive into some of these features.

Cross ventilation

Is a natural method of cooling that flows throughout the building and rooms. Double insulation will eliminate the need to consume energy to heat and cool your home. This is because the double insulated walls prevent the transfer of hot and cold and add extra thermal layers to the building.

LED lighting

Is a great small change that has many benefits such as; they have a longer lifespan, improved efficiency, doesn’t emit heat or UV and operates on a low voltage operation. 

Energy and water efficient fixtures

Such as shower heads that flow at 15 L/min, using low-flow taps, using a 4-star toilet that features a half flush, 5-star washing machines that use less water per load and 6-star dishwashers that also use less water. 

Over the last few years, the building industry has been implementing greener initiatives and minimising its footprint. Some great initiatives that building companies are employing include; using low VOC materials, ensuring that they recycle waste and building materials and using precast concrete.

Location & Accesibility

Ensuring you pick a property in a location that has accessibility via walking, bike access and bike parking facilities and within public transport reach; are all important factors towards lowering your carbon footprint. In ensuring your home is within these transport options, you’ll be using private transport, such as your car or ride-sharing apps, and be using options for greener travel. Plus choosing to walk, ride your bike, jump on a skateboard, or even an e-scooter, is great for your health!

Sustainable At-Home Features

When moving into a new home, you will inevitably need to purchase or even upgrade some new goods. The best way to lower your bills and be more sustainable at home is to purchase energy and water-efficient goods. Start by determining which items are on all day or consume large amounts of water and energy during the day. Items to be mindful of are your fridge, microwave and tv.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning

When it comes to household cleaning try using eco-friendly products as they minimise pollution, can be cost-effective (as you can usually make a lot of them at home) and ensure you’re breathing in less harmful chemicals. Whenever we flush these harsh chemicals through our water system, for example, let’s say rinsing the shower clean after using bleach, it’s difficult for treatment plants to cleanse the water, meaning they contaminate the ecosystem and can harm animals and the ecosystems exposed to these chemicals. 

Composting

Creating compost at home is a great way to reduce your household food waste and remove it from going into landfill and releasing methane. Whilst this may not be the most practical feature if you live in an apartment, you could speak to your body corporate or neighbours and see if a communal compost could be a shared idea.

Grow a Veggie or Herb Garden

Try using your outdoor space to grow your own food in raised garden beds or pots. Also, urban gardens are a vibe, with many growing herbs and veggies in pots, containers and raised garden beds all on their balconies or using vertical gardens. It’s not only great for the environment but looks and smells great too!

Good Quality Furniture

Avoid buying low-quality furniture that doesn’t last, as it will just end up in landfill, further adding to our environmental issues. Do your due diligence and research what you’re after, rather than just buying a cheap and short-lived item that in the long run, won’t be very environmentally friendly or economical.

If you have any other tips, we would love to hear them, feel free to drop them in the comment section below. Also, if you’re interested in a new apartment we currently have projects under construction in Oakleigh and Carnegie with Glen Iris commencing soon, and one remaining 3-bedroom apartment at our completed Burwood project. At CORNUS, we are proud of our sustainable efforts and our ongoing commitment to sustainable building practices and home living. For more information on any of our current projects, fill in the form below or call Marcus on 0488 845 332 for more information.

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