9 Easy Tips for an Eco-friendlier Lifestyle at Home
In honor of Earth Day, we wanted to share some surprisingly simple steps you can take to reduce your home’s energy consumption. Especially now when we’re all spending more time than ever before at home, keeping your energy usage down is not only a socially responsible choice, but a smart financial one.
1. Set your thermostat to save energy
You can reduce your energy usage by 20% just by programming your thermostat’s setback temperature. Program your thermostat to setback temperatures by 8○ F while you are out (e.g. if your occupied temperature is 70○ F, program your setback to 62○ F; program the thermostat to revert to occupied setting 30 minutes before your typical return). If you adjust the temperature in your home by just 1○ F, you can reduce your energy usage by 3% (e.g. try raising your cooling setting or lowering your heating setting by just one degree).
2. Use energy savings settings
Related installs Energy Star appliances in all our buildings, meaning they are in the top 25% most efficient users of energy and water. Maximize the savings by using the energy savings settings they offer, such as washing your clothes in cold water, which cuts energy usage by 90% plus extends the life of your clothing, or setting your refrigerator between 37-40○ F, which provides necessary refrigeration with optimal energy usage.
3. Turn off equipment, lighting and appliances when not in use
Energy Star estimates the average American spends $100-per-year powering devices that are off but on standby mode. This includes shutting down computers during long periods of non-use.
4. Close your shades when you leave
Solar energy from the windows heats your apartment and increases air conditioning use during hot weather.
5. Green your commute
For every mile traveled in a 260-day work year, you can reduce emissions by 250 LBS CO2 by subway or 317 LBS CO2 by walking or biking when compared to the average NYC fossil fuel vehicle.
6. Use green cleaning products and natural air fresheners to protect your air quality
Choose cleaning products with Green Seal or EcoLogo certification. Clean often and reserve harsher chemicals for difficult cleaning tasks. Also, favor natural over chemical air fresheners, to avoid airborne chemicals (VOCs), which at high concentrations are shown to cause eye, nose, throat irritation as well as more serious side effects.
7. Avoid single-use plastics like water bottles, straws, bags and takeaway containers
Bring your own reusable water bottle and containers, choose boxes over bottles for products like laundry or dishwashing detergent, and buy in bulk using a reusable container or concentrates when possible.
8. Find recycling/donation opportunities
Find recycling opportunities for clothing, e-waste, Keurig cups and other recyclable items.
9. Reduce your food waste
Plan weekly meals that share ingredients and avoid waste during food preparation. Bring reusable produce bags when shopping (a requirement in a lot of cities these days), and favor products with less packaging when possible.
The Related Life is written and produced by Related Luxury Rentals. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest events, news and announcements in your area, and tag us for a chance to be featured @therelatedlife and #therelatedlife.