subject: How Living In "green" Apartments Can Be Soothing [print this page] For many years, those looking to live a more eco-friendly life was unable to consider apartment living. With little to no outside space and no chance of updating the inside, apartments living was settling for something less. Now, with many apartments changing to a more environmentally friendly style, green apartment living is an option.
A Head Start
Apartments, with a higher population density, already have a head start in reducing the carbon footprint. Recently, there have been a growing number of apartment communities which make more than just a casual effort to create an eco-friendly atmosphere, providing better choices for renters, and the satisfaction of knowing they are doing their part to make a difference.
Proactively Green
Many new green apartment initiatives specialize in converting industrial buildings slated for demolition, re-purposing the space for affordable green living. Other apartments specialize in redeveloping apartments and outfitting them with environmentally friendly products. Green apartment living has become enormously popular. The apartments have proven to have other great benefits such as close proximity to the local job base allowing people to take advantage of public transportation or walking and biking to work.
Common Features
- Practicing water conservation with items such as low flow toilets, faucets, and showers.
- Sub-metering utilities to reduce usage
- Energy efficient appliances
- The use of bamboo flooring and other sustainable woods
- The use of environmentally friendly paints
- The use of solar energy
- Using plants that are tolerable to a dryer landscape
- Efficient Heating and cooling systems
- Maximizing natural light throughout
- Designed to need less heating and cooling by being well insulated and having low ceilings
- Eco-friendly practices in construction
More than a Trend
Sustainable living began as a great idea which has developed into more than a national trend. Technology has made it possible to create developments in which the energy usage and the carbon footprint is reduced significantly, and demand is high for these green apartments. In addition to the more efficient use of space through denser living spaces the advantages of green apartments are numerous, for the renter, owner and the environment.
- Energy systems, such as solar systems, pay for themselves
- Lower maintenance needs
- Less impact on the environment
- Healthier indoor spaces
- The better use of space often allows for an increased number of apartments in the building
When Every Bit Counts
For those already living an eco-aware lifestyle, the opportunity to live in a green apartment and partner with those who know that every bit of effort counts is extremely satisfying. Often, even the most devoted and concerted efforts of buying local foods, reducing waste, and reducing emissions can feel negated when they eventually go home to an apartment that could be so much more efficient, should the development owners care to make the steps. Living in green apartments is a completely achievable goal. They will also be in very high demand.
