Friday, June 9, 2017

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint When You Live in an Apartment


Castellan Real Estate Partners founder Paul Salib oversees the acquisition and management of residential properties in New York. In order to decrease expenses and help residents reduce their carbon footprints, Paul Salib and his associates frequently upgrade their newly acquired properties with energy-efficient systems.

People who live in urban settings tend to use fewer natural resources than people in suburban or rural communities. They live in smaller, more concentrated dwellings and usually rely more on mass transit. By pooling resources like this, city residents reduce their carbon footprint. However, there are still additional ways that Americans who live in densely populated areas can live more sustainably.

Many people can reduce their energy usage by up to 40 percent simply by unplugging unused appliances. Chargers, coffee makers, and other small appliances can draw a surprising amount of power even when they are not in use.

Cutting back on heating and cooling can also help. If you can, consider adjusting your thermostat in order to reduce emissions. If you cannot access the thermostat in your rental, you can still use drapes to insulate your windows.

Recycling more is another good way to help. Residents of most apartment buildings have access to recycling services. Urban areas usually have resources for recycling other materials, such as packing peanuts and batteries.