The Eco Women often give advice on changes that people can make at home, although those changes are not always possible for folks who rent instead of own. Therefore, Recycla was pleased to learn that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has put together a list for renters to have more control over their energy and water use, as well as other suggestions for living more green.
The EPA Renter’s Checklist includes ideas to consider when selecting your rental and once you’ve moved in. For example, when you’re looking for a place to live, you might consider living within walking distance of work or near public transportation. As you are looking at apartments and houses, pay attention to the appliances to see if they are Energy Star rated. Also note if the water fixtures are low-flow. Ask if you will have easy access to recycling facilities. (Recycla, her husband, and their baby daughter once lived for four months in an apartment complex that did not offer recycling and she still shudders to think about how many recyclable items ended up in the landfill.)
Once you move in, the EPA’s list includes a variety of ideas, such as replacing light bulbs with more energy efficient ones, setting your thermostat appropriately, water use, and more.
Not everyone can implement all the items on the list, but it’s a useful resource that might get you thinking about additional ways to go green. If you have some time today, take a look and see what you’re already doing that’s green and what else you can be doing.
Love this resource–glad to see that no matter where you live, you can behave nicely to the Earth.
We were lucky; we rented for 9 years in a place that had recycling. First it was voluntary (and convenient, too), and then it was mandatory curbside. Not enough space for a garden, so we just put in beans and tomatoes.