As environmental awareness grows, more residents are seeking eco-friendly apartment living solutions. As a leader in sustainable and affordable living, we’re here to help with practical tips for reducing your environmental footprint. By adopting eco-friendly habits, you can lower utility bills, promote sustainability, and contribute to a healthier community.

Sustainable apartment living doesn’t have to be a complete lifestyle overhaul. With these easy, straightforward steps, you can make your apartment more eco-friendly while minimizing your carbon footprint.

7 Sustainable Choices for Apartment Living

A better future for planet Earth, your wallet, and your apartment is achievable through small adjustments. Let’s look at some of these sustainable living efforts and their benefits:

1. Waste Reduction

A person carrying a reusable bag of apples

Image source: Unsplash

Being eco-conscious starts with building mindful shopping and throwing habits. Here’s where good ol’ reduce, reuse, recycle comes to mind. Follow these tips to reduce waste in your home:

  • Only buy what can be reused, i.e., reusable grocery bags, refillable containers, and beeswax wraps. Avoid single-use plastics, whose costs can add up and are bad for the planet. Choose longer-lasting products instead. They might be an initial investment, but they can save you money in the long run.
  • Consider composting where possible. Each city has a guide to recycling and composting. Use these guides to dispose of waste properly. Compost can even be used in gardens.
  • Recycle items properly, so they can be used again. This applies to some metals, paper, and electronics. By recycling paper and cardboard, you save more trees from being cut down, which also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Recycled electronics can lend components to other products to help them live longer, without needing to buy a new product or lose one.

2. Green Cleaning Supplies

Green Cleaning Supplies - Park Property Management

Image source: Shutterstock

Many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that are harmful for the environment to manufacture, but also to the people and pets living in the apartment. Look for eco-friendly products made from natural ingredients. These could be biodegradable soaps, vinegar-based cleaners, or eco-friendly laundry detergents.

When it comes to cleaning, we often overuse paper towels. Instead of constantly buying paper towels and having them take up space in landfills, opt for reusable towels, which generally soak up more liquid and can easily be washed and reused, saving you from spending more money on single-use items.

3. Go Paperless

Go Paperless - Park Property Management

Image source: Shutterstock

Sign up to go paperless wherever possible. Have bills, newsletters, and magazines emailed instead, and have insurance and work documents accessible online. This reduces the number of papers made, printed on, enveloped, and sent, freeing up postal service workers and allowing them to focus on other responsibilities. Going paperless also keeps your private information safe, making paying bills and managing accounts more convenient.

4. Sustainable Eating

Avoid paper plates, straws, cutlery, and plastic takeout containers and bags. On top of that, try to keep food waste to a minimum. Plan your meals so you only buy what’s needed and no food is wasted.

Store food in airtight containers and freeze it when possible to help it last longer. Lastly, remember your leftovers. While not everyone always likes to have leftovers, think of creative ways to incorporate them into a new meal.

5. Apartment Gardening

Apartment Gardening - Park Property Management

Image source: Shutterstock

You don’t need a balcony or outdoor space for a successful garden. By growing your herbs and vegetables, you can save on grocery costs, and help purify the air within your apartment.

Get a few pots or containers together to plant seeds. These indoor plants are a great opportunity to reuse plastic containers to further promote sustainable apartment living.

6. Water Conservation

Too much water consumption can quickly raise a monthly utility bill. Stay on top of leaks or drips, which can quickly accumulate.

Raise this immediately to your landlord, so it can be fixed quickly. Further lower water consumption by taking shorter showers, turning off the tap when not in use, and installing low-flow fixtures so you’re using all the released water and not wasting any.

7. Reduce Energy Consumption with Energy-Efficient Appliances

Plenty of smart appliances now use energy efficiently. They include light bulbs, thermostats, dishwashers, laundry machines, coffee makers, and many more.

Use smart thermostats to adjust the temperature year-round, saving on unnecessary temperature changes. Unplug devices when not in use, because they continue to use energy even when turned off.

Vegetables on a cutting board next to a compost container

Image source: Unsplash

Celebrating Earth Day 2025

Earth Day 2025 is on April 22, and while it’s not the only day to focus on the Earth and environmental issues, there are plenty of events to celebrate and sustainable reminders for the remainder of the year.

Join community incentives by helping with litter, sharing knowledge, and implementing sustainable changes. Use the tips on the Earth Day website every other day to make lasting changes. Combined with our seven tips, Earth Day incentives can help you save on utility bills and live healthier, happier, and more sustainably.

Park Property Management for Sustainable Living

Join our community of happy residents by finding your dream apartment and participating in eco-friendly apartment living—an easy feat with modern, up-to-date apartments.

Park Property Management can help you find your next home in Ontario today. Whether you’re looking to live in bustling Toronto or suburban Burlington, we’ve got properties that suit your sustainable lifestyle. Contact us today to learn more.