Guide To Green Apartment Living In Athens, GA

A smaller living space doesn't make it impossible to be green even as you live red and black. With many people looking for ways to have  more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle, here are a few ways to be green in your off-campus UGA housing.

RECYCLE & UPCYCLE

In the era of Google, YouTube, DIY, and weekend projects at our fingertips, it’s easy to find information about what can be recycled and upcycled. Upcycling has taken off in recent years as people look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint along with saving money along the way.

SORT IT OUT

Sorting empty containers for recycling can be as simple as setting aside two bags, paper or plastic, and designating them for recycling. Student apartments Athens residents rent vary in size, but this shouldn’t discourage you from getting creative for setting up a recycling area.

DROP OFF OR PICKUP?

Many apartment complexes in Athens offer recycling pickup services, but some don't. Stop by your complex's office and ask about recycling. Most will provide you with containers to put sorted recycling such as paper, plastics, cans, and glass into. If your complex doesn't offer recycling, you can find the nearest recycling center on the Athens-Clarke County website.

UPCYCLING IDEAS

A hot trend, upcycling can be as easy as bringing home a coffee table a friend was going to throw out or sanding and staining other furniture left next to a dumpster. If you can create a new item from something used, that's upcycling.

MAKE YOUR OWN GREEN CLEANING SUPPLIES

Pinterest and other DIY websites have a slew of ways you can go green by making your own cleaning supplies. Often these are as effective as store-bought products, but at a fraction of the cost. You'll also cut back on harmful chemicals going down the drain. Baking soda, vinegar, and water is a DIY popular cleaning product. It's able to remove water deposit stains on many off-campus UGA housing surfaces.

CUT DOWN ON PAPER & PLASTIC PRODUCTS

You don't have to go cold turkey to reduce the amount of paper and plastic you use to make a difference. Here are a few ideas to get you started in your apartment Athens.

PAPER

If you haven’t already, make the switch to paperless billing. It's possible for everything from your monthly utilities, cell phone, and even car payments. Some e-bills can be synced to your smartphone’s calendar, making it easy to set up an alert when they’re due.

One way to cut down on paper usage is using a laptop or tablet for class notes, especially for lecture-style classes. Not only will it be one less notebook to carry around, but you can still highlight, color code, and organize your notes while saving paper.

PLASTIC

It’s easy to get around using plastic shopping bags these days, but what about takeout foods? Invest in food containers to use when you pick up takeout. True, many food containers are made of plastic, but they are reusable for years if you take care of them.

CARDBOARD

Though it’s not much cardboard, the coffee you pick up before class a few times a week adds up. Even though you can recycle the cardboard sleeve and cup itself, cut down on production waste by buying a reusable cup. These cups come in several styles, with ceramic and metal lined travel mugs retaining heat from the liquid for several hours. Don’t forget about boxes from your online purchases. They can be broken down and recycled at many recycling centers throughout Athens.

GREEN LAUNDRY

Whether you have a standing laundry day every week or only when you’re out of socks, there are several ways you can go green and save money at the same time.

TURN IT TO COLD

Every time a washing machine dial is turned to warm or hot in student housing in Athens, GA, the hot water heater turns on and uses electricity. Save on your utility bill each month and use cold water unless it’s absolutely necessary to use warm or hot, such as washing whites.

MORE LAUNDRY, LESS WASHING

Do you really need to wash those three towels in the bathroom right now or can they wait another day until the hamper fills up? An easy way to go green when doing your laundry is to only wash when you have a full load. Not only will you cut down on the total amount of water used, but you’ll save money by using the washer once instead of for several smaller loads.

HANG IT UP

You can also cut down on electricity usage by buying a drying rack for clothing. They come in many sizes and price points, giving you many options to choose from. Most easily fold up when not in use, making them the perfect size for apartments for rent in Athens, GA.

UNPLUG & GO GREEN

With so many electronics in student apartments Athens, phantom energy adds up. This phenomena can be easily avoided by unplugging all devices not in use or turning off the surge protector. One of the biggest phantom energy culprits are flat screen TVs, costing up to $160 per year according to MarketWatch.