You do your best to protect the environment in your daily life. You don’t litter, you try to walk instead of drive, and you always bring your own bags to the grocery store. But did you know some of your everyday habits may still be taking a toll on the Earth’s resources? The average American family uses an astounding 260 gallons of water each day. When you throw in electricity usage, natural gas, paper, and other products, the waste can add up.
At ICO District’s South Jordan apartments, green living is important to us. If you want to take care of the planet and avoid waste, it might be hard to decide where to start. Luckily, making the change to greener living can begin with just a few easy steps. Here are some ways to make a difference and live green at our South Jordan apartments.
Use Less Water
Utahns know that water is a limited resource, especially when there isn’t enough snow and rain to fill reservoirs. Of course, Utah isn’t alone with this problem. In fact, 3.6 billion people around the world live in areas where water is scarce. In years of drought, and even in times with more precipitation, it is important to think about how much water you use and try to conserve this vital resource. These are a few ways you can save water:
- Look out for leaks. A faucet that leaks just one drop of water per second adds up to 165 gallons per month! Be aware of leaks and report them to maintenance so we can fix them as quickly as possible.
- Don’t dilly-dally in the shower. It’s hard to resist a long, steamy shower, but that can add up quickly. People use an average of 37 gallons of water every time they shower. Do your best to shower quickly so you can avoid using more water than necessary.
- Don’t use the toilet as a trashcan. Every time you flush a toilet, it uses about 3.5 gallons of water, so don’t flush your tissue when you blow your nose; be conservative with your flushes.
- Don’t leave the water running. Whether you are brushing your teeth or washing dishes, don’t leave the faucet on while you are not using it. Take a few extra seconds to turn it off and then back on when you need it.
- Wash with full loads. When you do laundry or use the dishwasher, make sure you do so only with full loads. This will reduce the number of times you have to run the machines.
By making these small changes, you can make a huge difference in the amount of water you use each day.
Conserve Energy
Your energy savings can go far beyond water when you adopt some new habits. Consider all the areas in your home that use gas or electricity and find some ways to use less. Here are some ideas to try.
- Turn off the lights. This one is easy. When you leave a room, make a habit of flipping the light switch down on your way out. In addition, if there is light outside, use the natural light from the windows instead of turning on the lights in the first place.
- Unplug what you can. If you have any electronics, lamps, chargers, or appliances that aren’t being used, unplug them! This will significantly reduce the amount of electricity used in your apartment.
- Wash laundry in cold water. If you can, wash your clothes in cold water. This will reduce the energy used to heat the water. Plus, it will keep some of your clothes from shrinking!
Cutting back on the energy use in your apartment will not only save money on the utility bills, but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment.
Remember to Recycle
One of the best ways to cut back on waste is to focus on your actual waste. Keep a close eye on what you are throwing away and recycle what you can. Great items for recycling include clean corrugated cardboard, metal food or beverage containers, and plastic bottles or jugs with necks. In South Jordan, Utah, you can take your recycling to Trans Jordan landfill. Glass and paper can also be recycled at drop-off locations around South Jordan and throughout the Salt Lake valley.
You can make a difference for the environment, even at your ICO District South Jordan apartment. Use these ideas to reduce waste in your life and make the world a greener place.
