You’ve listened to all the talk about the climate crisis. The world is changing right before our eyes and for the first time in history we’re realizing even the little things we do really count. Yet, after watching An Inconvient Truth, you take a look around your little apartment and think, “But what can I do?”

This is where I come in. This blog’s focus is summed up in the slogan from the 1990s’ animated commercial that touted “reduce, reuse, recycle and don’t pollute!”

There are many fabulous eco-conscious blogs out there doling out great advice (just check out the blogroll!) but what I discovered is that none of them focused on the cost, effort and constrictions for the roughly 1 of 4 American households that are in apartments (according to the Residential Energy Consumption Survey way back in 2001) – we do have a lease to comply with, you know! Which means that switching that ’80s looking dishwasher out for a new and Energy Star efficient model often isn’t a choice for my people. So what CAN we do?

HOW TO READ GREEN YOUR APARTMENT

Green Your Apartment approaches living eco-consciously with humor and pragmatism. I will provide you suggestions according to your commitment level – because let’s face it, not everyone is a hippy – and a cost label if relevant. Please note these will be in the “tags” section.

So here are the levels of commitment as I see it:

• Greenhorn: You are concerned about all this “climate crisis” talk. Heck, have you noticed the freaky weather?! This is the cheapest, quickest tip I have to offer that requires as little inconvenience as possible. Bet you didn’t know it could be so easy!

• Amateur Environmentalist: For those of you who have seen “An Inconvenient Truth”, changed to CFL’s and recycle your beer cans and bottles. You believe in making a difference but the convenience and cost factors have made you reconsider going pro.

• Certified Tree-hugger: You look for cloth diapers instead of the disposable paper, use homemade cleaning supplies and bring your own reusable bag to the store. There is a deep commitment to the environment which makes your relatives look at you a bit funny when you refuse the Styrofoam cup at a local burger joint and pull your own non-leeching plastic cup from your bag for your non-carbonated beverage.

• $: This symbol means your cost will be under $50 USD, easy on everyone’s budget.

• $$: This project will cost $150 USD or less.

• $$$: This symbol notes projects that are on the higher end, costing up to $300 USD.

• $$$$: Finally, this is for when you have money to burn, $301 USD and up.

For those of you who are interested, I am somewhere between Amateur Environmentalist and Certified Tree-hugger, leaning a touch more toward the Certified. But then, I still aspire to that fourth level, Green Guru. You are dedicated, you are Dharma-esque. You forgo plastic containers and use your own organic hemp shopping bags. You have undyed organic fair-trade sheets and bamboo wood in your kitchens stocked with homemade organic preserves. I salute you and aspire to make you proud with my tips.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Green Your Apartment started in 2008 as a passion project to help the one third of 304 million Americans who live in apartments make their lives more sustainable. The site is run to help apartment-dwellers responsibly use the resources available to them without politics or preaching.

In 2009, due to an unfortunate back-up failure all articles were lost. We are back in full force and better than ever. Please feel free to look around or contact us with questions or comments at “marie AT greenyourapartment DOT com”.

ABOUT MARIE

Marie Holzer is the Editor-in-Chief at Green Your Apartment and CEO and writer at Four FIFTY One Media. She is a freelance writer with a passion for green living, dogs, movies, gaming, literature, and family life. Marie lives with her husband and daughter in sunny Southern California.