LEED is one of the best known and regarded certifications for green buildings.
Image: USGBC / LEED
Have you ever wondered if your city stacks up to others when it comes to green living? If you live in Seattle, San Antonio, or Austin, congrats! Your city is recognized on the list of “Top Ten Metros for Green-Friendly Apartments.” In an analysis by Apartment Guide, 71 percent noted interest in green considerations for apartment living. For 23 percent of those surveyed, green practices were a basic requirement in choosing an apartment.
The top ten also include: Phoenix, Omaha, Dallas, Tucson, Raleigh, Denver, and San Francisco.
According to the data, the apartments in these cities offer a combination of options including LEED Certification, energy-efficient windows, lighting, plumbing, and drought resistant landscaping to help use water more efficiently. The top cities had the highest number of such properties.
LEED is perhaps the most well-known and regarded certification for recognizing green-friendly building design.
Turn down your thermostat while at work to save energy.
Image: USGBC / LEED
Apartment Guide offered the following tips to save money and help the environment:
- Turn down the heat on your thermostat when you leave home. You could save up to 15 percent by turning the thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours.
- Check weather stripping around doors and apartments; buy or make draft stoppers.
- Use insulated curtains and heavy area rugs to keep heat inside a home.
- Caulk and seal gaping holes between plumbing pipes and the wall.
- Clean the furnace and change filters.
- Prevent frost from forming on windows by running a dehumidifier at night.
Do you have any other suggestions or ideas on how to be more green-friendly at home?