by Umbra Fisk
Dearest readers,
Sometimes when I’m down in the stacks researching answers to
your latest dilemmas, I enjoy taking a stroll down Ask Umbra archives lane. Here
are some shiny tidbits I culled from my past advice on making the most of
renting a small urban abode. Have any of your own sustainable apartment living tips
or stories? Let me know in the comments section below or shoot me an email.
Go with
the low-flow.
Even if your landlord isn’t up for
investing in low-flow toilets, you can still adapt your toilet to reduce the
amount of water used when flushing by putting a device in the tank to displace
some of the water (something as simple as a milk jug filled with pebbles) or
investing a few bucks in a toilet
fill cycle diverter or an adaptor like the Frugal
Flush Flapper. Get the full
Ask Umbra answer.
Veg out
at home.
No need for a yard—shrink your food’s
carbon footprint by growing some of your own in a small window garden (you can make one yourself with items from a local
hardware store). Peppers, parsley, cherry tomatoes, and basil, for example, can
all flourish in the confines of an indoor garden. Get
the full Ask Umbra answer.
Compost
with the most.
Put some red wigglers to work on your food
scraps with a worm bin, a good option for composting in a snug, yard-free
living situation. You can buy ready-made bins, or if you’re feeling in the mood
for some DIY, check out Seattle Tilth’s Worm
Bin Plans. Get
the full Ask Umbra answer.
Run low
on energy.
As a renter, you don’t get to make the
long-term, expensive investments toward better energy efficiency, but some
simple modifications can reduce your bill. Run your dishwasher only when full,
and skip the “heated dry” option. And opt for an ample comforter on your bed,
so the thermostat can be turned down as low as possible at night. Get the full Ask Umbra
answer.
Get pests
to bug off naturally.
Take a pesticide-free approach to unwelcome
cockroaches with catnip, a natural repellent, or a simple trap with beer or
bread as bait in a wide-mouth glass jar. If you’re not opposed to offing the
roaches, boric acid and silica gel are two nontoxic solutions. Get the full Ask Umbra answer.
Rentally,
Umbra
Related Links:
Ask Umbra’s video advice on making your own club soda
Turning down the heat caused by meat with Peter Singer
Ask Umbra on toilet paper, dryer balls, and Twitter
