{"id":246346,"date":"2010-01-29T03:00:49","date_gmt":"2010-01-29T08:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/green.yahoo.com\/blog\/grist_ask_umbra\/118\/ask-umbra-s-pearls-of-wisdom-on-apartment-dwelling.html"},"modified":"2010-01-29T03:00:49","modified_gmt":"2010-01-29T08:00:49","slug":"ask-umbra%e2%80%99s-pearls-of-wisdom-on-apartment-dwelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/246346","title":{"rendered":"Ask Umbra\u2019s pearls of wisdom on apartment dwelling"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Umbra<\/div>\n

Dearest readers,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes when I\u2019m down in the stacks researching answers to
\nyour latest dilemmas, I enjoy taking a stroll down Ask Umbra archives lane. Here
\nare some shiny tidbits I culled from my past advice on making the most of
\nrenting a small urban abode. <\/p>\n

Have any of your own sustainable apartment living tips
\nor stories? Let me know in the comments section below or shoot me an email<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Go with
\nthe low-flow<\/strong>
Even if your landlord isn\u2019t up for
\ninvesting in low-flow toilets, you can still adapt your toilet to reduce the
\namount of water used when flushing by putting a device in the tank to displace
\nsome of the water (something as simple as a milk jug filled with pebbles) or
\ninvesting a few bucks in a toilet
\nfill cycle diverter<\/a> or an adaptor like the Frugal
\nFlush Flapper<\/a>. Get the full
\nAsk Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Veg out
\nat home<\/strong>
No need for a yard\u2014shrink your food\u2019s
\ncarbon footprint by growing some of your own in a small window garden (you can make one yourself<\/a> with items from a local
\nhardware store). Peppers, parsley, cherry tomatoes, and basil, for example, can
\nall flourish in the confines of an indoor garden. Get
\nthe full Ask Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Compost
\nwith the most<\/strong>
Put some red wigglers to work on your food
\nscraps with a worm bin, a good option for composting in a snug, yard-free
\nliving situation. You can buy ready-made bins, or if you\u2019re feeling in the mood
\nfor some DIY, check out Seattle Tilth\u2019s Worm
\nBin Plans<\/a>. Get
\nthe full Ask Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Run low
\non energy<\/strong>
As a renter, you don\u2019t get to make the
\nlong-term, expensive investments toward better energy efficiency, but some
\nsimple modifications can reduce your bill. Run your dishwasher only when full,
\nand skip the \u201cheated dry\u201d option. And opt for an ample comforter on your bed,
\nso the thermostat can be turned down as low as possible at night. Get the full Ask Umbra
\nanswer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get pests
\nto bug off naturally<\/strong>
Take a pesticide-free approach to unwelcome
\ncockroaches with catnip, a natural repellent, or a simple trap with beer or
\nbread as bait in a wide-mouth glass jar. If you\u2019re not opposed to offing the
\nroaches, boric acid and silica gel are two nontoxic solutions. Get the full Ask Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rentally,
Umbra<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n