Living in an apartment and maintaining a green lifestyle may seem impossible. Apartments are known for having smaller living spaces and very little in the way of outdoor space. With the right planning and design work an apartment can be a fully functioning green living environment. The planning begins with baby steps. The small changes will eventually evolve into large and long lasting changes. There are a few tips that will help anyone living in an apartment create the perfect green living lifestyle.

Start Small

The smallest changes can turn into the largest lifestyle changes. With that in mind, it is always best to start with a small change. One of the best changes towards a greener lifestyle is by swapping out chemical cleaning supplies with natural cleaning supplies. Baking soda, white vinegar and lemon juice are three of the basic kitchen items that are safe for the environment and can still provide superior cleaning results. Switching to save products like Seventh Generation and BioKleen are also helpful in creating a GoGreen living environment.

Conserve Resources

Conserving resources may sound like a term that is reserved for a global environment. Conserving resources on a smaller level, however, is one of the small steps to a greener lifestyle. In apartment living, conserving energy and water is easy and environmentally sound. Three quick ways to conserve energy and water are found in the kitchen and laundry room. Switch to washing dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher. Consider a front loading washer and wash clothes in cold water. These three changes will lead to a lower electric bill, water bill and less water being used each month.

Shop Locally

This tip may not seem like a green living concept but it actually is. Some of the small changes that we can make towards a greener lifestyle will improve health but also improve the local economy. Keep in mind that by living in an apartment you are likely living in an urban or city environment where shops are closer to your home. By shopping locally you can purchase fresh produce, locally made items and create an ongoing network of green living enthusiasts. Shopping locally also means that you are reducing fuel consumption to have items shipped in to your area or directly to your door. It may also, in some cases, reduce the chance of being exposed to issues that cause food recalls across the country. These are just three tips to creating a green living lifestyle for apartments. Though these tips can be used in any living environment GoGreen will be introducing new blog posts that deal directly with apartment and urban green living. Each of these blogs is designed to help you create a green lifestyle a step at a time. For more information on green living and the GoGreen lifestyle follow us on our RSS feed or the many social bookmarking options we offer.