5 Ways to Make Your Apartment in Calicut More Eco-friendly

While our ancestors knew to live in harmony with nature, over the years, we forgot how to do it; wanton deforestation and destruction of animal habitats, overexploitation of natural resources, fracking, and unchecked construction activities resulted in the depletion of the Ozone layer of the earth, global warming, and other climatic and geographical hazards.

Fortunately, we are today a lot more eco-conscious, and everyone wants to do their bit for the environment. If you are wondering whether it is possible to live an eco-friendly life in Apartments in Calicut, the answer is yes, you can. Let us explore the different ways in which you can achieve this:

Mindful Consumption

This is a very broad term and can include several elements, let’s look at them one by one:

Water

Living in Kerala where we get plenty of rain each year, we tend to forget that it is actually a precious resource, and are often not careful in its use. Firstly, install low-flow shower heads and taps. Always close taps immediately after use; when brushing and shaving, don’t leave the tap running throughout, and open only when necessary. If you notice any leaks or drips, get them fixed without delay. 

Electricity

Purchase appliances with high energy star rating, or with inverter technology to reduce current consumption. Use LED lights and BLDC fans, and install dimmers on chandeliers. Motion sensing lights that automatically switch on when someone enters and switch off in a while are also good for reducing electricity consumption. 

Operate your air conditioner at the optimal temperature: just a degree or two below the ambient temperature. Run your washing machine or dishwasher to full capacity for best results. Switch off every light, fan, and electrical device immediately after use. Any plugged in device consumes tiny amounts of electricity even if not working.

Single-Use Plastics and Disposables

While it would be great if we could avoid them altogether, it may not be practical. Here are some things we can do:

• Carry your own shopping bags instead of taking plastic carry bags from stores
• Buy a metal or reusable high-grade plastic bottle to carry water with you instead of purchasing bottled water
• When you order takeaway from restaurants, bring your own containers instead of carrying back plastic containers
• Use cloth napkins instead of paper tissues; this helps saves trees from being cut 
• Buy groceries in bulk and buy locally, to minimize packaging material
• If you had to purchase items in disposable containers, reuse them as much as possible, and send them to be recycled instead of throwing them in the trash.
• Switch to cloth nappies for babies, and menstrual cups from sanitary napkins – these options are highly eco-friendly. Tons of pads and diapers end up in landfills every month.
• Avoid purchasing items that you don’t need; they are likely to lie unused at home, increasing your clutter.

Declutter

This is something you should do periodically. Sell, donate, or recycle everything that you don’t need. Make sure to especially recycle tin cans, plastic, paper, and so on. Clothes and children’s toys can be donated to many charities. Apartments are compact residences, and you must ensure that you don’t pile up stuff that you don’t need.

Proper Waste Segregation

In a gated community you are likely to have a centralized waste collection and disposal facility. What you should do from home is to ensure that all your waste is properly segregated: have separate bins for kitchen (wet) waste, medical waste, inorganic waste like plastic, styrofoam etc (which can be sent for recycling), and so on. Make sure to label each bin so that there is no confusion for anyone at home.

Compost 

You can either compost your kitchen waste yourself, or form a group of interested residents and do it collectively. DIY kits for composting are easily available in the market, and the process is very simple. The nutrients you get at the end can be used for your plants either at home or in the building premises.

Sustainable Home Decor

The  real estate market trends in Calicut are shifting towards sustainability, and many homeowners insist on proof of eco-friendly measures taken by builders. Many builders in Calicut now offer features like solar-powered lighting in common areas, rainwater harvesting, composting of waste, and the use of recycled or recyclable materials, and other sustainable materials in construction, including paints without harsh chemicals.

What you can do: choose sustainable wood for your furniture, upcycled items for home decor, and natural fibres for furnishings and curtains. Place potted plants around the flat; this not only adds a freshness to the decor, it also helps purify the air and improve your mood. Jute, bamboo, cane, rattan for furniture, linen, cotton, and banana fibre fabric, turning broken or old items into beautiful decorative pieces, are all small steps you can take to achieve sustainable home decor.

Install the Right Glass

Summer is harsh in Calicut; installing solar control glass, tinted glass, or sun film on your glass windows can control the amount of heat entering your home. This can help reduce your dependence on electrical cooling. Less use of air conditioners can help to bring down your electricity bills as well.

Conclusion 

It is essential to educate everyone at home, including your kitchen helpers or cleaners about all these things we talked about, so that there is consistency and everyone contributes towards sustainable living. PVS Builders is a leading builder of Calicut who has garnered an impeccable reputation for building exceptional apartments in the best residential locations in Calicut. All our projects are RERA certified and we follow all environmental regulations stringently.