11 Small Ways To Go Green In Your Apartment That Actually Make A Difference

With some accessible tips on hand, it's actually rather easy being green.

1. Always have a few reusable bags at home to bring when grocery shopping. A plastic bag can take up a whopping 1,000 years to decompose.

And TBH, paper bags aren't really crushing it either.

2. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, shaving, and any other time you don't absolutely need it on.

For some, this could lead to conserving up to 200 gallons a month.

3. Unplug devices when you're not using them, and turn off the lights in rooms when you leave them.

This helps decrease energy usage and space in your wallet.

4. Recycle your aluminum!

It can be reused indefinitely.

5. Buy toilet paper and paper towels sans cardboard tubes.

Or better yet...get a bidet!

6. Replace paper bags with reusable lunchboxes.

Think of it as an opportunity to make your lunch equal parts delicious utility and fashion statement.

7. Wash your clothes with cold water.

Also, make sure you're washing full loads, rather than smaller, piecemeal ones.

8. Get crafty with used (and clean) glass jars, offering them a second life as a cute DIY project.

There is truly no limit to what you can create with a mason jar these days. Not a one!

9. Reduce mail clutter.

Switch that last lingering paper bill you still pay via mail to digital. You can also take some simple steps to significantly reduce the amount of overall junk mail you receive (great for saving a whole lot of trees and keeping your mailbox much more tidy — win-win!).

10. Conserve money and energy by replacing existing bulbs with energy-efficient ones.

A bright idea for sure!

11. Donate your clothes rather than discarding them in the trash.

Few situations have felt so entirely win-win.

All images from iStock/Getty

Find out more about going green today with American Family Insurance.