Live Green, Decorate Green: Apartment Decor Tips

Create a Mini Garden for an Apartment

It is officially springtime- spring cleaning is a must!  Clear out old clothes, furniture, and supplies and donate resources no longer needed.

Once spring cleaning is completed, a nice spring project for the whole family would be to build and maintain a garden either inside or apartment or outside on the balcony or patio area.  Not all gardens need to be the same size, they can fit a variety of needs and lifestyles.

Some examples of ideal garden styles for an apartment include:

1) Inside- Interior Design: Use flowers and plants to spruce up apartment interiors.  Some plants, like the spider plant or bamboo plant, do well in interiors with little to no direct sunlight.  Bare tables, bookshelves, or under windows are great locations to place plants to spruce an apartment.  For added flair, plant herbs like basil in pots arranged in your kitchen.

Green Facts : Not All GreenLiving Practices Help The Environment

Not All Green Tips are Helpful for Your New Lifestyle

Embarking in a green lifestyle is a total shift in practices and habits.  In order to live a truly green life, using guides, such as this blog, are good resources for understanding the full components of eco-friendly living.  However, not all resources explain the many facets of a green lifestyle.

In fact, many products people think help the environment actually are not that much better than the standard version:

Learn more below as Grady debunks some green myths:

1) "Go vegetarian- it helps the environment!": This is a common myth that floats around the GreenLiving community.  While changing to a vegetarian diet certainly helps animals- a major component of a green focus- it does not account for dairy which is a major cause of chemical emissions during the processing of dairy products.  To truly help the environment this way, one would need to go totally vegan.

2) "Turn off that light, you are wasting energy!":  Many people, from mothers to roommates, are guilty of saying this command.  While turning off lights and appliances might reduce the energy bill, it does practically nothing for energy expenditure or emissions.  To live in a green household, it is necessary to un-plug all appliances in order to reduce energy emissions.  Appliances still use energy even when not plugged in to the outlet.

Grady Management Communities Practice GreenLiving Initiatives

In Focus: East of Market Apartments in Frederick Maryland

Learn About Frederick City's First LEED Certified Community

As a real estate management company, Grady Management actively cares about GreenLiving and promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle for our valued customers: clients and residents.  Alongside this weekly blog, Grady Management tries to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle in a variety of ways, such as allowing Grady's Green Initiatives and Green Tips to be accessible to current or perspective residents on the official Grady Management Inc. website.  Further, several Grady managed communities, such as 3350 at Alterra in Hyattsville, Maryland, hosts a community recycling program for residents.

One Grady managed community, East of Market Apartments in Frederick, Maryland, that opened in 2015 received recognition throughout the last year for green initiatives.  For example:

1) LEED Gold Rating: In December 2015, East of Market was honored with a "Gold Rating" after the apartment buildings were tested in categories such as water efficiency, energy expenditure, and more. The Gold rating is one of the higest standars of LEED certification that can be achieved.  Learn more about this rating system and the developers of LEED, the United States Green Building Council by clicking here.

Daylight Savings: A Green Perspective

Three Eco-Friendly Ways to "Spring Ahead" This Year

Don't forget: Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 13 and lasts until November!  Set all clocks ahead to "spring forward" for the springtime and summer seasons!

Benjamin Franklin originally suggested Daylight Savings as a way to gain an additional hour of sunlight primarily for farmers to make the most of the day.  In 2016, try to use the extra hour to practice green living initiatives in your every day life.  Some examples include:

1) Set Thermostats Accordingly: Now that it is springtime, remember to adjust the household thermostat.  Even though it might be chilly in the mornings or a little warm in the afternoons, don't turn on the heat or blast the air  for just an hour or two.  Try to turn off the thermostat and open up windows for some natural ventilation.

Looking Foward To: Farmers' Markets

The Benefits of Farmers' Markets

On the first day of March, it is tempting to think ahead to the spring season.  With the flowers blooming, sun shining, and weather warming- it is easy to romanticize spring and look forward to all the season offers.  This spring, try to schedule some time to visit local Farmers' Markets.  not only are Farmers' Markets a great way to spend time outside, other benefits include:

1) Local Focus: Buying from or even visiting a Farmers' Market supports local business and industry, instead of chain stores and restaurants.  The vendors sell their own goods and services and often boast quality assurance.

2) Preparation and Health: Visiting Farmers' Markets allows patrons to directly ask what goes into locally grown produce, baked goods, or other products.  This allows the customer to ensure the food is grown and prepared in a fresh, clean environment, away from harmful chemicals.