Tag Archives: go green in your apartment

Simple Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 2013

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The 43rd anniversary of Earth Day is coming up on April 22! Each year on this date, adults, students, civic organizations, and communities come together under the shared goal of “acknowledging the amazing planet we call home and taking action to protect it.”

The thought of taking action to protect the Earth may seem monumental, but truthfully, even small projects you can do on your own make a difference in the long run. If you’re looking for a way to contribute to Earth Day 2013, below are a few simple ways you can participate.

Plant a Container Garden – Just because you live in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t be a gardener! You can easily set up a container garden on your apartment’s balcony or patio with flowers, tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, or other delicious fruits and vegetables.

planting a container garden for Earth Day

Take Public Transportation, Ride Your Bike, or Walk – It’s always tempting to simply drive yourself, but fewer cars on the road mean fewer pollutants in the air. Use public transportation, ride your bike, or just walk to your destination if you can. You can also check to see which neighbors work in the same area as you and arrange a carpool.

Use Energy-Saving Power Strips or Surge Protectors – We live in a technological world and it seems that there is always something that needs to be charged. Be careful when selecting a power strip or surge protector for your apartment. Look for one that will help “eliminate ‘phantom power’ waste…the little bit of power many devices draw even when they’re switched off.”

Recycle! – We’re all familiar with the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” but often we only think of items like glass and paper when recycling. There are tons of other items that can be recycled, including old electronics like TVs and computers. The Environmental Protection Agency has some helpful information available for those looking to recycle their old electronic devices.

Clean Up a Park – If you’re looking for a way to contribute to Earth Day outside of your apartment, consider helping clean up a nearby park. All you need is a few trash bags, gloves, and some friends to make it happen. In fact, the Atlanta area is invited to volunteer with us on May 18th as we tackle the Dunwoody Nature Center and the Atwood Community Garden. If you’re interested in helping us out, please RSVP here.

earth day activities

Look for a Green Apartment Community – Take going green to a new level by looking for a green apartment community for your next home, like TriBridge’s Atlanta property Enso.

If you’re looking for more ideas or Earth Day events near your community, check out the Earth Day website for more information.

How will you celebrate and participate in Earth Day this year? Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page with your plans.

 

 

Image 1 via Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net; Image 2 via Marcus / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Find New Friends and Live Green at Enso Apartments in Atlanta

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One of the greatest aspects of living in the South is that the word “family” extends far beyond blood relations. In many communities, neighbors quickly become family members that you can call on at any time for any reason, and the residents of Enso in East Atlanta are no different. 

apartments in Atlanta

Upon your first visit to Enso, you’ll find smiling faces and friendly neighbors ready to welcome you into this tight-knit community. In no time, you’ll be planning get-togethers with your new-found friends. For instance, Enso is such a pet friendly community that many people often meet and bond over their dogs at Enso’s bark park. 

Beyond the friendly and hospitable atmosphere at Enso, you’ll find an apartment community developed and built with sustainability at its core.  As a matter of fact, Enso is the only apartment community in Atlanta to achieve LEED Certification from the United States Green Building Council! Without compromising comfort, luxury, or quality, Enso makes it easy to be eco-friendly with Energy Star appliances, programmable thermostats, rain water harvesting, water efficient kitchen and bath fixtures, high efficiency air conditioning, recycling and repurposing solutions, and more! 

apartments in Atlanta

Within the doors of Enso’s apartments in midtown, you’ll discover beautiful interior spaces where you’ll love hosting family, friends, and neighbors for a casual dinner, game night, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee together. These posh living spaces feature gorgeous Baltic Brown and White Tiger granite countertops, Espresso cabinets with designer hardware, Italian glass backsplashes and ceramic tile in the kitchens and baths, designer-style lighting, and walk-in closets – just to name a few. Plus, Enso boasts some of the best views of the city.

apartments in Atlanta

In addition to Enso’s green features and comfortable apartments, there are lots of fabulous amenities residents can take advantage of, like:

  • A covered parking garage
  • Game Room with Billiard and Foosball tables
  • Fitness classes like Spin, Zumba, and Boot Camp
  • Personal trainers
  • Resort-style salt water pool with an aqua deck
  • Bike stations
  • Sky Lounge
  • Gas grills and fire pits
On top of all this, there is so much to do and see in this great location! Enso is just down the street from Little Five Points, the Edgewood Plaza, and Grant Park. Our residents enjoy dining out at restaurants like Drip, Vickery’s Sports Bar and Grill, Matadors Mexican Cantina, and The Shed on Glenwood. Shoppers love to pop into shops like BouChic, Pink Sky, and 3 Parks Win. Enso is also very close to Downtown locales like the Capitol, the Georgia Dome, and other Atlanta hot spots – there’s never a dull moment living here!
 
Enso is even close to the airport and the highlands, making it a great location for everyone. In fact, Beulah Heights Christian Community College, Georgia State University, Morehouse College, Spellman College, and Clarke University are also in the vicinity, providing individuals with all the comforts of home while they pursue further education.

apartments in Atlanta

So, wouldn’t you like to call Enso home, too? If so, visit the Enso website or call 404-872-3676 for more information and to plan a visit.

Keeping it Green This Holiday Season

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holiday giftGoing green doesn’t stop with buying locally, using natural cleaners, and reducing energy and water consumption. There are plenty of other small steps you can take every day to contribute to making our environment a healthier one for all, and that includes going green throughout the holiday season.

The holidays are an exciting time what with all of the festive celebrations with family, friends, food, and gifts, but we shouldn’t get so carried away with the fun that we forget about how our actions will affect the environment. Below are a few tips that will help you enjoy the holidays in a more eco-friendly way.

  • Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Take reusable shopping bags when you go shopping. Look for wrapping paper that’s made with recycled paper, or reuse wrapping paper that’s in good condition. You can also get creative and reuse the comics section of your newspaper. Look for holiday greeting cards that are made of recycled content as well, and try to recycle the greeting cards you receive this year; or send electronic greeting cards. If you use a live holiday tree, look for a tree recycling program that can responsibly take care of your tree after the holiday decorations come down.
  • Turn off your holiday lights, or unplug them, during the day. This will help you conserve energy, as well as make your lights last longer.
  • Ship smart. If you’re mailing gifts to family and friends in other cities, crumple up old newspapers and magazine pages to use in lieu of bubble wrap and foam peanuts.
  • Give green gifts. Look for items to give that are certified by a reputable third-party government or non-profit certification program, such as Energy Star, or make your own gifts for the people on your shopping list.

How will you go green for the holidays as you celebrate in your TriBridge apartment? Leave a comment to share with us!

Information compiled from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, The Daily Green, and GreenStrides.

Image courtesy of thephotoholic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Balcony Gardening: What to Plant for Fall

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The balcony of your TriBridge apartment home can become your own garden spot will very little effort on your part. Fall is the perfect time for starting a container garden out on your balcony.

Since the fall is cooler and has a shorter growing time than spring, you want foods that will grow fast and mature quickly. Leafy greens are just the thing for fall growing. They are fast growing and don’t require as much sunlight to absorb nutrients and water. Plus, the upcoming holidays are a great time to use all the fresh herbs you can grow.

cilantro

Now's the perfect time to grow some herbs on your balcony!

Spring is easy, but what are the best things to start growing in the fall? Start by giving a few of these plants a try:

  • lettuce
  • spinach
  • kale
  • Swiss chard
  • herbs (cilantro, chives, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme do well at this time of year)

You can even give tomatoes a try in many areas of the Southeast so long as your balcony remains frost free. Just make sure to look for plants that are larger and already have buds.

Check with a local nursery or Growing in Fall to get more information.

Do you have a container garden? Comment and tell us what you’re growing right now!

Photo via morgueFile

Apartment Cleaning: How to Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies

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lemon slice

Citric fruits made great cleaners and deodorizers!

Many things in your pantry can be used as quick, easy cleaners for around the home. They make environmentally friendly choices, sometimes working better than pricey cleaners you can buy in the store, so before you resort to buying that expensive chemical cleaner, consider what’s already in your TriBridge apartment:

  • White wine vinegar, while great for making salad dressing, is also a high-powered all-purpose cleaner – definitely dilute it before you use it. A capful in your laundry can tackle tough stains, a few teaspoons in your coffee pot with water will remove hard water build-up, and spray a diluted amount to clean your windows.
  • Do you have a smell that just won’t get out of the kitchen? Boil cut halves of lemons in water and you’ll get rid of that salmon smell from last week.
  • Lemon or Orange powdered drink mixes can make a great toilet cleaner. The citric acid from these flavors will go to work on your bowl stains.
  • If you have a dinner party coming up and need the good silverware polished, try a little bit of your own toothpaste. It’s abrasive enough to take off the tarnish but gentle on your metal, and a little will do the trick.

Do you know of any other ways to make homemade cleaners? Share your tips in the comments!

Photo via morgueFile