Now, more so than ever before, making eco-conscious decisions and living sustainably is crucial. It’s easy to become set in old habits, such as throwing all rubbish into the same bin or picking up a plastic water bottle on the go, but small swaps can make a significant difference to the bigger issue.
At CityBlock, we encourage all our residents to adopt eco-friendly practices and make conscious choices to reduce environmental impact. We have implemented several practices and proactive measures to make these small swaps easier for everyone. So, today, we’re looking into what we offer our students to help them live a more sustainable life in their student accommodation. We’re also exploring other ways to be proactive and live a greener lifestyle as a student; read on to learn more and help make a positive change to the world around us.
Sustainability at CityBlock
As a leading provider of student accommodation in Lancaster, Reading, and Durham, CityBlock is dedicated to promoting sustainability and implementing environmentally friendly practices. We have made significant efforts to ensure our accommodation aligns with sustainable principles, for example:
- Sustainable building design. We have incorporated sustainable design elements into our buildings, such as LED light bulbs with motion sensors, to ensure we use our energy as efficiently as possible. We have also fit timers on our heaters and towel rails so energy is not wasted.
- Waste management and recycling. The CityBlock team emphasises proper waste management and recycling practices, encouraging all students to recycle with the bins in the accommodation blocks.
- Recycled picnic benches. The CityBlock team have purchased recycled picnic benches for our Durham student accommodation, giving students a sustainable place to study and socialise in their private garden.
- Environmentally-conscious travel. Each CityBlock accommodation building is conveniently located with excellent public transport links and walkable distances between local amenities. For example, Gillows, our student housing in Lancaster, is just a 5-minute walk to the city centre where you’ll find everything you need, from local cafes and restaurants to big chain stores.
By implementing these initiatives, we strive to create an environmentally conscious living environment for our students, fostering a culture of sustainability within the accommodations. Our commitment to sustainable practices benefits the environment and enhances the well-being and quality of life of residents.
Energy Saving Tips for Students
As a student, you have the power to make a positive impact on the environment by adopting simple energy-saving practices. While we have motion sensors on our LED lighting, it’s still your responsibility to turn off lighting, chargers, and other electronics when leaving a room to save energy.
Another way to save energy is by ensuring you wait for a full load before turning the washing machine on. This ensures you don’t waste power, water, and detergent on multiple washes that could have been done in one.
We recommend talking to your housemates about what you can do as a team to make more eco-conscious decisions regarding wasting energy. These talks can encourage some great brainwaves and tips to help you live a greener life in your student accommodation.
Eco-Friendly Shopping Tips
As a student, you have the power to make eco-friendly choices while shopping, reducing your environmental impact; for example:
- Bring reusable bags to avoid single-use plastics.
- Look for products made from sustainable materials and support local brands that prioritise ethical and environmentally friendly practices.
- Embrace secondhand shopping to reduce waste and extend the lifespan of items.
- Plan meals, buy smaller quantities, and compost food scraps to minimise waste.
- When shopping online, consider sustainable packaging practices and consolidate orders to minimise waste.
Although small, these tips make a huge difference when implemented over a long period. Again, we encourage you to speak to your housemates, especially if you head out shopping together, to ensure you’re all doing your bit for the environment where possible.
Kitchen and Cooking Tips for a Happier Planet
The kitchen is an area where energy saving and reducing environmental impact is key. It’s so easy to pick up a plastic-wrapped microwavable meal or chuck all your food waste and packaging into the same bin, but by focusing on sustainable change, you can make a huge difference.
For example, plan your meals by creating a shopping list before heading out, and buy only what you need to minimise food waste. When it comes to your list, try and add more plant-based meals into your diet, as producing meat requires significant resources, so reducing meat consumption can have a positive environmental impact. We also recommend opting for locally sourced and seasonal fruits and vegetables. This reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation and supports local farmers.
Regarding cooking, you can take several eco-conscious steps to ensure sustainability in the kitchen. For example, practice water-saving techniques such as using a basin to wash vegetables instead of running water and only filling the kettle with the required water when boiling.
Whatever you’re doing, whether you’re cooking, cleaning, travelling to university, or shopping, we encourage you to think about how you do the activity more sustainably. These simple swaps are what make the biggest difference.
We always push our residents to think about sustainability at CityBlock, so if you need advice on living more eco-consciously, don’t hesitate to contact our team.
