Simple tips for a greener life

“I also buy vintage and secondhand pieces that won’t be landfill after six months.”

Choose pieces made of repurposed wood and recycled glass, metal and plastic, or natural fibres like jute, bamboo, cork or wool, and nurture nature in every corner with plenty of plant life.

“Integrating greenery into the home enhances a sense of wellbeing, mitigates the urban heat island effect and supports biodiversity,” says Liam Wallis, founder of HIP V. HYPE, an environmentfocused property development and sustainability practice.

Shop smart

Australians throw away around 1.9 million tonnes of packaging yearly, with supermarket items chief among them.

“Make a list to avoid buying too much and plan meals with items before they expire,” suggests Erin Rhoads, author of Waste Not.

Swap single-use plastics for glass jars, silicon bags, beeswax wraps and cotton swags. Choose tea leaves rather than tea bags, coffee grains instead of pods and items packaged in biodegradable and recyclable hemp, wood and cotton.

Green up the essentials

“Sustainable design reduces our impact on the planet and benefits occupants,” Wallis says.

Switching appliances from gas to electric reduces costs, cuts greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality.

“Electrification of the home is a key step on the journey to net zero,” Auburn says. “Get an electric stovetop if you can.”

As one of the driest continents on earth with few freshwater sources, saving water is critical for Australians.

For those living remotely, it can be more challenging.

“The option is to travel less, but I wouldn’t change location purely for sustainability,” Auburn says. “You must be happy [where you live] otherwise, it’s an unsustainable change.”

Waste not

Composting reduces food waste and can be used to improve soil quality and enrich plant life. Now, with innovative composting systems available, you don’t need a sun-drenched garden to compost.

“Set up a system in your kitchen with a worm bin or bokashi bin under the sink,” Rhoads suggests.

Sustainability begins at home, which can feel overwhelming, especially if you are living in an apartment.

“A big challenge living in a multiresidential space is implementing alterations,” says interior designer Jono Fleming. “There are limits … so I focus on the smaller changes.”

With most activities impacting the environment in some way, small steps taken daily can combine for real change.

“One of my favourite quotes is, ‘The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it,’ ” says Joanna Auburn, co-founder at climate tech platform Trace. “Everyone has a role to play.”

Try these ideas from the experts for living a greener life in a planetfriendly apartment.

Sustainable design

Mass-produced furniture is easy to buy and ditch, not only because it’s trenddriven and inexpensive but also because it’s hard to repair.

Handmade pieces by smaller, homegrown brands take longer to produce, so are limited in quantity and generally have a smaller carbon footprint associated with transportation.

“I’m conscious of supporting local designers – it’s a quality issue,” says Fleming, whose Sydney apartment is a space filled with unique furnishings.

“Get leaks fixed quickly and install low-flow faucets,” Rhoads suggests.

Lower your bills by designing spaces around natural lighting and switch to eco-friendly LEDs. Air-conditioners also zap vast amounts of energy.

“One degree saves about 10 per cent of your energy bills associated with heating and cooling,” Wallis says.

Location, location

Living centrally within access to public transport and amenities can bolster wellbeing while reducing your carbon footprint.

“I work from home and walk to meetings,” Fleming says. “The car is barely used; it’s a big shift to daily life from pre-COVID.”

Composting is made even easier by freezing food scraps and dropping them off at a community garden. Or sign up to ShareWaste and donate your scraps.

Green power

Solar energy is one of the most significant green energy sources but is difficult to implement if you live in a high-rise.

“Living in an apartment, you choose your energy plan, and the best one is a GreenPower plan from a provider that only sells green/renewable energy options,” Auburn says. “That way, you know you’re not funding fossil fuels.” For Fleming, it was a simple process for substantial change.

“I use 100 per cent GreenPower, which adds 3 cents per kilowatt-hour on my standard rates,” he explains. “For only a couple of extra dollars a month, I’m able to support renewable energy with ease from home.”

Architecture that not only looks good, but feels good, is design done well. More of today’s buildings are moving past the age of mere aesthetics and pushing new boundaries of liveability and sustainability.

At BLVD, the second release of residences at Melbourne Square, living standards have taken top billing.

The 73-level tower, by Malaysian developer OSK Property, is one of the first residential projects in Australia to be registered for WELL Certification. The certificate is issued by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and sets the bar for health and wellness achieved through design and construction criteria.

At BLVD, these include optimising access to natural light to create thermal comfort, good indoor air quality, and building facilities that cater for social, physical and mental wellbeing.

By assembling these elements, designers have made an ecosystem to help residents live well every day, says Jack Noonan, vice-president Asia Pacific IWBI.

“We know that great spaces prioritise and improve health by helping fuel our bodies, keeping us connected, inspiring our best work and facilitating a good night’s sleep,” he says.

“We also know that our buildings must respond better to create places that feel healthier, happier and deliver more sustainable outcomes.

“This is why BLVD is one of the first residential projects in Australia registered to pursue WELL Certification.”

Positioned near Melbourne’s most renowned cultural attractions, BLVD also gives its residents the convenience of a central location.

This, along with the surrounding 3745 square metres of parkland designed by TCL at Melbourne Square, inspired the architecture.

“BLVD’s apartments are uniquely designed and centred on the park and landscape of Melbourne Square,” explains Paul Curry, director at Cox Architects.

“They draw on the landscape and nature for materiality and offer views over Melbourne’s iconic landscape with the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Sports and Entertainment Precinct, Arts Precinct, Port Phillip Bay, Yarra River and Melbourne’s CBD.”

Interior designers have also drawn on the local greenery to produce a palette of natural textures and qualities. These can be seen in the shared amenities, including the Podium Club on level eight, which features a pool, indoor spa, sauna, gym, golf simulator and karaoke or cinema room as well as a podium garden.

Words by Kate Jones