Sustainability is a topical concern of many, including our resident association. Sustainability is not just good for the planet, but also good for your wallet. Every year you will get some money returned depending on your energy use, or you will have to pay extra. Saving on your energy costs is therefore a win-win situation. And a lot can be done by doing some very easy things. Here we have listed some tips to improve on your sustainability.

Insulation

Improve the insulation of your room by putting radiator foil behind your radiator and by placing draft strips around your door. It costs a little bit of money but can improve your energy costs and make your room a lot more comfortable! Since 2023 you can also request small insulation material from Lefier.

Heating

Don't set your radiator too high and keep it off when you are leaving the building or going to bed. This saves on energy. You can also put on warmer clothing instead of setting the heating higher. Close the curtains in the evening to avoid cold air coming in from the window. When you open the radiator, make sure to close the vent at the top of your window.

Laundry

When doing your laundry, save up on clothes to do a big wash in one go. Dry your laundry on a drying rack instead of in the dryer. You can also let your laundry air for a day instead of immediately putting it in the laundry bin. Often your clothing will not be that dirty after one or two days of wearing it. This saves washing trips and washing coins.

Cooking

When cooking, put the lids on your pans. This causes water to boil faster and heat to be kept in the pan. It's a simple but effective way to save on gas and water.

Appliances

Disconnect appliances, especially fridges and freezer, when you are going away for a longer period of time. Also make sure to defrost the fridge and freezer every once in a while.

Light bulbs

Don't leave your lights on during the day and use energy-saving bulbs or LED-lights. Energy-saving bulbs use about 75% less energy than regular bulbs. They are more expensive, but will last you a lot longer. LED-lights can be bought at stores like Action. They are more expensive than regular light bulbs, but use less energy!

Waste separation

On the Van Heemskerckstraat are separate dumpsters for paper and glass. You can also hand in empty batteries and light bulbs at almost any supermarket. Plastic waste is at times picked up by the municipality on set days.

Water

Use a bucket to do your dish washing, and don't wash with the tap running. This way you will use a lot less water.

Don't shower too long and don't leave the tap running more than is necessarry while brushing your teeth.

Leave the lights in the washing room and on the hallways off during the day. The same goes for if you are the last one using the washing room in the evening. Leave the heating on the floors set to low or turn it completely off. It helps to close the small windows on the hallways, but do open them again later to let in fresh air.