Sustainable living

You can make choices every day that help preserve and protect the planet. Read tips and get advice for living sustainably in a University apartment or flat.

Waste

We should all strive to reduce waste and decrease the amount that ends up in landfill. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the waste bins available—general waste, recycling, green waste—and dispose of things correctly. If you’re unsure, you can go to the Wellington City Council website for more recycling information.

Get your flatmates involved and make sure recycling is a habit you get into every day.

Repurpose and re-use

As a resident, you have access to the whole hall community via our social media pages. If you have items you no longer used, they might find a new home with other residents. We organise sustainability events or swap sessions if there is enough interest, so reach out to your friendly team at reception who can facilitate this. We also encourage donating any good quality second-hand clothes to charities such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, or St Vincent de Paul.

Water

Showers

It’s important you limit your time in the shower to conserve water. Shower timers are a great way to start and keep this good habit. We recommend ‘one-song showers’ that take no longer than four minutes.

Taps

Brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, filling a bucket to mop the floor—all these involve turning a tap on and, most importantly, off again. Limit your water usage by only using what you need.

Electricity use

Lights

On average, lighting accounts for 10–15 percent of household electricity use. Turning off the lights when you leave your bedroom or common areas can help to make instant change.

Heaters and fans

Before turning on a heater, try putting on a pair of warm socks or grabbing an extra blanket. In summer, try opening your windows before turning on a fan. As always, make sure these appliances are switched off when you leave.

Standby mode

You may not know that devices and appliances still use power when in standby mode. Make sure you turn these off at the power point when not in use to minimise energy use. This includes your kettle, microwave, and any gaming systems.

Living in a community of young and diverse students is the perfect place to develop, practise, and share sustainable habits that can make positive change for our environment.