Sustainable living is an intentional lifestyle that seeks to minimize the impact of an individual’s actions on the environment. In order to be considered sustainable, individuals make lifestyle choices that reduce carbon footprints, conserve Earth’s natural resources, and promote biodiversity in the wild. Sustainable living also focuses on recycling and reducing waste.
While the idea of sustainable living is quite appealing, it is difficult to achieve in its perfect form. In reality, it’s nearly impossible to completely stamp out one’s environmental footprint because of the way that our civilization depends on the planet for so many essential things. The good news is that sustainability doesn’t require going without—it simply means consuming less, conserving more, and limiting the amount of waste you create.
To live sustainably, you need to limit your energy consumption and the use of non-renewable natural resources. This may involve switching to hybrid or electric vehicles, insulating your home and reducing electricity usage, and using natural cleaning products. It can also mean shopping for items made with recycled materials, avoiding food waste (and composting it if you have the space), and reducing water usage.
It’s also important to consider where your food comes from and buy local and in-season produce, since foods that are out of season are usually grown with chemicals or shipped from a faraway place, resulting in high levels of CO2 emissions. Another part of sustainable living involves eating less meat, as industrial beef is one of the biggest contributors to deforestation and greenhouse gas production.
When it comes to sustainability, the most important thing is that you care about protecting the environment and want to take steps to minimize your impact on the world around you. Then, you can start to make the small changes that add up to a big difference.
For instance, some people choose to walk or bike short distances rather than drive, which lowers their vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. Others choose to shop for second-hand goods instead of buying new, and some use reusable plastic bags at the grocery store or bring their own mugs and cutlery to restaurants. These simple changes can have a great impact on your environmental footprint, and you might find that they save you money in the long run as well!
There are even green housing options, such as repurposed shipping containers that have been converted into homes, and LEED certified buildings that use solar panels for energy. These are just a few examples of the innovations that have been introduced to help us all live more sustainably, and there are plenty of other eco-friendly swaps you can make in your daily life.
The best part about sustainable living is that it’s not expensive. In fact, you might find that it actually saves you money to be green, as reducing your energy usage can significantly lower your utility bills. Other cost-saving measures include reusing old jars for storage, buying second-hand clothes and furniture, investing in a pressure cooker, and bringing your own cloth napkins and coffee mugs when dining out.