Sustainable living:
Sustainable living is the lifestyle which is followed by an individual or by the society to create an eco-friendly environment.It’s the attempt to reduce the use of Earth’s natural resources.Practicing sustainability in our household, community and lifestyle ensure we prioritise the use of renewable resources without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
There is some definition about sustainable living by Derrick Jensen (“the poet-philosopher of the ecological movement”), a celebrated American author, radical environmentalist and prominent critic of mainstream environmentalism argues that “industrial civilization is not and can never be sustainable”.
ways to be sustainable at home:
Living a green lifestyle is not an easy task because living with natural resources requires some patience. Living an eco-friendly life is all about reducing the negative impact in day-to-day life and in the future as well. It’s not about perfection; once incorporated with this practice, it leads to being a practice in daily life.
Instead of buying one-time plastics, buy reusable plastic products,
Before buying new things, use the older one and go for the new,
Donate items that are not being used,
Making your own non toxic, zero waste recipe,
Create reusable ideas like DIY,
Minimise the waste of food products.
eco community living:
Instead of bulbs, use low power LED lights at home.
Using public transport can save fuel consumption.
Use electrical devices instead of paper.
Zero waste life system,
Less meats,
Less consumption of water,
Invest in renewable energy,
Plant your own product.
Sustainable production and consumption
Low carbon life:
Changes in lifestyle can be positive for individuals, but they contribute to an unhealthy environment for the Earth. In the past 20–30 years, we have been generating an increasing amount of plastic waste, turning it into a major threat to the planet.
Making low-carbon changes in individual lives may seem difficult, but if we adopt a non-toxic and low-carbon lifestyle, such as walking or cycling to the nearest destination, it becomes more achievable. In high-traffic areas, consider turning off the bicycle or car engine to save energy.
If you put hot food directly into the fridge, it requires more electrical energy to cool it down. It’s more energy-efficient to let it cool to room temperature on its own before placing it in the refrigerator.
While buying packaged foods may seem healthy and hygienic, it involves preservation methods, energy consumption, and generates waste. Instead, consider purchasing organic and local food products, which can benefit both local workers and consumers.
Many people are living their lives with this kind of low-carbon, non-toxic lifestyle. If you believe that changes in lifestyle can improve the quality of our planet and secure a better future for the next generation, take those steps today. Don’t wait for the moment; create the moment.
There are five steps for the zero waste lifestyle. That are refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot.
Carbon neutral living:
Carbon-neutral living has the biggest role to play in sustainable living practices. The carbon-neutral lifestyle keeps down the carbon dioxide discharge, so one’s ecological footprint is neutralised by these sustainable living practices. While following a carbon-neutral lifestyle, some carbon emissions are unavoidable. But if we try to create a clean and low-carbon environment for the future generation, it’s a helpful one for them. We already used and created the ecological footprint on the earth, but it’s not too late to clear that footprint so we can save our future generations.
Energy saving: use less power; if the lights are not turned off, use low-power-consuming home appliances; and use solar and wind energy.
Intended expenditure: while buying the product, be conscious of the eco-friendly choice. When buying products go for the local products, like those from the farmers directly; don’t always go for the packaged products. Even though the product is packed with eco-friendly methods like biodegradable packaging,.
Eco-friendly diet: eat less meat and choose a plant-based diet system.
Scaling down the waste: reduce the waste of food and day-to-day essentials such as water, power, and some natural resources.
Support the ecosystem, support the offset of carbon emission projects, and promote agricultural initiatives.
Some states are promoting sustainable practices like cycling and the usage of public transport for low fuel consumption, energy-saving practices, using wind and solar energies, no plastic, recycling methods, and do-it-yourself practices. The following states are the best ones that follow these practices for sustainable living.
Best US states for sustainable living:
- Hawai
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Washington
- Maryland
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- North Dakota
Sustainable living products:
- Single-use plastic bags can be replaced by cloth bags, which are made from older or waste cloth materials.
- Consider using a silicone reusable food bag.
- Opt for shampoo and soap bars instead of bottled products.
- Choose refillable deodorants; if the deodorant is finished, you can refill it, eliminating the need to throw it away.
- Use a multipurpose cleaner.
- If your home doesn’t have enough space to compost waste, consider using a composting machine.
- Use toilet paper instead of water (assuming this refers to a bidet).
- Utilise solar energy devices.
- Consider purchasing recycled plastic products such as decorations, furniture, and pet toys.
- Explore do-it-yourself (DIY) gardening supplies.
- Opt for recycled cotton cloths.
Sustainable urban living:
Urban life is challenging due to the high population density and limited living space, making it difficult to implement recycling programs or reduce energy usage. Sustainability in urban living faces various challenges, including infrastructure demands and resource consumption. Here are some key challenges:
The urban environment lacks sufficient space for green living, presenting the initial challenge of incorporating nature and maintaining biodiversity.
The high demand for energy in urban areas is a common issue that is not easily reduced. However, using low power consuming products and implementing energy saving practices can contribute to reducing overall power consumption.
Urban areas are experiencing many changes in the weather conditions, like temperature, rain, and water level.
Low income people in urban areas may be facing barriers to consuming green spaces, renewable energy, and sustainable housing.
Limited resources are not readily available in urban areas and involve the importation of resources from other locations. This transportation contributes to the carbon footprint, affecting the sustainability of people’s lives.
Transportation is a frequent necessity for people in cities; in contrast, rural areas typically have limited use of vehicles and public transport. In cities, daily reliance on transportation is essential. This need for frequent transport is a significant factor preventing many from leading an energy saving life.
Self sustainable lifestyle:
Based on the previous practices, you can live a sustainable life based on your current lifestyle. You may think it’s a big task to follow, but if you start to do it, it’s an easy thing.
If there is a waste of power from the extra lights or the fan, which is unnecessary, just turn off the switch.
If your daily life contains the waste of food, just sit and calculate the measurements based on the number of people in the house, then give it a try with an alternate way of cooking or make it smaller. If there are two people in the house, there is no need for an extra five dishes just to get a few high nutrition foods.
Try to adopt an organic way of life.
Create an eco-friendly environment by avoiding plastic waste, planting, and low carbon living.
Creating an eco-friendly environment does not only come from society, because we are the society. If we don’t take responsibility, who else will? Effort taken by an individual can induce another person in society. One’s actions can indicate a bigger transition in the world.
Conclusion:
Sustainable living involves conscious practice, which extends to every aspect of our daily lives. By adopting self sustainable practices and promoting eco-friendly products, we can lead to a low carbon society. Everything is first followed at our house, and then that leads our society to follow. So start living a sustainable life at our house by reducing waste, energy savings, recycling, using less individual transport, and using public transport. So start your life with sustainable living practices today!
