Everything that we do – eat, sleep, build, travel, wear, drink, clean, wash and the thousand and one things that we do each day – all of it has an impact on our environment. So how do we limit this impact; this daily toll that our lifestyles take on the planet?
The impact that you and I have on the environment depends upon where we live, how big our home is, how we live, our consumption patterns, how much energy and water we use, and the like. Low impact living depends upon how much of a modification we can make to these and other aspects of our life. Here are some tips for low impact living that could help all of us make a difference.
Grow things
Firstly having unpaved soil around the home means that that much more water is trickling down to the water tables, which would otherwise go down the drain; literally. Then there is the fact that growing your own produce is a healthy and tremendously satisfying thing. The fact that it is educational for kids and saves you money and a terrific hobby are just icing on the cake!
Use public transport
It may be a little more time consuming and perhaps not as convenient as driving your own car, but using public transport helps you make significant savings on your gas bills as well as contribute to low impact living. If public transport is not possible, at least carpool to make a difference! Also consider alternative fuels, electric cars, and cycling when possible.
Explore your neighborhood
Next time you want to take a holiday, consider a trek close to home rather than jetting off to a distant exotic location. You may be surprised at the treasures that nature may yield close to home! Another aspect of exploring your neighborhood is to shop local produce and locally produced artifacts. This helps the local economy and also requires less produce to be shipped in from elsewhere, reducing the amount of resources you use up each time you make a purchase.
Make your home energy efficient
Consider retro-fitting your home to be less energy hungry. Consider concepts like cob building, hemp building, rammed earth building, natural paints, roof shingles, living roofs, thatching and other environmentally friendly ways to make a difference.
To conclude, don’t be mindless about your lifestyle and your consumption. The idea is to be mindful about the reaction to each of our actions and to pare down from what we want to what we really need.
