Sustainable Living: How I Made the Transition Over for Good in 5 Steps

Are you considering converting to a sustainable lifestyle? Do you possess what it takes to go green? People tend to pass the buck on their personal responsibility to the planet. Everyone has what is referred to as a “carbon footprint” that shows the impact of their lives on the environment. There isn’t any government agency or entity that holds the world’s population responsible for the damage being done to our planetary home. 

Sustainability is not a mere trend, but a necessary movement to save what is left of our ozone layer and environment. Corporations benefit from the consumption of their goods, which results in the waste that pollutes the land, air, and water in our communities. These companies are partially responsible for the lack of political efforts to reverse or even stop the effects of our wasteful lifestyles. 

When you look at the statistics, the reasons to convert to sustainable living are clear. There are nearly 8 billion people in the world, and we would need almost two planet Earths to absorb the waste that we produce. What is even more alarming is the fact that statistics suggest that we have less than 20 years of freshwater left unless we reduce water consumption. 

Along with a host of other shocking facts, the above stats have driven me to completely adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Let me show you the five steps that I used to go green for good.  

1. Create a Sustainable Culture

We are truly living in an all-hands-on-deck moment in history. While politics and media seem to pay no attention to the situation that we find ourselves in, I had to take action in my personal life. I want my children’s children to have a world with an environment that is livable. This meant that I had to create a culture of sustainability in every aspect of my life.

I began by looking at the various facets of my life in order to see how I could live a more sustainable existence. There was a question that I had to ask myself as I evaluated my lifestyle, “How can I be more sustainable in this area?” I then actively sought to identify how I could live a sustainable life and encourage those around me to do the same.

2. Sustainable Household

Our households are at the center of our world, and we have to look at our sustainability, or lack thereof, at home first and foremost. This includes our actions and the goods we bring into the home. There are companies that have launched sustainable product initiatives, and they are the brands that I patronize.

Some ways to establish a more sustainable household are:

• Ditch incandescent lightbulbs for CPL and LED bulbs
• Switch to alternative energy
• Install low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads 
• Hang your clothes out to dry instead of using the dryer
• Handwash items instead of running small loads in the washer
• Turn off any devices that are not in use
• Unplug devices that have lights continuously lit (vampire loads)
• Buy goods made from recycled materials
• Recycle and repurpose
• Use environmentally friendly household cleansers

3. Sustainable Eating

How we eat and the companies we purchase our foods from represents even more opportunities to add sustainability to your life. 

Some ways to eat sustainably are:

• Grow your own organic herbs, fruits, and veggies (in pots or a garden)
• Use organic fertilizers
• Eat-in
• Purchase products from environmentally-conscious brands
• Start a compost bin for organic food waste
• Filtered water instead of bottled

4. Sustainable Travel

A great deal of our carbon footprints directly links to our commutes. 

Some ways to travel sustainably are:

• Use public transportation when possible
• Purchase a bicycle to ride it to work 
• Carpool 
• Purchase an energy-efficient vehicle

5. Sustainable Workplace

You cannot control your employer’s actions, but you can do your part to be greener at your job.

Some ways to be sustainable at work are:

• Turn off and Unplug devices before leaving 
• Add plants to your workspace
• Use eco-friendly business cards
• Save scrap paper
• Print double-sided when possible
• Encourage recycling

Conclusion

It is senseless for politicians to debate whether scientists are right about science. This is like arguing with your physician because the diagnosis you are given is unfavorable. It is interesting that people are so respectful of the years that scientists spend advancing the world in so many ways, yet there are those among us that are so blinded by their profits that they are willing to sacrifice the only environment we have for monetary gain. 

Do not let the foolish debates cloud your sense of responsibility for your personal carbon footprint. Everyone needs to do their part if we are going to tackle this issue. The time for arguing is over; we need to take immediate action toward sustainable living on a global scale to save our planetary home. 

By Kiley Morrow.