This page lists a lot of ideas on how you can make your lifestyle more sustainable while maintaining and even rising your standard of living. Many require simple habit changes, while others require some investment or larger lifestyle changes.

Top[edit | edit source]

The top one will depend on your current lifestyle.

  • Re-evaluate your job - It makes little sense to do every other thing in this list but then go work 8 hours a day in a job that undoes it.
  • Eat less meat
  • Fly less
  • Bike more
  • Insulate your home

Heating[edit | edit source]

  • Insulation - The cheapest and cleanest heat is the one you don't need to produce. Decent insulation can reduce your heating requirements by over 50%.
  • Geothermal -
  • Thermal mass -
  • Stoves - Stoves are much more efficient than chimneys.
  • Clothing - There's no need to wear a T-shirt at home during winter.

Cooling[edit | edit source]

  • Insulation -
  • Geothermal -

Lighting[edit | edit source]

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    No house should need any lights on during daytime. Next time you move, look for good orientation and big windows.

  • If you're not about to move, consider installing skylights. Natural light also feels better.

    If you're not about to move, consider installing skylights. Natural light also feels better.

  • While unfit for many activities, candles and dim or sparse warm lights can also charm an evening.

    While unfit for many activities, candles and dim or sparse warm lights can also charm an evening.

  • If you're not using LED bulbs yet, don't even wait for the old ones to break. LED bulbs are much more efficient than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, and last longer too.

    If you're not using LED bulbs yet, don't even wait for the old ones to break. LED bulbs are much more efficient than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, and last longer too.

Food conservation[edit | edit source]

  • Apples, kiwis, eggplants and most other fruit are designed by nature to keep fresh for considerable periods of time. There's no need to keep them in the fridge, and if well arranged, can be very decorative.

    Apples, kiwis, eggplants and most other fruit are designed by nature to keep fresh for considerable periods of time. There's no need to keep them in the fridge, and if well arranged, can be very decorative.

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    Lettuce, parsley, arugula and other leaves can be kept fresh for many days if left in water rather than a fridge. They serve as decoration too!

  • Carrots, potatoes, ginger, garlic and other tubers can be kept fresh for weeks if left under sand. If the container is well chosen, it can serve as decoration too!

    Carrots, potatoes, ginger, garlic and other tubers can be kept fresh for weeks if left under sand. If the container is well chosen, it can serve as decoration too!

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    Most people keep many things in their fridge that don't need to be. When removed, a mini fridge is usually enough for most households. They are cheaper, require much less energy,[1] and also free up an extra kitchen counter which is often valuable space.

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    Solar dehydrating is the most energy-efficient way to conserve food for long periods of time.

Cooking[edit | edit source]

  • The fastest, cleanest, cheapest and most energy-efficient way to cook is not at all! There're so many raw recipes to choose from, learn one today!

    The fastest, cleanest, cheapest and most energy-efficient way to cook is not at all! There're so many raw recipes to choose from, learn one today!

  • Thermal cookers reduce heat loss enormously and keep water at high temperatures with no further energy input.[2]

    Thermal cookers reduce heat loss enormously and keep water at high temperatures with no further energy input.[2]

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    Rocket stoves are the most efficient wood-burning stoves and are also easy to make.

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    Solar cookers are a great alternative to barbecues as a way to spend a day outside with family and friends.

  • If you're using a stove inside your house for heating during winter, why not use it for cooking too?

    If you're using a stove inside your house for heating during winter, why not use it for cooking too?

Dish washing[edit | edit source]

  • Basins - Filling a basin with water and another with water and soap is an efficient way to wash your dishes. The basins can even be pots you used during cooking.
  • Soap first - Soaping everything first and rinse later saves water, energy and time!
  • No fat - Eating food with little or no fat has the added advantage of easy cleaning.

Clothing[edit | edit source]

  • Buy second hand - Most second hand clothes are as good as new. They will save you money and help reduce the demand for fast fashion.
  • Buy natural fibers - Every time you wash synthetic clothes, millions of micro plastic threads wash out into the drain and end up in the ocean. So buy cotton (100%), linen, hemp, bamboo, etc.
  • Washing -
  • Drying clothes - Use the sun! If too rainy, cloudy or dark, maybe you have a source of heat inside (like a stove) so hang it next to it. Drying machines are energy-hungry, expensive and degrade your clothes faster. With minimal foresight, you should never need them.

Personal hygiene[edit | edit source]

  • Solar hot water system -
  • Solid shampoo and conditioner -
  • Dry toilet - While not for everyone, a good setup can be odorless, save water and produce usable compost.

Trash[edit | edit source]

  • 40% or more of your trash is organic and can be turned into useful compost with minimal effort. This also keeps it away from dumpsters, gets rid of the smell of your other trash, and gives you a big first step into gardening.

    40% or more of your trash is organic and can be turned into useful compost with minimal effort. This also keeps it away from dumpsters, gets rid of the smell of your other trash, and gives you a big first step into gardening.

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    The cleanest, cheapest and easiest trash to dispose of is the one you avoid!

  • Look for the nearest bulk store and go with your own containers. You'll save money too!

    Look for the nearest bulk store and go with your own containers. You'll save money too!

  • Select products with biodegradable packages that you can compost or burn for useful heat, like paper, cardboard or wood.

    Select products with biodegradable packages that you can compost or burn for useful heat, like paper, cardboard or wood.

  • Favor aluminum and glass, they are much more recyclable than plastic.

    Favor aluminum and glass, they are much more recyclable than plastic.

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    Always carry a plastic bag folded in your wallet or purse. They weight nothing and will prevent you from accepting many bags. They are also useful for picking stuff in the street (like a ripe fruit tree), for protecting your stuff in case of rain, and many other uses!

  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing

    Throwing stuff into a recycle bin is not exactly recycling: it's giving it to someone else to recycle. Only a few percent of the trash gets recycled. The best way to make sure is to do it yourself. The easiest and most effective way to recycle is to downcycle (transform it into something of lower value). For example, turn your old clothing into cushion filling.

  • Learning how to repair stuff will not only save you trash and money, but will greatly increase your understanding of how the world works.

    Learning how to repair stuff will not only save you trash and money, but will greatly increase your understanding of how the world works.

Transportation[edit | edit source]

  • Cycling - Bikes are clean, cheap, durable, efficient, compact, nimble, fun, healthy, etc. For short (and not-so-short) distances they are often faster than any other means of transportation. They can avoid you traffic jams and the associated stress. They require low maintenance and can often be fixed by yourself. Many accessories are available for all sorts of special needs. If you don't have your bike yet, get one now! It's definitely one of the best ways to start living green and you'll benefit from it all your life.
  • Carpooling -
  • Carsharing -
  • Electric cars -
  • Fly less -

References[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://dev.appropedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Sophivorus/Green_living&oldid=663352"
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.