From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_living
Sustainable living describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce the use of Earth's natural resources by an individual or society. It is referred to as zero wastage living" or "net zero living". Its practitioners often attempt to reduce their ecological footprint (including their Vanshcarbon footprint) by altering their home designs and methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet. Its proponents aim to conduct their lives in ways that are consistent with sustainability, naturally balanced, and respectful of humanity's symbiotic relationship with the Earth's natural ecology. The practice and general philosophy of ecological living closely follows the overall principles of sustainable development.
One approach to sustainable living, exemplified by small-scale urban transition towns and rural ecovillages, seeks to create self-reliant communities based on principles of simple living, which maximize self-sufficiency particularly in food production. These principles, on a broader scale, underpin the concept of a bioregional economy. Additionally, practical ecovillage builders like Living Villages
maintain that the shift to alternative technologies will only be
successful if the resultant built environment is attractive to a local culture and can be maintained and adapted as necessary over multiple generations.
Definition
The three pillars of sustainability.
Circles of Sustainability image (assessment – Melbourne 2011)
Sustainable living is fundamentally the application of sustainability to lifestyle choices and decisions. One conception of sustainable living expresses what it means in triple-bottom-line terms as meeting present ecological, societal, and economical needs without compromising these factors for future generations. Another broader conception describes sustainable living in terms of four interconnected social
domains: economics, ecology, politics, and culture. In the first
conception, sustainable living can be described as living within the
innate carrying capacities defined by these factors. In the second or Circles of Sustainability
conception, sustainable living can be described as negotiating the
relationships of needs within limits across all the interconnected
domains of social life, including consequences for future human
generations and non-human species.
Sustainable design and sustainable development are critical factors to sustainable living. Sustainable design encompasses the development of appropriate technology, which is a staple of sustainable living practices. Sustainable development in turn is the use of these technologies in infrastructure. Sustainable architecture and agriculture are the most common examples of this practice.
Lester R. Brown, a prominent environmentalist and founder of the Worldwatch Institute and Earth Policy Institute, describes sustainable living in the twenty-first century as "shifting to a renewable energy-based, reuse/recycle economy with a diversified transport system." 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". From this statement, the natural
conclusion is that sustainable living is at odds with industrialization.
Thus, practitioners of the philosophy potentially face the challenge of
living in an industrial society and adapting alternative norms,
technologies, or practices.
History
- 1954 The publication of Living the Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing marked the beginning of the modern day sustainable living movement. The publication paved the way for the "back-to-the-land movement" in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- 1962 The publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson marked another major milestone for the sustainability movement.
- 1972 Donella Meadows wrote the international bestseller The Limits to Growth, which reported on a study of long-term global trends in population, economics and the environment. It sold millions of copies and was translated into 28 languages.
- 1973 E. F. Schumacher published a collection of essays on shifting towards sustainable living through the appropriate use of technology in his book Small Is Beautiful.
- 1992–2002 The United Nations
held a series of conferences, which focused on increasing
sustainability within societies to conserve the Earth's natural
resources. The Earth Summit conferences were held in 1992, 1972 and 2002.
- 2007 the United Nations published Sustainable Consumption and Production, Promoting Climate-Friendly Household Consumption Patterns, which promoted sustainable lifestyles in communities and homes.
Shelter
An example of ecological housing
On a global scale, shelter is associated with about 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions embodied in household purchases and 26% of households' land use.
Sustainable homes
are built using sustainable methods, materials, and facilitate green
practices, enabling a more sustainable lifestyle. Their construction and
maintenance have neutral impacts on the Earth. Often, if necessary,
they are close in proximity to essential services such as grocery
stores, schools, daycares, work, or public transit making it possible to
commit to sustainable transportation choices. Sometimes, they are off-the-grid homes that do not require any public energy, water, or sewer service.
If not off-the-grid, sustainable homes may be linked to a grid supplied by a power plant
that is using sustainable power sources, buying power as is normal
convention. Additionally, sustainable homes may be connected to a grid,
but generate their own electricity through renewable means and sell any
excess to a utility. There are two common methods to approaching this
option: net metering and double metering.
Net metering uses the common meter that is installed in most
homes, running forward when power is used from the grid, and running
backward when power is put into the grid (which allows them to “net“ out
their total energy use, putting excess energy into the grid when not
needed, and using energy from the grid during peak hours, when you may
not be able to produce enough immediately). Power companies can quickly
purchase the power that is put back into the grid, as it is being
produced. Double metering involves installing two meters: one measuring
electricity consumed, the other measuring electricity created.
Additionally, or in place of selling their renewable energy,
sustainable home owners may choose to bank their excess energy by using
it to charge batteries. This gives them the option to use the power
later during less favorable power-generating times (i.e.: night-time,
when there has been no wind, etc.), and to be completely independent of
the electrical grid.
Sustainably designed (see Sustainable Design) houses are generally sited so as to create as little of a negative impact on the surrounding ecosystem as possible, oriented to the sun so that it creates the best possible microclimate
(typically, the long axis of the house or building should be oriented
east–west), and provide natural shading or wind barriers where and when
needed, among many other considerations. The design of a sustainable
shelter affords the options it has later (i.e.: using passive solar lighting and heating, creating temperature buffer zones by adding porches, deep overhangs to help create favorable microclimates, etc.)
Sustainably constructed houses involve environmentally friendly
management of waste building materials such as recycling and composting,
use non-toxic and renewable, recycled, reclaimed, or low-impact
production materials that have been created and treated in a sustainable
fashion (such as using organic or water-based finishes), use as much
locally available materials and tools as possible so as to reduce the
need for transportation, and use low-impact production methods (methods
that minimize effects on the environment).
In April 2019, New York City passed a bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The bill's goal was to minimize the climate pollution stemming from the hub that is New York City. It was approved in a 42 to 5 vote, showing a strong favor of the bill.
The bill will restrict energy use in larger buildings. The bill imposes
greenhouse gas caps on buildings that are over 25,000 square feet. The
calculation of the exact cap is done by square feet per building. A
similar emission cap had existed already for buildings of 50,000 square
feet or more. This bill expands the legislation to cover more large
buildings. The bill protects rent-regulated buildings of which there are around 990,000. Due to the implementation of the bill, around 23,000 new green jobs will be created. The bill received support from Mayor Bill de Blasio.
New York is taking action based on the recognition that their climate
pollution has effects far beyond the city limits of New York. In
discussion of a possible new Amazon
headquarters in NYC, De Blasio specified that the bill applies to
everyone, regardless of prestige. Mayor de Blasio also announced a
lawsuit by the city (of New York) to five major oil companies due to
their harm on the environment and climate pollution.
This also raises the question of the possible closing of the 24 oil and
gas burning power plants in New York City, due to the aimed declining
use of these sources of energy.
With the emission cap, New York will likely see a turn to renewable
energy sources. It is possible that these plants will be transitioned to
hubs of renewable energy
to power the city. This new bill will go into action in three years
(2022) and is estimated to cut climate pollution by 40% in eight years
(by 2030).
Many materials can be considered a “green” material until its background is revealed. Any material that has used toxic or carcinogenic chemicals in its treatment or manufacturing (such as formaldehyde in glues used in woodworking),
has traveled extensively from its source or manufacturer, or has been
cultivated or harvested in an unsustainable manner might not be
considered green. In order for any material to be considered green, it
must be resource efficient, not compromise indoor air quality or water conservation, and be energy efficient (both in processing and when in use in the shelter). Resource efficiency can be achieved by using as much recycled content, reusable or recyclable content, materials that employ recycled or recyclable packaging,
locally available material, salvaged or remanufactured material,
material that employs resource efficient manufacturing, and long-lasting
material as possible.
Sustainable building materials
Some
building materials might be considered "sustainable" by some
definitions and under some conditions. For example, wood might be
thought of as sustainable if it is grown using sustainable forest management, processed using sustainable energy. delivered by sustainable transport,
etc.: Under different conditions, however, it might not be considered
as sustainable. The following materials might be considered as
sustainable under certain conditions, based on a Life-cycle assessment.
Insulation
of a sustainable home is important because of the energy it conserves
throughout the life of the home. Well insulated walls and lofts using
green materials are a must as it reduces or, in combination with a house
that is well designed, eliminates the need for heating and cooling
altogether. Installation of insulation varies according to the type of
insulation being used. Typically, lofts are insulated by strips of
insulating material laid between rafters. Walls with cavities are done
in much the same manner. For walls that do not have cavities behind
them, solid-wall insulation may be necessary which can decrease internal
space and can be expensive to install.
Energy-efficient windows are another important factor in insulation.
Simply assuring that windows (and doors) are well sealed greatly reduces
energy loss in a home.
Double or Triple glazed windows are the typical method to insulating
windows, trapping gas or creating a vacuum between two or three panes of
glass allowing heat to be trapped inside or out. Low-emissivity
or Low-E glass is another option for window insulation. It is a coating
on windowpanes of a thin, transparent layer of metal oxide and works by
reflecting heat back to its source, keeping the interior warm during
the winter and cool during the summer. Simply hanging heavy-backed
curtains in front of windows may also help their insulation. “Superwindows,” mentioned in Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution,
became available in the 1980s and use a combination of many available
technologies, including two to three transparent low-e coatings,
multiple panes of glass, and a heavy gas filling. Although more
expensive, they are said to be able to insulate four and a half times
better than a typical double-glazed windows.
Equipping roofs with highly reflective material (such as aluminum) increases a roof's albedo and will help reduce the amount of heat it absorbs, hence, the amount of energy needed to cool the building it is on. Green roofs
or “living roofs” are a popular choice for thermally insulating a
building. They are also popular for their ability to catch storm-water
runoff and, when in the broader picture of a community, reduce the heat
island effect (see urban heat island)
thereby reducing energy costs of the entire area. It is arguable that
they are able to replace the physical “footprint” that the building
creates, helping reduce the adverse environmental impacts of the
building's presence.
Energy efficiency and water conservation are also major considerations in sustainable housing. If using appliances, computers, HVAC systems, electronics, or lighting the sustainable-minded often look for an Energy Star label, which is government-backed and holds stricter regulations in energy and water efficiency than is required by law.
Ideally, a sustainable shelter should be able to completely run the
appliances it uses using renewable energy and should strive to have a
neutral impact on the Earth's water sources
Greywater, including water from washing machines, sinks, showers, and baths may be reused in landscape irrigation and toilets as a method of water conservation. Likewise, rainwater harvesting from storm-water runoff is also a sustainable method to conserve water use in a sustainable shelter. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
replicate the natural systems that clean water in wildlife and
implement them in a city's drainage system so as to minimize
contaminated water and unnatural rates of runoff into the environment.
See related articles in: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
and also it is one of the most important factor of sustainable lifestyle.
Power
As mentioned under Shelter, some sustainable households may choose to
produce their own renewable energy, while others may choose to purchase
it through the grid from a power company that harnesses sustainable
sources (also mentioned previously are the methods of metering the
production and consumption of electricity in a household). Purchasing
sustainable energy, however, may simply not be possible in some
locations due to its limited availability. 6 out of the 50 states in the
US do not offer green energy,
for example. For those that do, its consumers typically buy a fixed
amount or a percentage of their monthly consumption from a company of
their choice and the bought green energy is fed into the entire national
grid. Technically, in this case, the green energy is not being fed
directly to the household that buys it.
In this case, it is possible that the amount of green electricity that
the buying household receives is a small fraction of their total
incoming electricity. This may or may not depend on the amount being
purchased. The purpose of buying green electricity is to support their
utility's effort in producing sustainable energy.
Producing sustainable energy on an individual household or community
basis is much more flexible, but can still be limited in the richness of
the sources that the location may afford (some locations may not be
rich in renewable energy sources while others may have an abundance of
it).
When generating renewable energy and feeding it back into the
grid (in participating countries such as the US and Germany), producing
households are typically paid at least the full standard electricity
rate by their utility and are also given separate renewable energy
credits that they can then sell to their utility, additionally
(utilities are interested in buying these renewable energy credits
because it allows them to claim that they produce renewable energy). In
some special cases, producing households may be paid up to four times
the standard electricity rate, but this is not common.
Solar power harnesses the energy of the sun to make electricity. Two
typical methods for converting solar energy into electricity are photo-voltaic cells that are organized into panels and concentrated solar power, which uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight to either heat a fluid that runs an electrical generator via a steam turbine or heat engine, or to simply cast onto photo-voltaic cells. The energy created by photo-voltaic cells is a direct current and has to be converted to alternating current
before it can be used in a household. At this point, users can choose
to either store this direct current in batteries for later use, or use
an AC/DC inverter for immediate use. To get the best out of a solar
panel, the angle of incidence
of the sun should be between 20 and 50 degrees. Solar power via
photo-voltaic cells are usually the most expensive method to harnessing
renewable energy, but is falling in price as technology advances and
public interest increases. It has the advantages of being portable, easy
to use on an individual basis, readily available for government grants
and incentives, and being flexible regarding location (though it is most
efficient when used in hot, arid areas since they tend to be the most
sunny). For those that are lucky, affordable rental schemes may be found.
Concentrated solar power plants are typically used on more of a
community scale rather than an individual household scale, because of
the amount of energy they are able to harness but can be done on an
individual scale with a parabolic reflector.
Solar thermal energy
is harnessed by collecting direct heat from the sun. One of the most
common ways that this method is used by households is through solar water heating.
In a broad perspective, these systems involve well insulated tanks for
storage and collectors, are either passive or active systems (active
systems have pumps that continuously circulate water through the
collectors and storage tank) and, in active systems, involve either
directly heating the water that will be used or heating a non-freezing
heat-transfer fluid that then heats the water that will be used. Passive
systems are cheaper than active systems since they do not require a
pumping system (instead, they take advantage of the natural movement of
hot water rising above cold water to cycle the water being used through
the collector and storage tank).
Other methods of harnessing solar power are solar space heating (for heating internal building spaces), solar drying (for drying wood chips, fruits, grains, etc.), solar cookers, solar distillers, and other passive solar technologies (simply, harnessing sunlight without any mechanical means).
Wind power
is harnessed through turbines, set on tall towers (typically 20’ or 6m
with 10‘ or 3m diameter blades for an individual household's needs) that
power a generator that creates electricity.
They typically require an average of wind speed of 9 mi/hr (14 km/hr)
to be worth their investment (as prescribed by the US Department of
Energy), and are capable of paying for themselves within their
lifetimes. Wind turbines in urban areas usually need to be mounted at
least 30’ (10m) in the air to receive enough wind and to be void of
nearby obstructions (such as neighboring buildings). Mounting a wind
turbine may also require permission from authorities. Wind turbines have
been criticized for the noise they produce, their appearance, and the
argument that they can affect the migratory patterns of birds (their
blades obstruct passage in the sky). Wind turbines are much more
feasible for those living in rural areas
and are one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy per
kilowatt, approaching the cost of fossil fuels, and have quick paybacks.
For those that have a body of water flowing at an adequate speed (or falling from an adequate height) on their property, hydroelectricity
may be an option. On a large scale, hydroelectricity, in the form of
dams, has adverse environmental and social impacts. When on a small
scale, however, in the form of single turbines, hydroelectricity is very
sustainable. Single water turbines or even a group of single turbines
are not environmentally or socially disruptive. On an individual
household basis, single turbines are the probably the only economically
feasible route (but can have high paybacks and is one of the most
efficient methods of renewable energy production). It is more common for
an eco-village to use this method rather than a singular household.
Geothermal energy
production involves harnessing the hot water or steam below the earth's
surface, in reservoirs, to produce energy. Because the hot water or
steam that is used is reinjected back into the reservoir, this source is
considered sustainable. However, those that plan on getting their
electricity from this source should be aware that there is controversy
over the lifespan of each geothermal reservoir as some believe that
their lifespans are naturally limited (they cool down over time, making
geothermal energy production there eventually impossible). This method
is often large scale as the system required to harness geothermal energy
can be complex and requires deep drilling equipment. There do exist
small individual scale geothermal operations, however, which harness
reservoirs very close to the Earth's surface, avoiding the need for
extensive drilling and sometimes even taking advantage of lakes or ponds
where there is already a depression. In this case, the heat is captured
and sent to a geothermal heat pump
system located inside the shelter or facility that needs it (often,
this heat is used directly to warm a greenhouse during the colder
months).
Although geothermal energy is available everywhere on Earth,
practicality and cost-effectiveness varies, directly related to the
depth required to reach reservoirs. Places such as the Philippines,
Hawaii, Alaska, Iceland, California, and Nevada have geothermal
reservoirs closer to the Earth's surface, making its production
cost-effective.
Biomass power
is created when any biological matter is burned as fuel. As with the
case of using green materials in a household, it is best to use as much
locally available material as possible so as to reduce the carbon
footprint created by transportation. Although burning biomass for fuel
releases carbon dioxide,
sulfur compounds, and nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere, a major
concern in a sustainable lifestyle, the amount that is released is
sustainable (it will not contribute to a rise in carbon dioxide levels
in the atmosphere). This is because the biological matter that is being
burned releases the same amount of carbon dioxide that it consumed
during its lifetime. However, burning biodiesel and bioethanol (see biofuel)
when created from virgin material, is increasingly controversial and
may or may not be considered sustainable because it inadvertently
increases global poverty, the clearing of more land for new agriculture
fields (the source of the biofuel is also the same source of food), and
may use unsustainable growing methods (such as the use of
environmentally harmful pesticides and fertilizers).
List of organic matter than can be burned for fuel
Digestion of organic material to produce methane is becoming an
increasingly popular method of biomass energy production. Materials such
as waste sludge can be digested to release methane gas that can then be
burnt to produce electricity. Methane gas is also a natural by-product
of landfills, full of decomposing waste, and can be harnessed here to
produce electricity as well. The advantage in burning methane gas is
that is prevents the methane from being released into the atmosphere,
exacerbating the greenhouse effect.
Although this method of biomass energy production is typically large
scale (done in landfills), it can be done on a smaller individual or
community scale as well.
Food
Globally,
food accounts for 48% and 90% of household environmental impacts on land
and water resources respectively, with consumption of meat, dairy and
processed food rising quickly with income.
Environmental impacts of industrial agriculture
Industrial agricultural production is highly resource and energy intensive. Industrial agriculture systems typically require heavy irrigation, extensive pesticide and fertilizer application, intensive tillage, concentrated monoculture
production, and other continual inputs. As a result of these industrial
farming conditions, today's mounting environmental stresses are further
exacerbated. These stresses include: declining water tables, chemical leaching, chemical runoff, soil erosion, land degradation, loss in biodiversity, and other ecological concerns.
Conventional food distribution and long distance transport
Conventional food distribution and long-distance transport are additionally resource and energy exhaustive. Substantial climate-disrupting carbon emissions, boosted by the transport of food over long distances, are of growing concern as the world faces such global crisis as natural resource depletion, peak oil and climate change. “The average American meal currently costs about 1500 miles, and takes about 10 calories of oil and other fossil fuels to produce a single calorie of food.”
Local and seasonal foods
A more sustainable means of acquiring food is to purchase locally and seasonally. Buying food from local farmers reduces carbon output, caused by long-distance food transport, and stimulates the local economy.
Local, small-scale farming operations also typically utilize more
sustainable methods of agriculture than conventional industrial farming
systems such as decreased tillage, nutrient cycling, fostered biodiversity and reduced chemical pesticide and fertilizer applications.
Adapting a more regional, seasonally based diet is more sustainable as
it entails purchasing less energy and resource demanding produce that
naturally grow within a local area and require no long-distance
transport. These vegetables and fruits are also grown and harvested
within their suitable growing season. Thus, seasonal food farming does not require energy intensive greenhouse
production, extensive irrigation, plastic packaging and long-distance
transport from importing non-regional foods, and other environmental
stressors.
Local, seasonal produce is typically fresher, unprocessed and argued to
be more nutritious. Local produce also contains less to no chemical
residues from applications required for long-distance shipping and
handling. Farmers' markets,
public events where local small-scale farmers gather and sell their
produce, are a good source for obtaining local food and knowledge about
local farming productions. As well as promoting localization of food,
farmers markets are a central gathering place for community interaction. Another way to become involved in regional food distribution is by joining a local community-supported agriculture
(CSA). A CSA consists of a community of growers and consumers who
pledge to support a farming operation while equally sharing the risks
and benefits of food production. CSA's usually involve a system of
weekly pick-ups of locally farmed vegetables and fruits, sometimes
including dairy products, meat and special food items such as baked
goods.
Considering the previously noted rising environmental crisis, the
United States and much of the world is facing immense vulnerability to
famine. Local food production ensures food security if potential
transportation disruptions and climatic, economical, and sociopolitical
disasters were to occur.
Reducing meat consumption
Industrial meat production also involves high environmental costs such as land degradation, soil erosion and depletion of natural resources, especially pertaining to water and food. Mass meat production increase the amount of methane in the atmosphere. For more information on the environmental impact of meat production and consumption, see the ethics of eating meat. Reducing meat consumption,
perhaps to a few meals a week, or adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet,
alleviates the demand for environmentally damaging industrial meat
production. Buying and consuming organically raised, free range or grass fed meat is another alternative towards more sustainable meat consumption.
Organic farming
Purchasing and supporting organic products is another fundamental contribution to sustainable living. Organic farming is a rapidly emerging trend in the food industry and in the web of sustainability. According to the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), organic agriculture
is defined as "an ecological production management system that promotes
and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological
activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on
management practices that restore, maintain, or enhance ecological
harmony. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the
health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life,
plants, animals and people." Upon sustaining these goals, organic
agriculture uses techniques such as crop rotation, permaculture, compost, green manure and biological pest control. In addition, organic farming prohibits or strictly limits the use of manufactured fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives and genetically modified organisms. Organically farmed products include vegetables, fruit, grains, herbs, meat, dairy, eggs, fibers, and flowers. See organic certification for more information.
Urban gardening
"Edible landscaping": a vegetable garden incorporated by the local residents into a roadside park.
Qixia District,
Nanjing, China
In addition to local, small-scale farms, there has been a recent emergence in urban agriculture expanding from community gardens to private home gardens. With this trend, both farmers and ordinary people are becoming involved in food production.
A network of urban farming systems helps to further ensure regional
food security and encourages self-sufficiency and cooperative
interdependence within communities.
With every bite of food raised from urban gardens, negative
environmental impacts are reduced in numerous ways. For instance,
vegetables and fruits raised within small-scale gardens and farms are
not grown with tremendous applications of nitrogen fertilizer
required for industrial agricultural operations. The nitrogen
fertilizers cause toxic chemical leaching and runoff that enters our
water tables. Nitrogen fertilizer also produces nitrous oxide, a more damaging greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Local, community-grown food also requires no imported, long-distance transport which further depletes our fossil fuel reserves.
In developing more efficiency per land acre, urban gardens can be
started in a wide variety of areas: in vacant lots, public parks,
private yards, church and school yards, on roof tops (roof-top gardens),
and many other places. Communities can work together in changing
zoning limitations in order for public and private gardens to be
permissible. Aesthetically pleasing edible landscaping
plants can also be incorporated into city landscaping such as blueberry
bushes, grapevines trained on an arbor, pecan trees, etc.
With as small a scale as home or community farming, sustainable and
organic farming methods can easily be utilized. Such sustainable,
organic farming techniques include: composting, biological pest control, crop rotation, mulching, drip irrigation, nutrient cycling and permaculture. For more information on sustainable farming systems, see sustainable agriculture.
Food preservation and storage
Preserving
and storing foods reduces reliance on long-distance transported food
and the market industry. Home-grown foods can be preserved and stored
outside of their growing season and continually consumed throughout the
year, enhancing self-sufficiency and independence from the supermarket.
Food can be preserved and saved by dehydration, freezing, vacuum packing, canning, bottling, pickling and jellying. For more information, see food preservation.
Transportation
Cycling on an upright bicycle along the
Fietspad in
Amsterdam, safe from traffic.
With rising concerns over non-renewable energy source usage and climate change caused by carbon emissions, the phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles is becoming more and more important to the conversation of sustainability. Zero-emission urban transport
systems that foster mobility, accessible public transportation and
healthier urban environments are needed. Such urban transport systems
should consist of rail transport, electric buses, bicycle pathways, provision for human-powered transport and pedestrian walkways.
Public transport systems such as underground rail systems and bus
transit systems shift huge numbers of people away from reliance on car dependency and dramatically reduce the rate of carbon emissions caused by automobile transport.
In comparison to automobiles, bicycles are a paragon of energy
efficient personal transportation with the bicycle roughly 50 times more
energy efficient than driving. Bicycles increase mobility while alleviating congestion, lowering air and noise pollution, and increasing physical exercise. Most importantly, they do not emit climate-damaging carbon dioxide. Bike-sharing programs are beginning to boom throughout the world and are modeled in leading cities such as Paris, Amsterdam and London. Bike-sharing programs offer kiosks
and docking stations that supply hundreds to thousands of bikes for
rental throughout a city through small deposits or affordable
memberships.
A recent boom has occurred in electric bikes especially in China and other Asian countries. Electric bikes are similar to electric cars in that they are battery-powered and can be plugged into the provincial electric grid for recharging as needed. In contrast to electric cars, electric bikes do not directly use any fossil fuels. Adequate sustainable urban transportation is dependent upon proper city transport infrastructure and planning that incorporates efficient public transit along with bicycle and pedestrian-friendly pathways.
Water
A major factor of sustainable living involves that which no human can live without, water.
Unsustainable water use has far reaching implications for humankind.
Currently, humans use one-fourth of the Earth's total fresh water in
natural circulation, and over half the accessible runoff. Additionally, population growth
and water demand is ever increasing. Thus, it is necessary to use
available water more efficiently. In sustainable living, one can use
water more sustainably through a series of simple, everyday measures.
These measures involve considering indoor home appliance efficiency, outdoor water use, and daily water use awareness.
Indoor home appliances
Housing and commercial buildings account for 12 percent of America's freshwater withdrawals. A typical American single family home uses about 70 US gallons (260 L) per person per day indoors. This use can be reduced by simple alterations in behavior and upgrades to appliance quality.
Toilets
Toilets accounted for almost 30% of residential indoor water use in the United States in 1999.
One flush of a standard U.S. toilet requires more water than most
individuals, and many families, in the world use for all their needs in
an entire day.
A home's toilet water sustainability can be improved in one of two ways:
improving the current toilet or installing a more efficient toilet. To
improve the current toilet, one possible method is to put weighted
plastic bottles in the toilet tank. Also, there are inexpensive tank
banks or float booster available for purchase. A tank bank is a plastic
bag to be filled with water and hung in the toilet tank. A float booster
attaches underneath the float ball of pre-1986 three and a half gallon
capacity toilets. It allows these toilets to operate at the same valve
and float setting but significantly reduces their water level, saving
between one and one and a third gallons of water per flush. A major
waste of water in existing toilets is leaks. A slow toilet leak is
undetectable to the eye, but can waste hundreds of gallons each month.
One way to check this is to put food dye in the tank, and to see if the
water in the toilet bowl turns the same color. In the event of a leaky
flapper, one can replace it with an adjustable toilet flapper, which
allows self-adjustment of the amount of water per flush.
In installing a new toilet there are a number of options to obtain the most water efficient model. A low flush toilet
uses one to two gallons per flush. Traditionally, toilets use three to
five gallons per flush. If an eighteen-liter per flush toilet is
removed and a six-liter per flush toilet is put in its place, 70% of the
water flushed will be saved while the overall indoor water use by will
be reduced by 30%. It is possible to have a toilet that uses no water. A composting toilet treats human waste through composting and dehydration, producing a valuable soil additive.
These toilets feature a two-compartment bowl to separate urine from
feces. The urine can be collected or sold as fertilizer. The feces can
be dried and bagged or composted. These toilets cost scarcely more
than regularly installed toilets and do not require a sewer hookup. In
addition to providing valuable fertilizer, these toilets are highly
sustainable because they save sewage collection and treatment, as well
as lessen agricultural costs and improve topsoil.
Additionally, one can reduce toilet water sustainability by
limiting total toilet flushing. For instance, instead of flushing small
wastes, such as tissues, one can dispose of these items in the trash or
compost.
Showers
On average, showers were 18% of U.S. indoor water use in 1999, at 6–8 US gallons (23–30 L) per minute traditionally in America.
A simple method to reduce this use is to switch to low-flow,
high-performance showerheads. These showerheads use only 1.0–1.5 gpm or
less. An alternative to replacing the showerhead is to install a
converter. This device arrests a running shower upon reaching the
desired temperature. Solar water heaters
can be used to obtain optimal water temperature, and are more
sustainable because they reduce dependence on fossil fuels. To lessen
excess water use, water pipes can be insulated with pre-slit foam pipe
insulation. This insulation decreases hot water generation time. A
simple, straightforward method to conserve water when showering is to
take shorter showers. One method to accomplish this is to turn off the
water when it is not necessary (such as while lathering) and resuming
the shower when water is necessary. This can be facilitated when the
plumbing or showerhead allow turning off the water without disrupting
the desired temperature setting (common in the UK but not the United
States).
Dishwashers and sinks
On average, sinks were 15% of U.S. indoor water use in 1999.
There are, however, easy methods to rectify excessive water loss.
Available for purchase is a screw-on aerator. This device works by
combining water with air thus generating a frothy substance with greater
perceived volume, reducing water use by half. Additionally, there is a
flip-valve available that allows flow to be turned off and back on at
the previously reached temperature. Finally, a laminar flow
device creates a 1.5–2.4 gpm stream of water that reduces water use by
half, but can be turned to normal water level when optimal.
In addition to buying the above devices, one can live more
sustainably by checking sinks for leaks, and fixing these links if they
exist. According to the EPA, "A small drip from a worn faucet washer can
waste 20 gallons of water per day, while larger leaks can waste
hundreds of gallons".
When washing dishes by hand, it is not necessary to leave the water
running for rinsing, and it is more efficient to rinse dishes
simultaneously.
On average, dishwashing consumes 1% of indoor water use. When using a dishwasher,
water can be conserved by only running the machine when it is full.
Some have a "low flow" setting to use less water per wash cycle.
Enzymatic detergents clean dishes more efficiently and more successfully with a smaller amount of water at a lower temperature.
Washing machines
On average, 23% of U.S. indoor water use in 1999 was due to clothes washing. In contrast to other machines, American washing machines
have changed little to become more sustainable. A typical washing
machine has a vertical-axis design, in which clothes are agitated in a
tubful of water. Horizontal-axis machines, in contrast, put less water
into the bottom of the rub and rotate clothes through it. These machines
are more efficient in terms of soap use and clothing stability.
Outdoor water use
There are a number of ways one can incorporate a personal yard, roof, and garden in more sustainable living. While conserving water is a major element of sustainability, so is sequestering water.
Conserving water
In
planning a yard and garden space, it is most sustainable to consider
the plants, soil, and available water. Drought resistant shrubs,
plants, and grasses require a smaller amount of water in comparison to
more traditional species. Additionally, native plants (as opposed to
herbaceous perennials) will use a smaller supply of water and have a
heightened resistance to plant diseases of the area. Xeriscaping is a technique that selects drought-tolerant plants and accounts for endemic features such as slope, soil type, and native plant range. It can reduce landscape water use by 50 – 70%, while providing habitat space for wildlife. Plants on slopes help reduce runoff by slowing and absorbing accumulated rainfall. Grouping plants by watering needs further reduces water waste.
After planting, placing a circumference of mulch surrounding plants functions to lessen evaporation. To do this, firmly press two to four inches of organic matter along the plant's dripline. This prevents water runoff.
When watering, consider the range of sprinklers; watering paved areas
is unnecessary. Additionally, to conserve the maximum amount of water,
watering should be carried out during early mornings on non-windy days
to reduce water loss to evaporation. Drip-irrigation systems and soaker
hoses are a more sustainable alternative to the traditional sprinkler
system. Drip-irrigation systems employ small gaps at standard distances
in a hose, leading to the slow trickle of water droplets which
percolate the soil over a protracted period. These systems use 30 – 50%
less water than conventional methods. Soaker hoses help to reduce water use by up to 90%. They connect to a garden hose and lay along the row of plants under a layer of mulch. A layer of organic material added to the soil helps to increase its absorption and water retention; previously planted areas can be covered with compost.
In caring for a lawn, there are a number of measures that can
increase the sustainability of lawn maintenance techniques. A primary
aspect of lawn care is watering. To conserve water, it is important to
only water when necessary, and to deep soak when watering.
Additionally, a lawn may be left to go dormant, renewing after a dry
spell to its original vitality.
Sequestering water
A common method of water sequestrations is rainwater harvesting,
which incorporates the collection and storage of rain. Primarily, the
rain is obtained from a roof, and stored on the ground in catchment
tanks. Water sequestration varies based on extent, cost, and
complexity. A simple method involves a single barrel at the bottom of a
downspout, while a more complex method involves multiple tanks. It is
highly sustainable to use stored water in place of purified water for
activities such as irrigation and flushing toilets. Additionally, using
stored rainwater reduces the amount of runoff pollution,
picked up from roofs and pavements that would normally enter streams
through storm drains. The following equation can be used to estimate
annual water supply:
Collection area (square feet) × Rainfall (inch/year) / 12 (inch/foot) = Cubic Feet of Water/Year
Cubic Feet/Year × 7.43 (Gallons/Cubic Foot) = Gallons/year
Note, however, this calculation does not account for losses such as evaporation or leakage.
Greywater
systems function in sequestering used indoor water, such as laundry,
bath and sink water, and filtering it for reuse. Greywater can be
reused in irrigation and toilet flushing. There are two types of greywater systems: gravity fed manual systems and package systems. The manual systems do not require electricity but may require a larger yard space. The package systems require electricity but are self-contained and can be installed indoors.
Waste
As populations and resource demands climb, waste production contributes to emissions of carbon dioxide, leaching of hazardous materials into the soil and waterways, and methane emissions.
In America alone, over the course of a decade, 500 trillion pounds
(230 Gt) of American resources will have been transformed into
nonproductive wastes and gases. Thus, a crucial component of sustainable living is being waste conscious. One can do this by reducing waste, reusing commodities, and recycling.
There are a number of ways to reduce waste in sustainable living. Two methods to reduce paper waste are canceling junk mail like credit card and insurance offers and direct mail marketing and changing monthly paper statements to paperless emails. Junk mail alone accounted for 1.72 million tons of landfill waste in 2009. Another method to reduce waste is to buy in bulk, reducing packaging materials. Preventing food waste can limit the amount of organic waste sent to landfills producing the powerful greenhouse gas methane.
Another example of waste reduction involves being cognizant of
purchasing excessive amounts when buying materials with limited use like
cans of paint. Non-hazardous or less hazardous alternatives can also
limit the toxicity of waste.
By reusing materials, one lives more sustainably by not contributing to the addition of waste to landfills. Reusing saves natural resources by decreasing the necessity of raw material
extraction. For example, reusable bags can reduce the amount of waste
created by grocery shopping eliminating the need to create and ship
plastic bags and the need to manage their disposal and recycling or
polluting effects.
Recycling,
a process that breaks down used items into raw materials to make new
materials, is a particularly useful means of contributing to the renewal
of goods. Recycling incorporates three primary processes; collection
and processing, manufacturing, and purchasing recycled products.
A natural example of recycling involves using food waste as compost to
enrich the quality of soil, which can be carried out at home or locally
with community composting. An offshoot of recycling, upcycling, strives to convert material into something of similar or greater value in its second life.
By integrating measures of reusing, reducing, and recycling one can
effectively reduce personal waste and use materials in a more
sustainable manner.
Reproductive choices
Though
it is not always included in discussions of sustainable living, some
consider reproductive choices to be a key part of sustainable living.
Reproductive choices refers, in this case, to the number of children
that an individual has, whether they are conceived biologically or adopted. Some researchers have claimed that for people living in wealthy, high-consumption countries such as the United States, having fewer children is by far the most effective way to decrease one's carbon footprint, and one's ecological footprint more broadly. However, the scholarship that has led to this claim has been questioned, as has the misleading way that it's often been presented in popular newspaper and web articles. Some ethicists and environmental activists
have made similar arguments about the need for a "small family ethic"
and research has found that in some countries, these ecological concerns
are leading some people to report having fewer children than they would
otherwise, or no children at all.
However, there have been multiple critiques of the idea that
having fewer children is part of a sustainable lifestyle. Some argue
that it is an example of the kind of Malthusian thinking that has led to coercion and violence in the past (including forced sterilizations and forced abortions), and that it might lead to similar policies that deny women reproductive freedom in the future.
Additionally, research has found that some environmentalists consider
having children, and even having more children than they might
otherwise, to be a part of sustainable living. They assert that
parenting can be an important way that individuals can exert a positive
environmental influence, by educating the next generation and as a way
to remain engaged in one's commitment to environmental action.
Provision, supply and expenditure in general
A
study that reviewed 217 analyses of on-the-market products and services
and analyzed existing alternatives to mainstream food, holidays, and
furnishings, concluded that total
greenhouse gas emissions by Swedes could be lowered
by as of 2021 up to 36–38 % if consumers – without a decrease in total
estimated expenditure or considerations of self-interest rationale –
instead were to obtain those they – using available
data –
could assess to be more sustainable.
Provision, supply/availability, product development/success/price,
comparative benefits as well as incentives, purposes/demands and effects
of expenditure-choices are part of or embedded in the human
neuro-socioeconomic system and therefore overall largely beyond the
control of an individual seeking to make rational and ethical choices
within it even if all relevant
life-cycle assessment/
product and manufacturing information was available to this consumer . and it leads the consumer.