Sustainable living : tips & ideas | Satya Shakti Foundation

What does sustainable living mean?

Among the most urgent global issues are water scarcity, hunger in the world, air pollution, climate change, and air pollution. Unfortunately, the majority of us do not live sustainably, which is the root of the problem. We live at the expense of the environment and less developed nations by using more resources than are long-term viable. The carbon footprint shows how many resources we use and how many pollutants our consumption produces. Our ecological footprint is influenced by how we live, what we buy, and how we travel, work, and spend our free time. A philosophy of sustainable living seeks to lessen the effects of individuals and society on the environment. Sustainability thus encompasses both environmental friendliness and social acceptability. Purchasing goods made by people under ethical conditions is one example. Sustainable living entails acting ethically and reducing your carbon footprint as much as you can. It urges individuals to use the planet’s resources as little as possible and lessen the harm caused by interactions between humans and the environment.

• Eat less meat

Around 80% of this comes from animal-based foods. Their production uses a tremendous amount of water, contaminates our groundwater with liquid manure, and takes up important space that could be used for growing feed. However, modern factory farming is unethical, and working conditions in the meat business are frequently anything but fair. Avoiding or consuming fewer animal-based items is the most effective strategy to lower your ecological footprint.

• Buy regional products

The carbon footprint of many meals is extremely low because they are transported by lorry, ship, or even airplane. Well, since they cannot be grown in Germany, mangoes and pineapples must be imported. Yet, you might also try less exotic fruits or meals like foreign beer. Choose local fruits and vegetables instead. With so many types, like strawberries, tomatoes, or apples, this is simple. Foods that are packaged and those that aren’t are labeled so that you may identify the nation of origin in the interim. You can purchase goods from local suppliers while perusing the weekly market. There are even now “market hawkers” in several cities; you place an online order and pick up the local goods from multiple vendors at a collecting point. Local produce is also delivered to your home through fresh produce boxes. You learn about new varieties of veggies, and the recipes show you how to prepare them.

• Plan your shopping and save food (Eat the food you buy and reduce food waste)

Living sustainably or environmentally friendly also entails reducing waste. Food waste is a serious issue. Make a list of the things you need to buy and stick to it. Check the inventory you have. Big quantities are frequently less expensive, but if you end up throwing away too much, you don’t save any money. You’re stumped as to what to make of two carrots, a leek, and feta cheese. You can find a tonne of recipes that only call for these ingredients by searching for them on Google. You might also participate in food sharing to prevent food from going to waste. On the internet, you can look out for locations close to you and participate to meet new people.

• Fly less

When you fly, your carbon footprint unavoidably increases. Because plane travel is the most climate-damaging mode of transportation. Global aviation travel has virtually tripled since 1990 and is still increasing quickly. Realize that the low cost of air travel is due to the lack of consideration for environmental damage. Also, unlike energy used for trains and cars, kerosene is not taxed for use in aircraft. If you want to live more sustainably, think about how often you can avoid flying.

• Bike instead of driving: drive less and save fuel

Climate change, the diesel scandal, and driving restrictions all point to how detrimental car traffic is to our environment as a whole. Moving in an eco-friendly manner is simpler in cities. It is possible thanks to train connections and public transportation. Bike riding is, of course, the healthiest option. Both the environment and your health are protected. Find more about eco-friendly automobile types if you wish to buy one for yourself. Try alternate automobile use if the train or bicycle isn’t an option for you: ridesharing, car sharing, neighborhood cars – the alternatives are expanding quickly, especially in cities.

• Reduce your energy consumption

Your refrigerator, oven, washing machine, dishwasher, hoover, and other electrical equipment need energy while in production. When purchasing a new appliance, ask yourself if you can share it with someone else or purchase it used. Look for the new energy labels when purchasing a new device. Don’t keep your computer in sleep mode if you haven’t used it for more than five minutes; instead, turn it off. All of this will lessen your purchase’s environmental impact and, thus, its carbon footprint. Replace incandescent and energy-saving bulbs with LEDs to go one step further and save money and electricity over time.

• Reduce plastic waste

Plastic is used to package everything, including food, toys, cosmetics, and gadgets. To lessen plastic waste, follow these recommendations: When possible, purchase unpackaged items, such as at an unpackaged store. If you must, throw away plastic during shopping in the yellow bins seen at the stores or the yellow bins found at home. See the “EU Ecolabel” label on liquid products, such as all-purpose cleaners.

• Save paper and electricity

Also, you can operate sustainably in your job and in school: Print as little as possible to save paper. For printing and taking notes, use recyclable paper. Configure your computer so that it enters power-saving mode after just a short period of inactivity. Turn the computer off completely if you won’t be using it for a while. You can download music and movies instead of streaming them to enjoy them offline since the Internet uses a lot of power to run its computer farms.

• Conclusion

We have a long list of sustainable living suggestions. Although it is impossible to implement everything, every effort counts. The environment and climate change are impacted differently by several things. Living sustainably is sometimes simpler for you, and other times you lack the energy to make any changes. But that’s okay; after all, we’re all just people. You can inspire people and be a role model by talking to others about how important sustainable living is to you and how you overcame your challenges. You can significantly impact the world if you concentrate on sustainability in your work.