{"id":7629,"key":"Green_living","title":"Green living","latest":{"id":1223666,"timestamp":"2026-01-08T23:08:05Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{Topic notice}}\n\n[[File:Green christmas.jpg|thumb]]\n\n'''Green living''' (or '''sustainable living''') is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and his or her own resources.<ref name=\"Ain09\">Ainoa, J., Kaskela, A., Lahti, L., Saarikoski, N., Sivunen, A., Storgårds, J., & Zhang, H. (2009). Future of Living. In Neuvo, Y., & Ylönen, S. (eds.), [http://lib.tkk.fi/Reports/2009/isbn9789522480781.pdf Bit Bang - Rays to the Future]. Helsinki University of Technology (TKK), MIDE, Helsinki University Print, Helsinki, Finland, 174-204. ISBN 978-952-248-078-1.</ref>\n\nIn practice, it deals about practical lifestyle choices, large and small, to live inline with the Earth's carrying capacities,{{W|Carrying capacity}} while maintaining (and sometimes improving) our [[quality of life]]. Besides lifestyle choices, the housing and [[appliances]] we use also has its impact on the environment (see [[Autonomous houses and neighbourhoods]]). This article only focuses on choices in lifestyle/habits. [[Sustainable city living]] then again discusses some of the areas of action specific to green living in an urban environment.\n\nIn order to make sustainable choices, it is very helpful to have solid, reliable information that tells us which behaviors are sustainable and which are unsustainable, and -more importantly-, which actions will make the greatest positive difference for us, and should be prioritized. Green living can be ''high tech'' (buying a [[hybrid vehicle]]), ''low tech'' ([[green cleaning]]), or completely ''\"back to nature\"''. It can be ''smart grid'' or ''[[off the grid]]''.\n\n{{Quote|Sustainable living in the 21st century can be described as \"shifting to a renewable energy-based, reuse/recycle economy with a diversified transport system.\"|Lester R. Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute and Earth Policy Institute<ref>Ross, Greg. [https://web.archive.org/web/20161227004714/http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/pub/lester-brown \"An interview with Lester Brown\"] ''American Scientist''.</ref>}}\n\nPractitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their [[carbon footprint]] by altering methods of [[transportation]], energy consumption{{W|Domestic energy consumption}} and [[Wikipedia:Diet (nutrition)|diet]].<ref name=\"Winter\">{{Cite book|last=Winter|first=Mick|title=Sustainable Living: For Home, Neighborhood and Community|publisher=Westsong Publishing|year=2007|isbn=0-9659-0005-3}}</ref> Proponents of sustainable living aim to conduct their lives in ways that are consistent with [[sustainability]], in natural balance and respectful of humanity's symbiotic{{W|symbiotic}} relationship with the Earth's natural ecology{{W|ecology}} and cycles.<ref>[http://www.cellonline.org/about-cell/what-is-cell%e2%80%99s-philosophy/ The Center for Ecological Living and Learning (CELL)&ndash;philosophy]</ref> The practice and general philosophy of ecological living is highly interrelated with the overall principles of [[sustainable development]].\n\nIt can be very economical and also time-saving to live more [[green]]. For example most people will hesitate to purchase expensive low-energy-light-bulbs, like light emitting diodes ([https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/07/when-will-we-transition-to-all-led-lighting/ LED]). All because they are more expensive to buy. But prove to them that these bulbs have a much longer lifetime and result in a lower electric bill, providing a small profit over a long time. Larger investments like [[Thermal insulation|insulating the walls of your house]], or putting in 3-glaze-windows is also very expensive but can pay off. Doing the financial calculations on the different options can help you find the most economical and effective choices.<ref>[[Technology jumps]]</ref>\n\n== Food ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Eating}}\n\n== House ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Green building}}\n\n== Services ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Off-the-grid}}\n\n== Products ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Ethical consumerism}}\n\n== Transport ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Transport}}\n\n== Ecotourism ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Ecotourism}}\n\n== Water ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Water conservation}}\n\n== Waste ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Waste reduction}}\n\n== Washing ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Washing and drying clothes}}\n\n== Computing ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Green computing}}\n\n== Family ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Population growth}}\n\n== Gifts ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Sustainable gifts}}\n\n== Share ==\n\nYou should be a good role model to your relatives, friends, and coworkers by showing good examples on how they easily can change. But do not try to persuade or force anyone to change, it will sometimes cause a backlash, and they will not respect you and your ideas. Being hardcore and extreme about living green will sometimes make them into skeptic opponents and it will be impossible to discuss the core principles of green living. Also debates like this take the focus from the important tasks to talk about.\n\nIf your way of living shows how little effort it takes to change methods and ways of life, that it is not necessary to \"go back and live in a cave without any amenities,\" this can lower resistance. Inspire others with your examples. If you share ideas, try to talk about one new small thing that is easy for anyone to change per week (or per month), and one major thing to change per month (or per 6 months) - slow change is usually longer-lasting.\n\n== History ==\n\nThe earliest milestones for the modern sustainable living movement include the books ''Living the Good Life'' (1954) by Helen and Scott Nearing{{W|Helen and Scott Nearing}} and ''Silent Spring{{W|Silent Spring}}'' (1962) by Rachel Carson. Influential books in later years include ''The Limits to Growth{{W|The Limits to Growth}}'' (1972) by Donella Meadows and the classic which popularized the idea of [[appropriate technology]], ''[[Small is Beautiful]]{{W|Small is Beautiful}}'' (1973) by E. F. Schumacher.{{W|E. F. Schumacher}}\n\nOver time many of these ideas have moved from the fringe to the mainstream - at least as topics of acknowledged importance, even when action lags well behind rhetoric. Sustainability is now an important selling point in advertising (often simply [[greenwashing]]), campaigns for policy changes are going on in cities around the world, and policies to encourage sustainable lifestyles on a societal level provoke fierce debates in election campaigns.\n\nFrom 1972, the [[United Nations]] has held occasional conferences focused on improving sustainability within societies. So far, these have been held in 1972{{W|Conference on the Human Environment}}, 1992 and 2002{{W|Earth Summit 2002}}.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090205010018/http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/nsds/nsds.htm National Sustainable Development Strategies] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs April 2008.</ref> In 2007 the United Nations published ''Sustainable Consumption and Production, Promoting Climate-Friendly Household Consumption Patterns''.<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/publications/household_consumption.pdf Sustainable Consumption and Production: Promoting Climate-Friendly Household Consumption Patterns] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2007-04-30.</ref>\n\n{{See also|Wikipedia:Sustainable living#History}}\n\n== See also ==\n\n* [[Appropriate technology]]\n* [[Upcycling]]\n* [[Transport]]\n* [[Water]]\n* [[Autonomous houses and neighbourhoods]]\n* [[Conservation]]\n* [[Ecotourism]]\n* [[How to make awesome thermal curtains]]\n* [[Green computing]]\n* [[No such thing as garbage]]\n* [[Sustainability]]\n* [[Sustainable design]]\n* [[Sustainable development]]\n* [[Sustainable housing directory]]\n* [[List of sustainable houses]]\n* [[Thrivability]]\n* [[Transition Towns]]\n* [[Updated cooking methods in modern kitchens]]\n* [[Washing and drying clothes]]\n* [[Water conservation]]\n* [[Principles of personal green living]]\n\n== External links ==\n\n=== Wikipedia ===\n\n* [[Wikipedia:Alternative fuel vehicle]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Downshifting (lifestyle)]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Eco-communalism]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Ecovillage]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Ecological economics]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Sustainability]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable architecture]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable design]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable development]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable event management]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable landscaping]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable living]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable House Day]] (in Australia)\n* [[Wikipedia:The Venus Project]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Transition Towns]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Portal:Sustainable development]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Portal:Environment]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Portal:Earth sciences]]\n* [[Wikipedia:Portal:Ecology]]\n\n=== Other ===\n\n* [https://www.ekopedia.fr Ekopedia] - Sister site to Appropedia, in French\n* [[Greenlivingpedia:|Greenlivingpedia]] - another sister site, a wiki focused on green living and [[green building]].\n* [http://www.ecoliteracy.org/ Center for Ecoliteracy]\n** [https://www.ecoliteracy.org/book/ecological-literacy-educating-our-children-sustainable-world Ecological Literacy: Educating Our Children For A Sustainable World]\n* [http://www.cellonline.org/ Center for Ecological Living and Learning (CELL)]\n* [http://www.simplycsl.org/ Center For Sustainable Living]\n* [http://www.conservation.org/ Conservation International]\n** [http://www.conservation.org/act/simplesteps/Pages/simplesteps.aspx?gclid=CNibsNXZj6kCFcJ05QodaxZGpw Take Steps to Live Green]\n* [http://eartheasy.com/ Eartheasy]\n* [https://quiethut.com/go-green-at-home/ Quiethut: Green Guide at Home]\n* [http://www.nrdc.org/living/ Natural Resources Defense Council: Smarter Living]\n* [http://www.no-impact.com No Impact]\n* [http://www.slowfoodusa.org/ Slow Food USA]\n* [http://sustliving.blogspot.com/ Sustainable Living Blog]\n* [http://www.sustainablelivingmagazine.org/ Sustainable Living Magazine]\n* [http://urbansustainableliving.com/ Urban Sustainable Living Magazine]\n* [http://web.archive.org/web/20190918000254/http://worldgreen.org:80/category/s4-living-green/ World Green: Living Green]\n* [http://urbansustainableliving.com/ Urban Sustainable Living Magazine]\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| ported-from = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_living\n| keywords = Green living, Sustainability\n| sdg = SDG12 Responsible consumption and production\n| authors = User:RichardF, User:KVDP, User:Chriswaterguy, User:Seth Leitman, User:Yeahvle\n| description = Simple ways to live green at home. Appropedia gathers practical tips on cutting waste, saving energy, and making small lifestyle changes that add up.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Green living]]\n[[Category:Sustainability]]"}