Sustainable Building & Home Design

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Living simply is not all that complicated, but it can take effort. Simple living is basically learning to live happily on less stuff. Learning to enjoy people over things. Trying to live more of life in nature and reconnecting to what matters. Of course there’s a lot more to simple living than what I wrote above (we’d be here all day). For more tips on what simple living is and is not read one or all of the following…

Why is simple living green?

It limits the possessions you own, thus cutting your footprint and saves both energy and resources.

It connects you with both nature and community – both of these connections are necessary for people who care about the planet. You can’t hope to protect the earth and it’s members if you aren’t invested.

It allows you to live sustainably naturally as you look for other options (i.e. non-money, simple options) over the typical American goal of having more, more, more.

It incorporates healthy living and lifestyle choices which gears your thinking toward issues like eco-exercise, organic food, and healthy body and natural cleaning choices.

Are you living simply – or is life sort of bogging you down?

Some sustainable acts take a big leap. Others you can easily manage in less than 30 minutes and still make a difference. Here are 20 easy sustainable steps you can take to green your home.

  1. Install low-flow shower heads.
  2. Stop all the incoming junk mail.
  3. Reuse your foil and plastic baggies or better yet, lose these items and use reusable containers and plain old foil free baking sheets.
  4. Use both side of your paper.
  5. Turn the oven off 7 minutes early.
  6. Unplug five items you’re not using right now!
  7. Cancel your newspaper.
  8. Cook three vegetarian meals a week.
  9. Load the dishwasher, instead of washing by hand.
  10. Clear out the toxic household cleaners and whip up some quick and easy homemade green cleaners.
  11. Test your toilet for leaks.
  12. Throw that can in the recycling bin instead of the trash.
  13. Fix a button, zipper, or hemline, and make curtains, blankets, and clothing last longer instead of buying new.
  14. Wash your laundry on cold.
  15. Use green recycled toilet paper.
  16. Defrost your freezer.
  17. Open your windows for at least 30 minutes each day.
  18. Cut five minutes off your daily shower.
  19. Use rechargeable batteries.
  20. Make sure your morning coffee is green.