Collectively, small lifestyle changes can make a huge impact on the environment-and your life. Looking for happiness and health? What’s good for the environment is also, it turns out, great for you. Here’s a collection of tips from the No Impact community.
Do you have a video story from your No Impact Experiment? Share your story below:
When my husband and I moved to Los Angeles, we knew the city was extremely spread-out, it had a strongly entrenched driving culture and inadequate public transportation. Because my husband is the main bread-winner and his job was the main reason we relocated, we chose to live where he would have next to no commute. We rent an apartment 5 blocks from his office.
We walk to our health club, dentists and doctors. We buy most of our food from the farmers markets blocks away from us. If we eat out on special occasions like a birthday or anniversary, we take our business to a local restaurant we can walk to. I walk to the flower market to get my cats some wheat grass so they aren’t totally deprived of anything green. Though we do drive occasionally, we bought a second-hand car, a second-hand campervan (our version of vacations) and a second-hand motorcycle.
My husband has more time to relax. Walking is healthy. We tend to travel “slower” and look around at our surroundings more. We aren’t stressed or jaded by a long, tiring or aggravating commute. Driving is more enjoyable. We save on commuting costs and because I have carry everything home, I tend to shop carefully and wisely.
If someone reads this and counters that because they own their home and their job is far away, requiring a commute, then I would challenge them to find a way to overcome that obstacle. Selling may not be an option, but maybe they could rent their house out so they in turn could rent a place closer to where they work.
This post was submitted by Monique.
Improving one’s impact can be as much about what we don’t do, as what we do; and advocating for wider change.
Generally, I try not to use what I don’t need, use what I need wisely and purchase things made with good social, environmental and economic practices.
Here are some basic practices I’ve adopted over time, and that I continue to work to deepen and expand. These came about step by step, one after the other. Small steps add up if e do what we can and keep going.
• As above, buy few new items, buy mostly bulk foods, buy items in reusable, compostable, recyclable packaging; reuse/donate, compost, recycle
• Research companies’ social, environmental and economic practices, and buy from those with the best practices
• Use reusable versus disposable items – linens, mug, water bottle, etc.
• Eat only organic foods, almost all bulk/non-processed, preferentially local/regional, and virtually only grown in US, almost exclusively vegan
• Member of the organic CSA farm and volunteer there
• Grow some of my own food and preserve for winter
• Haven’t owned a car in 3 years, get around by bike, walking, carpooling, public transit, etc.
• Use 1,200-1,500 kWh elec per year in all-elec house: Use only CFLs, turn off water heater after shower, don’t use fridge when it’s cold out, switched out full size fridge for mini-fridge6
• Dishpans in all sinks to catch water and reuse on non-food plants and toilet tank
• Hand wash clothes with shower water and line dry
• Don’t get any junk mail, get paperless billing statements and pay bills online
• Use only biocompatible, organic/plant-based personal care/cleaning supplies
• Support causes I believe in with time and dollars
• Advocate for change – ask stores for more bulk items, let local recyclers know about opportunities to recycle additional materials, contact elected officials on policy decisions of concern, contact companies to ask for better practices, etc
• Thank companies with good practices and refer them to others
• Learn from others and educate via my own blog and freelance writing
This post was submitted by Melissa Schweisguth.
Eat it? Discriminatingly so. No need to be an urban foodie who says, hey I want to participate in a kill to take away the guilt. Just stop focusing on it. Bring about a resurgence in ‘Diet for a Small Planet’. I do eat wild game on occassion, that is gifted to me by hunter warrior friends out for their annual ritual of getting the deer, pheasant, or other wild-roaming animal.
But really, climate change will only happen if the entire world food system changes. Everything cascades out from that. And northern hemisphere westerners are the big elephant in the room.
This post was submitted by Beth.
Why spend money on plastic storage bags when bread usually comes in a perfectly reusable bag? I save all bread bags to store things like cheese, leftover meat, veggies and other items. Unless there’s a hole in it, there’s really no reason to toss it! Better yet, make your own bread.
This post was submitted by Lynn Hasselberger.
I live in a small condo, so I keep a worm bin in my basement for composting food scraps. I try to buy all my food as locally as possible (I don’t eat meat or fish). I use my bike or public transportation for most of my travel (I do have an old Honda for longer trips. It’s paid for -once it dies I’ll use Zipcar, to which I belong). I use my library card for books and DVDs. I buy almost all of my clothing (and non-clothing) second hand. I trash pick and sell or give away perfectly good furniture/appliances. I got the condo I live in to institute a recycling program.
The thing is, I’ve always bought used and been practical about money. I was laid off 7 months ago, and the transition, while not pleasant, hasn’t been unbearable.
I’d like to say I’ll turn off the TV, or not by anything, but unlike Colin, I live alone. Going to a movie or a coffee shop keeps me connected. I also have artistic hobbies, and they require supplies. I agree that people by way too much stuff, but if I never bought a thing, I’d be a prisoner of isolation and artistic frustration.
This post was submitted by Joy .