Sustainability is just another way of doing things, with careful thought about the impact that doing something can create in the future. Sustainability is a way of living that aims to reduce the environmental impact of living. It is a concept introduced to tell people there is another way of doing things. In sustainability, you try to make do with whatever is available to produce a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and prudent solution. It is a social goal that aims to ensure that people can coexist on Earth over a long time. The idea is to find a balance between economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection, so that we can meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Elements of sustainability
All the methods you employ in your sustainable life must comply with these three points. Both your inputs and your outputs should fit the description to get the best sustainable life. These three points are:
•Cost-effective: This is a huge plus point of sustainability. It is easy on your pocket and the environment. Sustainability never needs a lot of investment to get your merits. Because of this, you can pool your bucks at places that matter, like the WWF, or UNICEF.
•Eco-friendly: One of the main focuses of sustainability is to protect the environment and all the animals in this blue n’ green sphere. By caring a little, we can save a lot. Sustainability is mostly portrayed as an eco-friendly way to live. That is because when you keep eco-friendliness in your mind while living sustainably, minimal effort is required to meet the other requirements.
•Prudent: Think if your parents had used up all the resources we have now. Would we have many of the experiences that we have now? Sustainability focuses on less usage of resources for us and our future generations. When you follow these ways, the future generation will do so too, which will further save resources.
Types of sustainability:
Sustainable acts come under either of these four types:
- Human Sustainability: This refers to the sustainment and improvement of human resources or assets.
- Social Sustainability: This has a broader scope with a far-reaching view of the world we live in.
- Economic Sustainability: This is about ensuring economic growth and stability.
- Environmental Sustainability: This focuses on the conservation of biodiversity without foregoing economic and social progress.
These four types, also known as the four pillars of sustainability, are interconnected and need to be balanced for successful sustainability. If one pillar is weak, then the whole system becomes unsustainable. It is important to note that you cannot successfully achieve sustainability by promoting one pillar to the detriment of another.
Sustainability around the world
There are many people out there who are ardent followers of sustainability. Through the magic of the Internet, many humans have made themselves known to the sustainable community and shared their knowledge and expertise. These are just a few of those awesome, strange, and ingenious miracles created by such people.
•The Smog-Free Project is a project led by Studio Roosegaarde that aims to facilitate clean air everywhere. It started off with the Smog-Free Tower, a 7-meter-tall aluminum tower using only 1170 watts of green electricity and positive ionization technology. It has created many clean air parks worldwide. Studio Roosegaarde also uses the collected smog to make Smog-Free Rings. By getting a Smog-Free Ring, you contribute to 1000 cubic meters of clean air. They have also released Smog-Eating Billboards and Smog-Free Bicycles.
•Fairphone is a Dutch company in the Netherlands that produces mobile phones with the least possible environmental effects. They have modular phones that can easily be repaired by the user, so you do not have to throw away your phone just because your charging port does not work. That does not mean they are slow and bad. In fact, Fairphone 5 (which takes 20 minutes to charge to 50%) charges faster than the iPhone 15 (30 minutes for 50%). It also flaunts a 50MP camera. Fairphone recycles your old phone to make sure the problem of e-waste is not prevalent. In addition, Fairphone has established fair trade relationships with miners who mine the minerals and metals used in their electronics, ensuring they are paid a living wage.
•The Groasis Waterboxx was created by Dutch flower exporter Pieter Hoff. The Waterboxx is a planting device that makes growing crops in the desert possible and resource efficient. It consists of an “intelligent bucket” made from recycled paper, which can germinate seeds, incubate saplings, and water plants. It requires 90% less water than traditional growing methods and can be used in some of the most extreme climates on Earth.
How you can live a sustainable life
It is not hard to live a sustainable life. Remember, when you do something with complete will, you can 100% do it. You do not need to start at top gear. Here are some simple ways you can start:
•Building a birdfeeder: A birdfeeder does not cost much to buy or make. It feeds birds and other small animals if you make the arrangements. This can help in many ways for the future.
•Undertaking measures to reduce bills and resource usage: For example, you can start by being conscious of all the appliances in your house and using them responsibly. This can reduce your electricity and water bills. It makes sure resources are not wasted, too. You can also save resources by shopping for need only. This makes sure food is not wasted.
•Improving transportation methods: You can switch to biofuel, try carpooling, use public transport, and walk or cycle for short distances. All these methods save resources, stop pollution, and do not cost much.
There are many other ways to live a sustainable life. Do not forget, the Internet is your friend. Be creative and have fun!
