Unit 7: Green
Living
Environmental Science
Sustainable Living
A

Lifestyle
Attempts to reduce an individual’s or
society’s use of Earth’s natural resources.
 Altering
methods of transportation, energy
consumption, and diet.
History



1950’s: Article titled “Living the Good Life”
published. Marked the beginning of the
modern day sustainable living movement.
1960’s-70’s: Multiple books/articles published
about sustainable living… Hippies
1980’s-Present: United Nations held series of
conferences focused on increasing
sustainability within societies to conserve
Earth’s resources.
Where can sustainability be
increased?
 Shelter
 Power
 Food
 Transportation
 Water
 Waste
Shelter
 Sustainable


Homes
Built using green materials, green practices,
and enable a more sustainable lifestyle.
Close to essential services (grocery, schools,
work, or public transit).
 “Off-the-grid”
homes = Do not require any
public energy, water, or sewer service.
Shelter cont.
 “Green”



Homes…
Create as little of a neg. impact on
surrounding ecosystem as possible.
Oriented to the sun (natural shading/wind
barriers)
Use passive energy methods as much as
possible.
Shelter cont.
 “Total



Green” must meet certain criteria:
Resource efficient
Not compromise indoor air quality or water
conservation.
Be energy efficient
 Using
as much recycled/reused, locally
available, longest lasting materials possible.
Sustainable
Building Materials
 Low
VOC Paint
 Bamboo Flooring
 Wool Carpeting
 Cotton Batt Insulation
 Ecological Concrete
 Paper Insulation Panels
Green Building Practices

Insulation:




Green Roofs (“living roofs”):


Strips between rafters/studs
Solid (foam/spray)
Glazed/gas windows
Roof made of living material to reduce heat
absorption and collect rain water
Greywater:

Water from washing machines, sinks, showers
etc. collected and used for irrigation.
Power
 Sustainable
living requires use of
sustainable energy.

Renewable power sources (biomass, water,
geothermal, wind, and solar).
 Some
produce own or purchase “green”
power from power company.

6/50 states do not offer green energy.
Power cont.
 Net


and Double Metering
Net metering: uses common power meter
that runs forward when power is used from
the grid, and backward when power put
back (from green source).
Double metering: uses two installed meters,
one measuring power used, other
measuring power created.
 Energy
etc.
credits, sell power, charge batteries,
Food
 Industrial


food production:
Highly resource/energy insensitive.
Heavy irrigation, pesticide/fertilizers, tillage,
etc.
 Average
American meal costs 1500 miles,
and takes 10 cal of fuel to produce 1 cal
of food.
Food cont.
 Sustainable




food:
Buying local/seasonal food.
Reduces carbon output (less transport)
Stimulates local economy.
Small scale farmers typically use less
chemical/fertilizers.
Food cont.
 Buying

Based on minimal use of off-farm inputs,
and management practices that promotes
and enhances ecosystem harmony.
 Urban

organic:
gardening:
Community/private gardens growing own
food.
Transportation
 Current

auto industry is not sustainable.
Oil concerns
 Prices/availability
 Supply
will run out ~50 yrs.
Transportation Alternatives
 Low-cost


public transit
Buses, trains, etc.
Bike/walking paths
 Car-pooling
 Hybrids
Water
 Currently
humans use ¼ of the earth’s
total freshwater in natural circulation, and
over ½ of the accessible runoff.

Increase sustainability by…
 Home
appliance efficiency
 Outdoor water use
 Daily water use awareness
Water cont.
 Toilets
account for over 30% of indoor
water use.


Low-flow (1-2 gal vs. 3-5 gal)
Duel-flush (less for #1, more for #2)
 Showers,
sinks, dishwashers

Valves/fixtures (low flow)

Fixing leaks
Outdoor water use
 Sustainable



use of…
Drought resistant plants (less water
required)
Native plants to area
Use of eco-friendly mulch (prevent
evaporation)
Waste
3



R’s
Reduce: Less materials used (switch to
online)
Reuse: Produce less trash
Recycle: Used products are
remanufactured to produce new