Consumption is a natural part of life. We all need things — shelter, food, clothes, transportation — to live. However, the problem is that we have become a materialistic society where we consume more than we need. This leads to the overuse of natural resources, waste, and pollution — all of which are damaging the environment at an alarming rate.
The average household generates up to 65% of global greenhouse gas emissions, 20% from energy and fuel consumption, and 45% from consumer products and food.
To counteract these issues and reduce carbon emissions, many are starting to turn toward a more minimalist lifestyle. Homeowners, in particular, can and should adopt a more minimalist approach along with other sustainable best practices to reduce their carbon footprint and help protect the future of our planet.
What Is Minimalism?
The basic concept behind minimalism is that less is more. It’s about removing things from your life that do not serve a necessary purpose. The idea is to learn to embrace fewer things and discover how you can still find joy and be happy with less.
While many have turned toward minimalism as a way of finding more clarity and intentionality in their life, it is also now being adopted as a way to live more sustainably. Eco-minimalism is the term now being used to describe those who seek a more minimalist lifestyle as a way of being more respectful of the environment and reducing their environmental impact.
How Does Minimalism Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?
Household consumerism is a major contributor to carbon emissions, thus, adopting a minimalist lifestyle in which you prioritize more mindful consumption and use of fewer resources can help reduce your carbon footprint.
Everything from the clothes you buy to the food you consume and the electricity you use in your home either directly or indirectly produces carbon emissions. The waste from everything you do and use also pollutes the environment, especially if that waste ends up dumped in the ocean or a landfill. Some waste also gets incinerated, which requires the burning of even more fuel, which pollutes the air.
So by embracing a more minimalist lifestyle and becoming a more eco-conscious consumer, you can help reduce waste and pollution, which reduces your overall carbon footprint. In addition to helping the environment, minimalism can also increase well-being, which can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.
How to Adopt a Minimalist Lifestyle to Help the Planet
When you begin your journey into minimalism, it’s important to take it one small step at a time. Doing too much all at once can feel overwhelming. Instead, start by making one small change at a time. This will help you ease yourself into a more minimalist lifestyle, which will increase the likelihood of you sticking with it. Below are some tips to get you started.
1. Declutter Your Life
Again, the main focus of minimalism is that less is more, so start by decluttering your life. Take a look at what you already own in your home and start getting rid of the stuff that no longer serves you. This can be challenging to do, especially if you have formed a sentimental attachment to any of your belongings. However, going through all of your stuff and genuinely considering whether it is something you need or not can help you get into the minimalist mindset of letting go of things that don’t actually make your life better.
2. Consider a Smaller Home
This is a much bigger step, but one of the best ways to significantly reduce your carbon footprint is to downgrade to a smaller living space. A smaller home means you will naturally consume less as you won’t have the space to keep as many things around.
Tiny homes have become all the rage for this very reason. They can help you lead a more minimalist lifestyle that has a more positive impact on the environment. There are many companies now that build custom tiny homes or you can even purchase prefab tiny homes.
However, if you are creatively inclined and have the skills to do so, you can also build your own tiny home. Turning sheds into tiny houses has become a trend, for example, and can easily be achieved using fewer resources. All you need is the right location and a solid foundation, then you place the shed, add insulation, and wire it for electricity. The rest is all based on your individual interests and how you want the interior of the shed to look.
3. Become a Mindful Consumer
Changing your shopping habits is key to eco-minimalism. This means being more thoughtful with your purchases, including clothing, food, electronics, and anything else you might buy. The best way to start adopting a more minimalist shopper mindset is to prioritize quality over quantity. Opt for items that are made better and will last longer, as opposed to buying something cheap that you will have to replace more often.
For food, focus on buying local and buying more fresh and organic products, as opposed to items produced by major corporations. When buying clothes, consider shopping at thrift stores or buying from brands that have sustainable fabrics and ethical business practices.
4. Find More Ways to Conserve Energy
Within your home, be more mindful about your use of energy, such as by turning off lights and electronics when not in use. You can also look into making eco-friendly upgrades to help you consume less energy, such as more efficient windows, and solar panels, and buying energy-star appliances.
While these kinds of upgrades might require a larger investment, they often save you money in the long run while helping you reduce your carbon footprint. You can also look into financing options for your eco upgrades, such as using a home equity loan or applying for a personal or FHA loan.
Final Thoughts
Adopting a more minimalist mindset can take time, so go easy on yourself. A good habit to form is to stop and take a moment to think whenever you go to buy something, use something, or when you throw something away. Consider if there is an alternative to what you are doing or about to do that could help you reduce the impact it will have on the environment. The more you do this, the more it will become second nature to be more mindful of your household and consumer habits.
