More than a buzzword, sustainable living is a way to live with a minimal footprint on the environment. Incorporating sustainability into your home doesn’t necessarily mean building with rammed earth or installing solar panels - although those things certainly do help. There are smaller things you can do at home to lead a more sustainable life.

Build a vegetable garden:

Not only are vegetable gardens rewarding, they lessen the impact of food purchases on the environment. If you’re growing your own, you cut the harmful the food miles and packaging that comes from store-bought vegetable purchases. You also have the freedom to grow organically, which means fewer pesticides in the food you eat.

Plant, plant, plant:

Planting shrubs, flowers and trees is good for the environment and for the animals we share the world with. Planting flowers is particularly good for bees - which are becoming fewer and fewer - and trees and shrubs will encourage native birds to come out to play.

Source furniture sustainably:

Buying sustainable furniture doesn’t necessarily mean expensive, eco-friendly boutiques. Thrift shops are your best friend if you want sustainable furnishings - pre-loved items mean reduced waste, often provide character, and are easy on the wallet.

Recycle:

Setting up an easy-to-use recycling system in your house is one of the best things you can do to live more sustainably. The easier you make it for you to recycle, the more likely you are to do it. Head to the Wanaka Wastebusters website for more tips (click MORE below).

Use less energy:

There are lots of ways to do this - from the more expensive passive builds and solar homes - but common sense can lead to lots of practical reductions, good for the environment and the power bill. Rug up, close draughty doors, turn lights off as soon you leave a room, flick all switches off equipment (TVs, coffee machines, etc) that aren’t in use, and invest in some nice rugs and blankets to stay warm in living rooms without resorting to using excessive heating. Take a look at the heating and cooling systems you have in your home and check their energy star ratings to see if there’s a more efficient system out there. Make sure the seals on your fridge and freezer are operating effectively.

The big ones:

Long-term, passive build changes will have a long-term impact on the sustainability of the way you live, although they also come with a higher purchase price. If you are renovating or building soon, that is the ideal time to incorporate bigger changes - solar, triple insulation, sustainable materials - in your home.

For more click here.

PHOTO: Supplied