Lighter Living: Eco-Friendly Tips for BC Homes

OneEarth Living and the Share Reuse Reduce Initiative released a report in 2021 stating that 60% of a household’s greenhouse gas emissions come from how we travel, how we power our homes, and especially our food waste. But terms like sustainability and zero waste can sometimes sound a little daunting for everyday life, especially when you need to balance work, personal obligations, life goals, and familial responsibilities. That’s why we want to introduce you to the concept of lighter living. 

According to Cora Hollsworth at One Planet BC, lighter living is about a better way of life that focuses less on stuff and more on time with family and friends. It allows everyone to thrive fairly without as high an ecological footprint. 

Allisha Heidt, founder of Chickpeace—a zero waste refill store in downtown Kelowna—knows that embracing a sustainable lifestyle can overwhelm individuals when starting out. But sustainability is all about being mindful of choices, supporting local, and looking at the impact of our purchases.

It doesn’t mean adopting minimalism if you’re a fan of expressing yourself through knick-knacks and fashion trends, and it doesn’t mean an entire lifestyle change—it just means trying to live more fairly within our ecological means. The very first step is adopting a mindset of doing what you can when you can. 

So we’ve compiled a list of tips to get you started.

 

Tip 1: Combat Food Waste

Almost half of the food produced in Canada is wasted, says Cora Hollsworth. That’s why purchasing local produce at farmers markets or grocers that stock from nearby farms is always a better choice: it mitigates supply chain issues where food goes bad while it’s shipped across the country. 

Combatting spoilage also includes spending your money at businesses that consider their own environmental impact, too. Next time you book a restaurant for an evening out, look into places that have a farm-to-table mandate in place, ensuring the health of the planet as well as only the finest organic products make their way onto your plate. It’s a simple change that’ll rest easy on your conscience. 

But if you really want to keep food waste down in your own home, implement a weekly meal plan and always bring a grocery list to the store. Purchasing the items you need—versus the items you want—keeps you on track to use what’s within your budget, and limits excess spoilage later on in the week.

 

Tip 2: Rent Equipment or Tools

There’s a big movement around DIY home projects, especially when your budget doesn’t include large-scale renovations. But a lot of the tools or equipment required to spruce up your space are not only expensive, but fairly wasteful, especially if you only use it once.

So rather than buying everything you think you need, consider borrowing or rental options. Websites like the Repair Café or the “Tool Library” section at your local library are great resources when it comes to lending programs meant to mitigate industrial waste. 

And when you feel an itch to make design changes or retro-fit your home decor, there are plenty of lightly-used consignment stores or places like your local Habitat for Humanity that offer furniture and appliances for a fraction of the price, along with significantly less environmental impact. Rather than saying, they don’t make things to last anymore, purchase second-hand items that will withstand the passage of time.

 

Tip 3: Visit a Refill or Zero Waste Store

It feels like a no-brainer when you phase out plastic bags, but have you ever considered refilling your dish soap rather than purchasing a new bottle? Zero waste stores are popping up all over the province, offering a more holistic approach to household waste by refilling products instead of investing in more plastic containers. 

But start out small. Allisha Heidt from Chickpeace encourages folks to begin their zero waste journey with one area that you can commit to and afford, rather than every aspect of your home. Once you feel confident in that area, you can make other changes in your lifestyle. 

It can be as simple as investing in a coconut hairbrush, wool dryer balls, or restocking dried pastas and beans rather than buying food covered in plastic packaging. It’s a great way to reduce toxins in your house, and invest back into our planet.

 

Tip 4: Eco-friendly Home Investments 

Did you know that almost 80% of a washing machine’s energy goes into heating the water? Or that a leaky faucet can waste almost 11,350 litres of water each year? Not to mention heat loss in the winter when windows and doors aren’t properly sealed… Thankfully, there are many eco-friendly home improvements you can implement right now that will both help your wallet and your carbon footprint. 

Switch to cold washes and then hang dry your clothes in the warmer months to downgrade your hydro bill. Invest in LED lights that last longer than regular incandescent bulbs, and search for ENERGY STAR designations on any new products. Learn how to maximize the breeze in your home during summer rather than rely on air conditioning for lower energy costs. 

Fossil fuels in our homes create some of the biggest emissions of greenhouse gases, and that’s because of our reliance on natural gas and propane. However, there are rebates and other incentives from the BC government to switch to a heat pump—a proven technology that acts as a one-stop heating system and air conditioner.

 

Tip 5: Spend Holidays in BC

This one might seem simple enough, especially when it comes to the beauty of our own backyard, but a lot of folks feel the need to take big-emission flights every year for their holiday adventures. We’re not saying you can’t travel abroad—just consider limiting those trips! 

Invest in camping and local vacations to boost our tourism economy and get in touch with the natural wonders our province is known for. A lot of outdoor activities offer low-carbon emissions and a slower pace, both aspects of the lighter living mentality that focuses on community and connection.

While it is valuable to travel to other parts of the world, our province is truly amazing, and it’s important to enjoy our local environment. Companies like Aboriginal Eco Tours offer authentic cultural and local experiences with an emphasis on wellness and memory-making moments, giving you the opportunity to learn about our province while enjoying it at the same time.