Sustainable Living Habits

The past month and a half have been quite eventful. Not only has junior year become more hectic with classwork piling up, but a lot has been going on at my school's sustainability club, called Students for Sustainability (S4S), for short.

I have been in contact with heads of similar organizations from other boarding schools/private schools, and together we have been planning a student-run food waste competition where each school competes to see who can produce the least amount of food waste.

However, this blog today is focused on another matter. Organizing this competition and trying to get students to become more aware of their consumption has made me realize how important it is to promote sustainable living habits. Therefore, I want to dedicate this blog post to giving some sustainable living practices we can all follow for the remaining 10 months of 2026.

In Your Home:

• Conserve Energy: Switch to LED light bulbs and unplug devices (chargers, appliances, etc.) when not in use. Use a smart thermostat to optimize heating and cooling, and consider installing energy-efficient appliances (look for the Energy Star label).

• Reduce Water Use: Take shorter showers, fix leaks promptly, and run dishwashers and washing machines only when they are full. Consider collecting rainwater to irrigate your garden.

• Opt for Eco-Friendly Products: Use green, non-toxic, and biodegradable cleaning products to improve indoor air quality and protect waterways.

Consumption & Waste

• Ditch Single-Use Plastics: Carry reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and tote bags for shopping to reduce plastic pollution.

• Embrace the Circular Economy: Instead of the "take-make-dispose" model, extend the life of products. Shop second-hand, learn basic mending skills to repair clothes, upcycle old household items, and explore local repair cafés for electronics.

• Grow Your Own Food: Reduce "food miles" by growing your own fruits and vegetables, even on a windowsill or balcony. Composting kitchen scraps is an effective way to minimize food waste and create rich soil for gardening.

Diet & Transportation

• Adopt a Plant-Based Diet: Incorporate more plant-based meals to significantly lower your carbon footprint. Try "Meat-Free Mondays" or experiment with plant-based proteins like lentils and tofu.

• Eat Local & In-Season: Buy food from local farmers' markets to support your community and reduce transportation emissions associated with food production.

• Choose Low-Carbon Transport: Walk or cycle for short journeys. For longer trips, use public transport or car-sharing services. Combine errands to reduce unnecessary travel.

Community Engagement

• Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about environmental issues and share your knowledge and practices with friends and family to amplify your impact.

• Participate Locally: Volunteer for local conservation efforts, such as tree planting or clean-up events, and support local sustainability campaigns.

Sustainability is an issue that applies to everyone, no matter where they live. Therefore, it is pertinent that we all tackle this issue as a collective. Hopefully, after reading this blog post. We can all make small changes to our lifestyle to be one step closer to sustainability.