It was a pleasure to be involved in the recent 2040 film screening at the Zamia Theatre on Tamborine Mountain.
A group of local, sustainably focused businesses and food stalls gathered before the film screening to over 115 people.
As part of this event, I created a guide on the top 15x ways to create a more sustainable, natural & healthy home that ill also share with you below.
I hope you find a couple of new things on this list that you can focus on in your home to make it more sustainable for your family.
- Refuse & reduce
Don’t buy/ bring unnecessary items into your home and prevent waste in the first place that then needs to be recycled– Focus on function with beauty – Minimalism – DeClutter – Use materials fit for purpose, durable and maintain – Reduce energy use + monitor (with ‘wired’ devices/ avoid wifi and extra EMF’s in your home)- then concern yourself with the later cycle of: renewable / recycle / repurpose / reuse.create more flexible spaces.
2. Create more flexible spaces to shifting needs in a family
(ie: young kids, teenagers, elderly parents, working/ study from home, aging at home, dual occupancy etc) – connect with more open plan spaces internally – avoid outdated ‘formal’ boxed out room designs and multipurpose your spaces to maximise floor area and use.
3. Generate more renewable energy
Use more sources of renewable energy in your home – More access, affordable + better ROI for solar panels to collect and use renewable energy for your house + electric car – You can always consider ethical investments into renewable energy companies with part of your superfund if your current home options are more limited (or as well!).
4. Passive solar design
Start with the basics of good design and follow the sun – set out your house (if you can) or renovate to enhance northern orientation and work with the natural elements to enhance your house to take advantage of optimal environmental conditions of: natural light, breezes, ventilation, humidity regulation, moisture management + siting.
5. Close the loop with food waste
Integrate a good bin system for: recycling, compost + general waste to minimise food + material waste. Ensure you locate the bins well for ease of use – Start a worm farm / compost / plug into local community or recycle food waste at nearest council initiative.
6. Create a kitchen garden
Find a space close to your kitchen that can grow some simple herbs and vegetables to have access to fresh, organic food all the time – reduce plastic use + more healthy source + creates connections to nature .
7. DIY- natural/ homemade options
Reduce plastic + chemical use by integrating some more DIY into your home – Use glass bottles + some natural healthy recipes to clean your home (+ save $) – Look for furniture you can make – Use natural furnishings/décor, materials + finishes. Avoid chemicals + plastic finishes that ‘of gas’ (ie: formaldehyde; polyurethane).
8. Create a wellness kitchen
Enhance your kitchen with a well-designed space to enhance natural, organic and healthy home cooking – good food prep. + storage spaces – natural light + air flow – microgreens/ sprouting spaces – bulk storage + fresh produce spaces – connections to kitchen/ food gardens + social connections to family with more open plan space.
9. Go back to earth features
Use more natural materials and features in your home – Instead of synthetic wallpaper, paints and glues consider natural earthen clay/ lime renders for feature walls that; absorb VOCs / release negative ions/ repel dust/ help regulate humidity / earthy texture + create a healthier indoor environment – consider natural rammed earth/ strawbale/ hemp walls.
10. Use more indoor plants
Add some indoor plants to your home to naturally filter the air – you need a fairly dense amount of plants/m2 so just use what feels good for you and know that there are some wellbeing factors associated with indoor plants too – avoid plants next to your bed that release CO2 at night too.
11. Maximise the life-cycle of materials
Consider the full life-cycle of the materials used in your house and renovations (from source- transport- manufacture- use- recycle/ end of life) – ensure you use materials that:
- come from natural + renewable sources
- can be easily recycled/ repurposed
- can be deconstructed/disassembled easily at end of life
- have low embodied energy (all the energy it takes to make the item)
- are ‘off the shelf’ or standard sizes to reduce waste/ more economical (good to a point but not to the detriment of contradicting list above )
- Stores/ sequesters carbon
12. Create connections to nature
Enhance wellbeing on all levels by creating connections to the outdoors in your home – many ways to do this and unique to each home – connections to nature shown to enhance on a psychological level – enhances value of nature and living a sustainable life.
13. Use permaculture design
Learn some great ways to enhance your garden and enjoy more abundant, organic home food supply – build a healthy microbiome in the soil + biodiversity in your garden (+ local neighbourhood) – practical ways to maximise your garden space with timeless + core design principles.
14. Collect + reuse water
Reduce water consumption and start collecting/ reusing your water – good roof design and collection for supply – value water as a precious resource and filter drinking + shower water to create a healthier water supply for your family.
15. Energetics
Ensure you create an energetically clear, calm + harmonious holistic home environment – Sustainable living needs to occur on all levels: physical / metal / spiritual – Practice gratitude for your sustainable home and life and all the little steps you are making daily and enjoy life!
