Living Environmentally Sustainable

Week 5







“The greatest threats to any species are loss or degradation of habitat, harmful invasive species, human population growth, pollution, climate change and overexploitation” (Miller and Spoolman,2009, p. 94).






Discuss three ways in which you could apply this concept to make your lifestyle more environmentally sustainable. (Miller and Spoolman,2009, p. 112).”





The impact of human activity on the earth’s biodiversity has lead many valuable species to extinction. The earth’s natural capital is vital to human survival as they provide food, medicines and essential nutrients. Everyday humans can slightly modify their lifestyle to live more environmentally sustainable.



Packaged products in supermarkets such as muesli bars and instant meals consume non renewable resources that pollute the atmosphere and increase landfill. To save on this unnecessary packaging, a healthier and environmentally friendly option is to buy more loose foods including fruit and vegetables. At home the food can be placed into reusable containers rather than using plastic bags that just get thrown away. While at the supermarket, remember to buy a green ‘eco friendly’ bag to re use instead of plastic. Every year on ‘Clean up Australia Day’ nearly half a million plastic bags are collected! (Department of Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts, 2009).






Riding a bicycle and walking to work or school is a much healthier option than driving a car. By using the car less saves money plus reduces the pollution and carbon emissions in the atmosphere causing global warming. If riding or walking is not convenient, there are other options including car pooling, public transport or even purchasing a fuel efficient car (Department of Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts, 2009).






A simple way to live more environmentally sustainable by saving energy in the house is to simply turn off lights, televisions, fans and heaters when they are not being used. Replacing regular household lights with energy efficient lighting such as LED and CFL bulbs can drastically save energy and reduce electricity bills. Not only are they energy efficient but they are long lasting, durable and mercury free (Earth Easy, 2010).






It is hard to think why people on earth are not living more environmentally sustainably as the options above not only benefit our health but also save money. The best way to remember how to live environmentally sustainably is to‘re use, reduce, recycle and refuse’.

Reference List



Department of Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts. (2009). Plastic Bags. Retrieved on September 9th, 2010 from: http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/plastic-bags/index.html



Earth Easy. (2010). Energy Efficient lighting. Retrieved on September 9th, 2010 from: http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm


Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. E. (2009). Sustaining the earth. (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brookes/Cole