Personal Sustainability

A Native American proverb says, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children."

Sustainability is defined in two ways.  "Meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," as determined by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987.  More simply, sustainability can be defined as a three-legged stool - environment, economy, and society - or planet, profit, people.

When you apply the principles of sustainability to a business, it makes a lot of sense - your operations should have minimal impact on the environment, or perhaps a positive impact if any; your business should be economically viable and profitable; and your employees' rights to fair treatment, wages, benefits, and a healthy working environment should be met.

But at home, sustainability is defined a little bit differently.  It's clear that you should make sure your life doesn't have a negative impact on the environment, but what about the economical and social sides?  

In the past couple of years I think it's become pretty obvious that living above your means, relying on credit cards and financing options, and basically spending money you don't have are not sustainable choices.  Being financially sustainable at home means you don't pass your debts along to your children or other family members, you have the cash available for emergencies, and you're not a strain on the economy.  Imagine where we might be if people hadn't bought more house than they could afford, or if credit cards simply didn't exist - wishful thinking for society, true, but why not in your own life?

Social sustainability at home is simple as well.  Both physical and psychological health have a role.  Managing your stress, weight, emotions, and other health concerns are all part of being socially sustainable at home.  Establishing healthy habits, a happy home environment, and strong educational opportunities are social benefits that will pass along to future generations.

I think it's easy to see where the three branches of sustainability intersect and overlap.  Many "green" products and practices can have a positive impact on your finances and your health - for example, using vinegar as a household cleaner not only avoids putting harmful chemicals into the waterways, but also saves you money and prevents the negative health impacts of using those harsh chemicals.  

Taking a look at everything we do - viewing life through not just green, but sustainable sunglasses - is important not just for our lives today, but for generations to come.

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Here are a couple of great resources:

Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover - his website is full of great information, and I highly recommend his books.

The Necessary Revolution by Peter Senge - a detailed account of why sustainability is so important for businesses and individuals.

The Natural Step's Sustainability at Home Toolkit - a great guidebook for making sustainable choices at home.  (Written for Canadians, but the principles can be applied to anyone!)