Ecology

Ideally, anything that is considered hazardous waste (including paints, stains, poisons, etc.) would be properly disposed of or recycled locally. The EPA has numerous guidelines and regulations to help waste facilities as well as individuals understand hazardous waste and its disposal. Usually, individuals can take household hazardous waste to local collection facilities for free, where […]

Big businesses and global superpowers do more harm than any single individual ever could. While that may make you feel at a loss, as if your eco-friendly habits have no impact whatsoever, there is hope! Have confidence in the butterfly effect; the more that you as an individual adjust your daily habits and learn how […]

Welcome, and thanks for stopping by! I’m Helena Van Brande, the founder of This Green Lifestyle. I started this website in an effort to consolidate tips for green living, from composting at home to recycling old clothes. I earned my BA in comparative literature, creative writing, and environmental studies at Princeton University, where I honed […]

There are four main types of light bulbs in use across the world: incandescent, fluorescent/CFL, Halogen, and LED. Of these, incandescent light bulbs are the least energy-efficient, while LEDs are the most energy efficient. Let’s take a brief look at each of these: Incandescent An incandescent light bulb uses a metal filament that is heated […]

Next, one of the most critical principles of the more nuanced hierarchy of waste management is refusing anything that doesn’t match up with a zero waste system. This principle is an obvious one for consumers, who can influence bottom-up change by refusing items that they don’t need. For example, you can say “no” to single-use […]

It’s not just the improved air quality that supports well-being, however. Cities that have banned cars or restricted their access encourage citizens to use other modes of travel, in particular active travel such as biking, walking, and taking public transportation. Notably, these are all ranked above cars on the hierarchy of sustainable transportation. Unlike sitting […]

When it comes to cotton, there’s a lot of debate about which kind is best; recycled, organic, regenerative organic, or conventional? Recycled cotton has its challenges, but it does have a  low environmental impact because it doesn’t require additional land and uses fewer resources than virgin cotton, whether organic or conventional. But there’s still a […]

When it comes to changing your habits in order to lead a more sustainable life, there are few things you can do that are as effective as changing your relationship with fashion, which means seeking out fashion that is ethical and sustainable while avoiding fashion that is unethical and unsustainable… Read More With many consumers […]

When it comes to changing your habits in order to lead a more sustainable life, there are few things you can do that are as effective as changing your relationship with fashion. As covered in my article about the 7 R’s of sustainable fashion, that starts with rethinking, refusing, and reducing your fashion consumption. More […]

The first and most important step in this hierarchy is rethinking your consumption of fashion. Take a closer look at the way you consume fashion. Ask yourself: how important is it, really, to stay up to date on the fast fashion trends promoted by social media influencers? Do you impulse buy clothes when your favorite […]