9 Ways that I Made My Life “Greener” Last Year. (and it didn’t take a lot of effort!)

by: Stephanie Andrews

Hello friend,

Sustainable living has been part of our vocabulary for over 25 years. As an interior designer, mom, wife, daughter and friend in Atlanta, GA, I’ve been pondering how I can live more sustainably, both personally and professionally.  I put together a short list of things I have done in the past year, which were really just choosing a sustainable solution rather than doing what I have done in the past.  Some of these things were simply a matter of economics; they actually saved us money! Others were conscious decisions that helped me feel better about my life choices. I imagine that you will read through some of these items and think that you have done this too, and probably even more ideas will come to mind.

My sustainable ideas list that were all part of last year:

Personal:

1-I went with an electric car.  My lease was up this past January, and I looked at electric options after my best friend got an electric car.   She would not stop talking about how fast, quiet, easy, sexy, and awesome it was. Sure, she influenced my decision (she always does), but now that I have it, she was right!  And to top it off, the lease price was actually less than I was paying for my previous car!  After a few months, we decided to enlist our electrician to install a fast-charging outlet on the side of the house.  As a Georgia Power customer, I got a charger for about $300 off!  Now I can just plug in once a week and not worry about raising gas prices.  So I realize that buying a new electric car is not an easy or inexpensive option; however, once I decided I wanted to buy a new car, I looked at electric options.

2- Ed and I  got an energy-efficient washer and dryer.  Again, our washer and dryer were over 15 years old (we bought them from a client who was upgrading their laundry room).  We wanted something small and front-loading.  We learned that the German Miele appliances were made to hold just as much laundry as our big one.  It used much less water and took up 2/3 of the space.  The dryer has a heat pump technology, so it uses less power and does not use natural gas, as our previous one did.  We anticipate using these little guys for the next 20-30 years!  It is hard to get excited about a washer and dryer, but believe it or not, I am pretty stoked.

3-We are eating less meat.  We are very lucky to live near your DeKalb Farmers Market in Decatur, where we can get lots of great, affordable fruits and veggies. However, this year, we are consciously choosing to have 2 vegetarian meals per week.  Mainly, this is a health choice, but it also helps with not contributing as much to the ever-present slaughtering of animals. 

Balance Design:

4-We did countless “cosmetic” renovations of kitchens and baths last year.  This option usually includes painting or refacing cabinets, new countertops, backsplashes, sinks, plumbing, lighting, and hardware.  The critical piece missing from a “cosmetic” is the cost and waste associated with all new cabinetry.  This type of update can often save up to $50k on a kitchen renovation.  Typically, they can also be done in a fraction of the time.  

5-We also reupholstered dozens of sofas and chairs.  To save these beauties from the landfill has plenty of advantages, but primarily it provides something more collected and unique looking and often it will cost much less than a new piece.  Win/win!

6.  We installed vintage pieces to make our designs look cooler.  Whether from local places like City Issue, Westside Modern, or The Modernist or from websites like Chairish or 1st Dibs, adding vintage is the secret weapon of the cool kids, and it changes the habit of always buying new and losing the character of a well- collected space.  

7. We took old furniture to the  Furniture Bank, to Restore by Habitat for Humanity, and to consign at places like Finders Keepers.  Main purpose?  Save items from a landfill, yet this habit helps incredible non-profits provide less fortunate people with great furniture.  When we do choose to consign to get clients some additional money for their old items, they are genuinely surprised and appreciative.  

8.  One of the easiest things that I can do for the planet is to consume less.  Sometimes it does not feel easy.  Retail therapy is a significant part of our American lifestyle.  I’ve been focusing on not buying anything except food and necessities for 1 month. For example, in February, I did not buy any clothes or home goods.  I know that it is only 1 month (and a short one), but I made a conscious decision not to shop and do other things instead.  I feel like if I make this choice for one month every quarter, then I am saving money and helping the planet.  Who knows, perhaps it will spread to the other way around, not shopping most months.  Baby steps.

As we think about saving energy, keep in mind that the items I mentioned above actually require very little effort on my part.  One small change here and there, and the result is very impactful.  And there are so many other ways to expand this practice, like composting, gardening, installing storm windows, adding insulation during a remodel, setting the optimal room temperature, using LED bulbs, recycling clothes, and using electric yard equipment.   The list is long of small changes that are very easy to do when I consider them one step at a time.   

9-This brings me to one additional type of energy-my personal energy.  The type of energy that keeps me going, that I sustain myself.  With everything that sucks it out of me: the news, social media, a war,  not enough sleep, poor diet, drinking too much, not enough sunshine, not enough physical exertion,  too much physical exertion, not enough quiet time, too much work, not enough water…you get the point, I can drain myself of my life force.  Making choices that add to my flow and vibrancy makes me a much happier person.   Monitoring my personal energy consumption is perhaps the most critical factor to keeping balanced and excited about my life.

One last thing, today I am introducing you to the new Design Pulp. This is something that I have been planning to launch since last August in Paris.  Sarah Okeefe helped me decide how to create a landing page for Design Pulp. I am very excited to share my vision for this blog: inspiring ways to create balance and beauty through interior design, travel, slow living, and style.  I hope you like it!  I’m still refining, so please share any ideas with me at stephanie@balancedesignatlanta.com.

Thank you for reading,

Stephanie