I had one roommate, unaccustomed to living outside suburbia, whom expressed fears of living in anything “different”. At that time, a group of us were undergoing discussions about possible housing situations and gauging important variables like the character of the surrounding community, transportation costs, bar proximity, garage space and yardage. We had just graduated from college and wanted an extra year together while we made the transition to the working life. The five of us ended up in a four bedroom, two and a half bath house with three garages and a small dry yard. And you could only enter from an alley. It was a relatively safe and mix neighborhood in central San Diego. Life wasn’t so bad away from perfection.

As people lose their buying power, new housing subdivisions become phantoms belonging to a by-gone post-war affluent fantasy. They stand as mirages in our collective desert. We have to ask ourselves, “How feasible is it to get away from everything?” Better yet, how much space can one afford? Many thought this mode of life could last forever.

How can we make living sustainable to last future generations?

Different urban planning
It is time to revisit concepts from the past like walkable urbanism or in real-estate language, mixed-use developments. Before Industrialization and zoning practices, mixed-use developments were simply the way cities were built. Commercial enterprises and dwellings existed atop, below, adjacent and scattered together. Urban planning and the size of buildings were measured to the scale of the human body and what it could do. These days with gas evidently in limited supply and fluctuating in price, roving the city and afar in a car is a luxury. Unless we can develop a domestic supply of renewable energy for the long term, our ability to roam is limited. If people lived closer to work, walking and public transportation would become a healthy and efficient means of transport. We would eliminate the need for gas by restructuring our built environment and investing in public transportation that is more reliable, safe, frequent and serves a majority of the population.

There are vibrant mixed-use communities in America and throughout the world. Other benefits of mixed-use neighborhoods are an increase in diverse relationships, safer public places and possibly, more creative community solutions to cultural, social and economic troubles. Here's a list to visit: Vancouver, Washington D.C., Portland, Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris.

Another concept: invest to last
When I pass by a beautiful dress, my heart tells my brain that I must have it or at least try it on. I have to see if I look as good in it as a mannequin with size 34B breasts. But I know I can’t just follow trends like a hound to a scent. If I buy, I buy it as an investment, something that reaps rewards long after my first thrills are over. And I hope it can function in multiple settings like work or some fancy social revelry.You can think of it like anticipating a vintage dress or a relationship that keeps on giving.

Everyone wants to get something for nothing. Or in our trembling bubble economy, get a lot from a quick investment. In terms of a house and what’s in it, unless you have cushion money, don’t invest in a house to quickly flip it. Also, don’t invest in real estate to simple rent it out. If you’re renters are having trouble paying you, you’re mortgage payments may not happen too. Invest in a house to have a home.

Keep yourself attuned to news of better, cleaner technologies.

Cars
Currently, there is an international competition for the Progressive Automotive X Prize a competition that rewards $10 million in prizes to innovative engineering teams that build commercially-viable cars that reach 100 mpr in petrol or its equivalent in another fuel and a maximum emission of 200 grams per mile of greenhouse gases. I would pay attention to their emphasis on making commercially reproducible cars that average consumers can purchase.

Energy source
On the home front, we’re looking for clean sources to run, heat, and light our home electrical appliances. As new technologies like solar become more available and more easily manufactured, their prices will drop. In California, you can get a tax cut for installing solar energy panels on your home. Wind turbines, natural gas, bio fuels, geothermal, tidal power, hydroelectric, and nuclear sources are also under discussion and development. You can stay updated with Green Tech Media and other news sources. 

Home appliance
Our home appliances have become far more efficient in the last decade or so. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy’s Energy Star program have created strict, efficiency guidelines that manufacturers must follow. Washers can save you the cost of energy and water by reducing the amount of water used and spinning more water out of damp clothing.  To ultimately save energy with the drying process, air your clothing outside on a clothes line.

Lighting
Many of us take lighting for granted. It allows us to see and perform our daily tasks. It also affects our moods. And now, it can help reduce your monthly energy bill. Our green lighting blog has already highlighted compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs as an effective and widely available means of efficient lighting. LED’s and solar powered fixtures will also become more widely available and in better form too. Sea Gull Lighting, a charter member of the Energy Star program, won the Lighting for Tomorrow design competition’s Outdoor Lighting Fixture category for their Eternity Collection. It was a competition considering two factors: energy-efficiency and aesthetics. Philips, the electronics company, is transforming itself into a lifestyle brand with innovative technology and concepts to anticipate. The lighting industry will continue to improve its products.

As a country, it’s important to invest in education, innovation and research. It’s time to be a vigorous participator and leader in solving these global problems. We need to prepare and collaborate on providing solutions for the coming energy and global climate crisis with a long-term plan of action.

About the Author: Akemi Hong is a writer and graphic designer. You"ll find Akemi occupied indoors as a marketing and design associate for 1STOPlighting.