Are you a humble person? So many of us answer ‘yes’, and yet our homes and possessions tell another story. One of the central pillars of personal sustainability and green living is fulfilling needs over wants, and doing so in non-material ways when possible.

Why? Because producing ‘things’ requires energy and resources, not to mention the toll it takes on the environment throughout the ‘thing’s’ production, use, maintenance, storage and disposal. But weeding out those ‘wants disguised as needs’ and finding non-material paths to fulfillment demands a certain amount of honesty, creativity and courage.

Shay Salomon, author of ‘Little House on a Small Planet’ sheds light on the growing small house movement, and how humble dwellings can offer financial relief, greater social contact, clutter-free spaces, more leisure time, and an abundant sense of home and personal fulfillment.

Sound intriguing? Try on Shay’s view via this Peak Moment interview or borrow her book from the library.

Resources

Small House Society - Some great tools and resources!

Mountain Equipment Coop Ecological Footprint Calculator - Take the test and repeat yearly to track progress and prevent footprint growth.

Carbon Zero Emissions Calculator - Just because you aren’t consuming stuff, doesn’t mean you aren’t consuming energy!

Do you live in a small house? If not, would you consider living in one?