When we think of sustainability, the first thing that comes to mind is nature, plants, animals, etc. Therefore, the most obvious answer to the question would be that living in the countryside is the most sustainable option.
Today we are going to discover if this is really the case or if we need to rethink what a sustainable lifestyle means.
Let's start by analyzing housing
Cities are compact population centers where we find that their inhabitants live in moderate or small apartments that are part of multi-story apartment blocks. These apartments are much easier to heat than a single-family home in the middle of the countryside, since they benefit from each other's heat to keep their homes warm and are also insulated from the cold and heat by not having all their facades exposed to the outside. Thus reducing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by that heating. On the other hand, these apartments usually lack a garden, so they do not need to spend water to water it, compared to the large amounts of water needed to maintain it.
Advantages of people living together
The fact that so many people live together in an apartment block not only makes it necessary to use less land for housing, but also facilitates waste management for all of them. In addition, the recycling container system is easier to operate in these apartments since it is easily accessible to everyone. While in the countryside it is sometimes necessary to use a car to get to the recycling containers, making it difficult for people to separate their waste.
Being more concentrated, urban areas also offer more convenience in terms of public transport, making it easier for people to use public transport to go to work or walk to places since they have a large number of shops nearby. In the countryside, job opportunities are limited, so it is usually necessary to use a car to get to workplaces, and businesses and shops may also be located at long distances, also requiring the use of a car to get to them. This dependence on cars makes it necessary to buy one, something that does not support sustainability, and its use for everyday tasks adds amounts of carbon dioxide to the air that would otherwise not be added in the city.
What about food?
In cities we also find more sustainable product options than in the countryside. And it is that new product offerings such as vegan food or vegetarian restaurants are normally introduced in these places first.
When living near the countryside, it is possible to buy local products at farmers' markets, thus ensuring their origin, but that does not mean that these farmers are always sustainable, but rather that they may use pesticides and an unsustainable farming method that exploits the land. While in cities there are stores specializing in sustainable food and it is increasingly easier to find organic food in regular stores and supermarkets.
City vs. Countryside
We do not mean to say that living in the countryside is all bad; in the countryside we can find other advantages.
Cities are more modernized, so they consume more electricity to run signs, shop window lighting, or smart devices.
Life in the countryside is slower, so consumption also slows down. Due to the stress of the city and the fast pace at which its inhabitants live, consumption also tends to accelerate.
Life in nature
The connection with nature is much stronger in the countryside. It is easier to plant trees, it is possible to have organic gardens in the yards, and the connection children feel with nature there can inspire them to carry out activities to care for and preserve it.
In the city, noise pollution, light pollution, and air pollution contribute to a more stressful lifestyle and favor the development of illnesses in children and adults.
Knowing all this, we can conclude that it is not important where you live, but how you live. The important thing is to learn to have a more conscious lifestyle where we acquire ecological and sustainable habits so that our home and our daily lives have the smallest possible impact on nature.
Live your best life
Some habits to start making your home more sustainable are:
- Wash clothes in cold water and do not use the dryer.
- Install solar panels.
- Change your light bulbs to LEDs.
- Insulate windows and doors properly.
- Use a programmable thermostat.
- Recycle.