Sustainable energy is the term used to describe any type of energy that is capable of being harvested in such a way that it does not put strain on the environment.
At its core, the concept is simple – if we can harness energy in a way that does not have negative effect on the world around us, we are using sustainable energy.
As the world’s population has grown, so too has the demand for energy. In order to meet the world’s growing energy demands, we need to ensure that the energy we use to power everything from homes to cars, to the technology we use on a daily basis, is sustainable.
We hear the terms eco-friendly and sustainable often in the news and in stores. They are sometimes used interchangeably, but they actually have very different meanings. This can be confusing, so let’s look at the difference between the two.
Eco-friendly describes an object or process that does not give off gases that are harmful to the environment or produce waste that negatively impacts the environment.
Sustainable is defined as something that is capable of being maintained at a certain level or rate indefinitely.
Confused Between Eco-Friendly, Sustainable, Natural? Here’s What the Terms Mean
If you’re looking to shop for eco-friendly and sustainable products, you’ll find each of these words on product labels and packaging. So what do they mean? The terms are often used interchangeably, but they actually have different meanings.
Eco-friendly means that products are less harmful to the environment and do not contaminate or deplete natural resources. Sustainable refers to products that use resources in a way that will ensure they are available for future generations.
Natural products are not made from chemicals and are minimally processed. Finding products that are all three is what many people aspire to do.
The terms “sustainable” and “eco-friendly” are often used interchangeably, leading many to believe that they mean the same thing, but they actually refer to two different concepts.
At its core, sustainable development is about ensuring that people can live with a minimum of negative impact on our natural environment, while eco-friendly products are created to have a low negative impact on the environment.
A cheat sheet of “eco-friendly” terms
It is really hard to keep up with all the latest and greatest eco-friendly products and services. You want to do the right thing but you’re not sure what that is anymore.
Well, if you’re like most people you’ve been trying to reduce the amount of garbage you produce, but everything you read about “going green” is so confusing and contradictory.S
You’ve probably heard the term “eco-friendly” being thrown around a lot—and maybe even tossed it around yourself—but what does it mean?
The word “eco’’ comes from the Greek word oikos, which means household or home”, and is often used to describe anything that is good for the home (as in “eco-friendly cleaning products”).
The “-friendly” suffix is used to describe anything that is good—or at least not bad—for “-friend”.
Ecological terms have been developed to help people understand and communicate about sustainable energy and the environment.
There are many terms that are used, but they generally revolve around the following:
Sustainable – Sustainable energy is the energy that is used in a way that is able to be repeated without running out. This means that the energy is not damaging to the environment in some way or that it does not use resources that cannot be replenished.
Natural – Natural energy or power is the energy or power that comes from a source that occurs naturally. An example of this would be solar power. The sun is naturally hot and provides energy.
Renewable – Renewable energy is energy that can be replenished.
Sustainable Is Water Efficient
Is it time to get serious about the sustainability of our water resources? According to the World Bank, the demand for water will rise 50% by 2030, even as the demand for energy rises by 50%.
Many experts think that it is critical to develop solutions for the increasing demand on water resources, particularly in an era of water shortages, changing weather patterns, and growing populations.
Water is essential to life, and good water management is essential to sustainable living. Sustainable living is defined as an environmentally conscious lifestyle that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
That means doing our best to conserve resources such as water now so that our children and grandchildren don’t have to deal with the same problems we have to deal with today.
Sustainable Is Energy Efficient
You’ve heard the word “sustainable” being thrown around a lot. Many products claim to be “sustainable” but what does this really mean?
The definition of sustainable is energy efficient and includes minimized use of natural resources and reduced environmental impact.
If something is not sustainable, it means it will not be able to continue because it is too expensive or has an impact on the environment.
While this can seem like an impossible goal, the truth is that anyone can be more energy efficient. This doesn’t mean you need to buy a bunch of new things to lighten your energy load—you just need to be more conscious of how you use what you’ve already got.
For instance, many appliances and electronics use standby power, which is a significant source of energy loss in homes. So, unplug things when you aren’t using them, or set your electronics to turn off at the end of the day.
If you’re concerned with your carbon footprint, one of the easiest ways to reduce your impact is to eat a vegetarian meal once a week.
Sustainable Is Eco-Friendly Packaging
Everyone wants to be responsible for the environment and for the future of coming generations, but sometimes this is easier said than done. The fact is that there are many things that we can do to be more environmentally friendly.
One of these is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. (And yes, that old slogan is still kicking!) If you are looking to reduce your waste, try to get in the habit of buying products that are packaged in recyclable containers.
When you think of packaging, you probably think of the little box that held your new HDTV, the bag that your new computer came in, or the plastic sheath that protected your phone while you squeamishly unwrapped it.
You probably don’t think of it as sustainable or eco-friendly, but it can be! Sustainable packaging is eco-friendly packaging that uses recycled or sustainable materials, is easy to recycle and has minimal or no impact on the environment.
Last Words
If you want to create an eco friendly business, it’s important to understand how different terms are used. A lot of these terms get mixed up all the time, and it’s important to understand the differences. One of the biggest areas of confusion is the difference between eco friendly and sustainable.
