Sustainable Living Terms

adjective relating to or characterized by autarchy, which is a system of government in which a ruler has absolute power

• The autarchic government implemented strict policies to ensure self-sufficiency.
• The autarchic ruler wanted to control everything in the country.
• Living off the grid and being autarchic sounds appealing to some people.
• Her autarchic personality made it difficult for her to work well in a team.

noun a color that is a mixture of blue and yellow, like grass or leaves

adjective describing a color that is a mixture of blue and yellow

• The lush green fields stretched out as far as the eye could see.
• I love the bright green color of your new car!
• That new restaurant is so green, it just opened last week!
• His jealousy made him see everything through green-tinted glasses.

verb to be very careful with money and spend it only when necessary

• The company implemented a new policy of scrimping on office supplies to cut costs.
• I've been scrimping on eating out so I can save up for a vacation.
• My parents are always scrimping and saving for a rainy day.
• She was scrimping on sleep to finish her project on time.

noun a person or thing that is self-sufficient

adjective able to provide for oneself without the help of others; independent

• The community aimed to be self-sufficient by growing their own food and generating their own energy.
• My neighbor is so self-sufficient, she can fix anything around the house by herself.
• I'm trying to be more self-sufficient and not rely on anyone for help.
• His ability to adapt and learn quickly made him self-sufficient in any new environment.

noun a person who chooses to live off the grid, typically in a self-sufficient manner

• The off-gridder chose to live without connection to municipal utilities.
• The off-gridder lives in a self-sustaining cabin in the woods.
• That off-gridder is really living off the grid, man.
• She felt like an off-gridder in the bustling city, disconnected from the chaos around her.

noun a type of house designed and built using environmentally friendly materials and technology

• The ecohouse was designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
• I heard that they're building an ecohouse down the street.
• Check out that cool ecohouse with all the green features!
• Living in an ecohouse is like living in harmony with nature.

noun a place where people can bring broken items to be fixed by volunteers or professionals

• The repair cafe is a community space where people can bring in broken items to be fixed by volunteers.
• I heard there's a repair cafe down the street where you can get your old stuff fixed for free.
• Let's hit up the repair cafe and see if they can work their magic on this busted toaster.
• The repair cafe serves as a hub for not just fixing material objects, but also for repairing relationships within the community.

noun a person who searches through trash or dumpsters for items of value

• The police arrested a suspected dumpster diver for trespassing on private property.
• I heard that guy is a real dumpster diver, always finding cool stuff in the trash.
• That dumpster diver is always scavenging for treasures in the bins behind the grocery store.
• She's like a dumpster diver when it comes to finding information online, always digging deep for the facts.

noun a dietary choice focused on reducing the carbon footprint of food consumption by eating locally sourced and low-carbon foods

• Climatarianism is a dietary approach that focuses on reducing the environmental impact of food consumption.
• I've been trying out climatarianism by eating more plant-based meals.
• My friend is really into climatarianism - she's all about that eco-friendly diet.
• Embracing climatarianism is like taking a stand for the planet with every meal you eat.