1500 - 2000 / Henry David Thoreau / Social and Environmental

Negative Environmental Impact of Housing and Proposed Solutions [Thoreau]

By Effluo | Published April 7, 2023 | No Comments

What are some things that come to your mind when you think of negative environmental impacts?

It could be industrialization, the overreliance on fossil fuels, pollution, plastics, and ocean waste.  In all of these, you would be correct.  

However, have you ever considered that the societal expectations placed on you can be the biggest culprits of these negative environmental impacts? 

In this article, we will review the negative environmental impact the American Dream, of having a large home with a white picket fence, may have on the environment.

Life Balance Wheel – Environmental and Social Spoke

Have you ever felt out of balance at some point?  When work has consumed your time and energy, or when family life has taken over.

Balance is important in life, and it means striving for success and well-being in the following six areas:

1.   Family and relationships
2.   Physical and mental health
3.   Spiritual growth and emotional intelligence
4.   Intellectual development, hobbies, and creativity
5.   Financial independence and career development
6.   Social and environmental responsibility

Think about each of these areas in your own life and consider your satisfaction in each of these areas. 

The EFFLUO life balance wheel is a great tool to help people evaluate their own life balance.  Download the FREE Downloadable Life Balance Wheel PDF for personal evaluation.

In this article, we will look at the commonly overlooked area of the life balance wheel, social and environmental responsibility. 

How much of that contributes to your personal life balance?

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides an effective and inspirational roadmap to understanding the needs and desires that drive us.  It reveals how our needs and desires change as we progress up the hierarchy, from basic physical-survival tasks to ultimate self-actualization.

We all strive to reach these higher needs.  Maslow’s Hierarchy is a powerful tool that can help us explore how our unique needs fit into this model.

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, we are hardwired to seek safety and security first and foremost.  Housing has been the primary means of achieving this safety and security since our earliest days. 

However, do we take this need for safety and security too far?

Do we become the victims of our own need to be secure at the cost of our own freedom to move up the pyramid?

To answer these questions, we turned to the work of one of the greatest thinkers of recent history, Henry David Thoreau.

Who is Henry David Thoreau?

Henry David Thoreau was a 19th-century American author, poet, naturalist, and philosopher.  His work has inspired people to think deeply about the impact of human activity on the environment.

He is best known for his book “Walden,” an account of his experiences in the woods near Concord, Massachusetts.

Thoreau was a passionate advocate for nature and critiqued how the industrial age had negative impacts on the environment.  He wrote extensively on the subject, arguing passionately that civilization had taken us away from our basic connection with nature.

Within his work, he devoted a significant amount of time to discussing the concept of housing and the impact it has on our environment and our life balance.  

We will look at the work of Thoreau through the lens of the Life Balance Wheel and Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs.

How Housing Creates a Negative Environmental Impact Overview

Thoreau discussed the negative environmental impact of housing from a very unique perspective.  He argued that the housing owns you instead of you owning the housing.  In trying to follow the American dream and keep up with the Joneses, we lose touch with what is really necessary and become enslaved to the ‘luxuries.’  

We will review the definitions of shelter and follow the negative impacts of excessive shelters.  We will then review the proposed solutions to the problems identified.

•   Evolution of Shelter
•   Different Definitions of Shelter
•   Negative Environmental Impact: Housing Leads To Excess Consumerism
•   Negative Financial Impact: Assets vs. Liabilities
•   Negative Personal Impact: The House Owns You
•   Negative Social Impact:  Keeping Up With The Joneses
•   Solution 1: Define What You Need vs. Want
•   Solution 2: Focus More On The Environment Around You
•   Solution 3: Elevate Your Surroundings
•   Solution 4: Develop A Mindset Of Abundance
•   Solution 5: Develop A Mindset Of Gratitude
•   Solution 6: Spend Time Outdoors

Evolution of Shelter

From the cave, we have advanced to roofs of palm leaves, of bark and boughs, of linen woven and stretched, of grass and straw, of boards and shingles, of stones and tiles. – Henry David Thoreau

The evolution of our shelter is both fascinating and inspiring.  As Henry David Thoreau detailed, our dwellings have evolved dramatically since our humble beginnings in caves.

Over time our shelters have moved from roofs of palm leaves to bark and boughs, wrapped linen, grass and straw, boards and shingles, to stones and tiles – a testament to our intelligence and our ability to create more comfortable living spaces.

However, as we will detail here, we should also be aware that our need for more “comfortable” living spaces comes at a price.  The question to ask as we proceed with the review of this topic is, have we become too consumed with the idea of a “comfortable” living space?

Different Definitions of Shelter

But how happens it that he who is said to enjoy these things is so commonly a poor civilized man, while the savage, who has them not, is rich as a savage? – Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau’s thought-provoking idea of how different people define shelter is truly insightful.  For some, it is the size of the house, and for others, it is the means to keep out the elements. 

-Keep in mind he was writing in the 19th century.-  

The ‘poor civilized’ man likely has a physical structure as his home, but in terms of financial stability and mental well-being, he may be less secure than the richer ‘savage.’ 

Just because society chooses to define ‘shelter’ a certain way, it does not mean that you should follow that definition.

He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy relationships with our environment since our well-being is connected to how we care for our planet.

Negative Environmental Impact: Housing Leads To Excess Consumerism

The farmer is endeavoring to solve the problem of livelihood by a formula more complicated than the problem itself.  To get his shoestrings, he speculates in herds of cattle.  With consummate skill, he has set his trap with a hair spring to catch comfort and independence and then, as he turned away, got his own leg into it.  This is the reason he is poor, and for a similar reason, we are all poor with respect to a thousand savage comforts, though surrounded by luxuries. – Henry David Thoreau

As Henry David Thoreau so eloquently put it, consumerism is a trap that many of us are unfortunately now falling prey to.

Many of us want to own our own houses, and this inevitably leads to the need to own bigger houses.  This is then followed by the need to fill the houses with items and things. 

The environmental footprint increases with every new household item purchased, from washing machines and kitchen appliances to furniture and entertainment systems.

This consumer-driven system presumes growth, which involves the production of ever-increasing amounts of goods requiring additional resources such as energy, land, water, and other inputs from the environment.

In addition to the environmental impact, Thoreau points out that we exchange our health and time for the purchase of these things.   He questions if all of the things in your home are truly worth your time spent paying for them.

Our Homes Imprison Us

We are often imprisoned rather than housed in them; – Henry David Thoreau

Many of us might think of ‘home’ as a safe haven – a place we can relax, spend time with family, and cultivate a happy lifestyle.  But, if we take a little time to reflect more deeply on the idea of home, it is clear that our living environment often has some influence over us.  Henry David Thoreau stated that ‘we are often imprisoned rather than housed in them.’

If you think about it, owning or renting a home means you have many obligations that you become responsible for.  Specifically property taxes, mortgage payments, bills, and utilities.  And, the larger the house, the bigger the payments.  

The argument is not to live on the street, but to stop and consider how big of a house do you really need?

Is the fact that you have such large payments on the house preventing you from venturing out and living your life how you want?

Do you really need to wait until retirement to begin traveling?

What about your job?  Would you be happier in another job even if it paid less?

Negative Financial Impact: Assets Vs. Liabilities

The man who has actually paid for his farm with labor on it is so rare that every neighbor can point to him. – Henry David Thoreau

We are all familiar with the idea of having assets and liabilities, but nobody likes to think about the latter.  Unfortunately, it is this tendency that has led us into a personal debt crisis – where we are in over our heads in terms of debt to assets.

When you think of your home, really consider if it is a liability or an asset.  

To emphasize this point, Henry David Thoreau went so far as to say that the man who has paid for his farm with labor on it is so rare that he stands out.

If you have a loan, it is a liability; the physical house is an asset.  The bigger the loan, the bigger the liability.   The longer it takes you to pay off the loan, the more it will cost you.  Really take a look at the cost of owning a large home and consider if downsizing would be a better option.

Let’s use Thoreau’s words as inspiration to move away from over-reliance on debt and make strides to reduce our negative environmental impact too.

With smaller homes, you have smaller consumption of natural resources.

Negative Personal Impact: The House Owns You

And when the farmer has got his house, he may not be the richer but, the poorer for it, and it be the house that has got him. – Henry David Thoreau

We often don’t realize how we become enslaved to our houses.  Not only does it take away valuable time and money, but it also has a significant negative environmental impact.

Thoreau commented that we can often become poorer when we own a home instead of richer due to this ‘house ownership’ mentality; we are trapped in a slave-like bond but with a much more significant negative environmental impact.

Henry David Thoreau understood this plight all too well – we may think we have won by getting that dream house, but we can actually be poorer for it in many respects.

Think about it – we’ve got one more thing to worry about, one more expense we’d rather not be shelling out for, and yet another layer we must add to our daily lives to juggle everything.

When the responsibility of a house starts owning us rather than the other way around – that’s when we have taken the plunge too far.

Negative Social Impact:  Keeping Up With The Joneses

Most men appear never to have considered what a house is and are actually thought needlessly poor all their lives because they think that they must have such a one as their neighbors have. – Henry David Thoreau

Keeping up with the Joneses is a classic problem that has been around for centuries, yet, it still remains a significant issue in our society today.  The phrase itself comes from the classic American novel The Great Gatsby, where striving to keep up with an affluent family keeps Jay Gatsby poor and unable to obtain a life of wealth as he had started out hoping.

Keeping up with the Joneses is not only detrimental to one’s finances but also has a negative social impact on our environment due to increased consumption leading to its heightened extraction of natural resources.

Like Henry David Thoreau once said, most people remain needlessly poor all their lives because they strive too hard to keep up with their neighbors’ standard of living instead of striving for betterment according to their means.  To avoid getting yourself into such habits, it is best to be mindful from the start and lead conscious lifestyles focused on long-term satisfaction instead of short-term gain.

Solution 1: Define What You Need vs. Want

When I think of acquiring for myself one of our luxurious dwellings, I am deterred, for, so to speak, the country is not yet adapted to human culture, and we are still forced to cut our spiritual bread far thinner than our forefathers did their wheaten. – Henry David Thoreau

When it comes to getting a luxurious dwelling, Thoreau encourages us to think twice before taking the plunge.

Not only can it be a financial strain, but there’s also a negative spiritual impact that many overlook.  Henry David Thoreau states, “The country is not yet adapted to human culture, and we are still forced to cut our spiritual bread far thinner than our forefathers did their wheaten.”

Instead of overindulging in material possessions, consider freeing up your time to spend on your spiritual and emotional growth.  

Think carefully about what you need versus what you want?  To do this, define your needs and wants based on your individual lifestyle and recent trends.  By taking a step back and objectively thinking through unnecessary spending, you can actually save yourself money in the long run.

Solution 2: Focus More On The Environment Around You  

We may imagine a time when, in the infancy of the human race, some enterprising mortal crept into a hollow in a rock for shelter.  Every child begins the world again, to some extent, and loves to stay outdoors, even in wet and cold.  It plays house, as well as horse, having an instinct for it. – Henry David Thoreau

Humanity in its infancy lived outdoors, with their shelters being very connected to nature.   Eventually, the shelters evolved, and humanity moved further and further away from nature.  

Thoreau points out that “every child begins the world again” as they love to stay outside.    Therefore, remember to spend time outside.  Feel the warmth and light of the sun on your skin, connect with nature, and appreciate the beauty of your environment.

By developing a greater awareness and focus on our natural surroundings, we can begin to take much-needed action for reduction in our negative environmental impact.

So, next time you feel the urge to get back outside, as Henry David Thoreau suggests, remember that it is an opportunity to connect with nature and find your inner peace.

Solution 3: Elevate Your Surroundings

But let our houses first be lined with beauty, where they come in contact with our lives, like the tenement of the shellfish, and not overlaid with it.  But, alas!  I have been inside one or two of them, and know what they are lined with. – Henry David Thoreau

Surrounding yourself with beauty doesn’t need to be expensive or take a lot of time.  When it comes to creating a space that uplifts, don’t think solely of luxury fabrics and decorative pieces; nature has just as much to offer if not more!

Bringing nature indoors offers countless mental, spiritual, and physical benefits while counteracting the negative environmental impact caused by our modern lifestyle.

By allowing nature inside our homes and lives, we are taking another step towards living in harmony with her.

Take Henry David Thoreau’s words and apply them directly to your life: elevate your surroundings by bringing nature into your home.

Bring Nature Indoors

It appeared to me that for a like reason men remain in their present low and primitive condition; but if they should feel the influence of the spring of springs arousing them, they would of necessity rise to a higher and more ethereal life. – Henry David Thoreau

Nature has the ability to raise us all to a higher level of existence, as observed by Henry David Thoreau.

Small, simple changes like adding plants or potted trees can create a calming atmosphere without negatively impacting the environment.  Consider creating attractive indoor water features that mimic the movement and sound of a flowing stream.

Nature can be brought inside not just through plants or decorative pieces but also through natural textures, colors, and daylight.  If you want something more substantial, shop around and opt for recycled materials when redoing furniture or walls.

By making Nature part of our daily lives, we have the opportunity to move forward into a life filled with comfort, joy, and inspiration.

Solution 4: Develop A Mindset Of Abundance

Shall we always study to obtain more of these things, and not sometimes to be content with less? – Henry David Thoreau

Learning to develop a mindset of abundance can be a significant step in our journey toward cultivating a more sustainable lifestyle.  This begins with being appreciative of the things you already have. 

At the end of the day, it really is essential to be content with what you have.  If you are always looking for more and trying to accumulate as much material wealth as possible, you are taking away from an opportunity to practice self-restraint.   You are negatively impacting the environment by continuing this cycle of production and consumption.

Henry David Thoreau said it best when he wrote, “Shall we always study to obtain more of these things, and not sometimes to be content with less?”.

Solution 5: Develop A Mindset Of Gratitude

But I think that I speak within bounds when I say that, though the birds of the air have their nests, and the foxes their holes, and the savages their wigwams, in modern civilized society not more than one-half the families own a shelter. – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau is not trying to make us feel guilty for having shelter.  He is pointing to the fact that we have it.   It is a great reminder to focus on what you have and develop a practice of gratitude.   

Focusing on what you need to obtain can often overshadow the fact that you have already obtained so much.   This is the abundance vs. scarcity mentality.   What you will focus on, that you will have.  

Pause, reflect on this fact, and be grateful for all of the blessings in your life.

Solution 6: Spend Time Outdoors

It would be well, perhaps, if we were to spend more of our days and nights without any obstruction between us and the celestial bodies, if the poet did not speak so much from under a roof, or the saint dwell there so long.  Birds do not sing in caves, nor do doves cherish their innocence in dovecots. – Henry David Thoreau

When it comes to finding peace and building a connection with nature, it is important to consider spending time outdoors.  By spending time under the stars, we allow ourselves to breathe it in all its natural beauty.  Not to mention it’s a wonderful way to break up your day-to-day routine and find inspiration.

Henry David Thoreau echoed this sentiment centuries ago by remarking that it would be beneficial if we removed the obstructions between us and the celestial bodies.

He further suggested that it is out in the open-air world where birds sing, doves cherish their innocence, and humans find calm and spiritual sustenance.

Make spending time outdoors part of your everyday routine.

Do Not Underestimate The Power Of Fresh Air

A comfortable house for a rude and hardy race, that lived mostly out of doors, was once made here almost entirely of such materials as Nature furnished ready to their hands. – Henry David Thoreau

Today, modern society rarely steps outside, relying instead on air-conditioning and television to pass the time.  We should not underestimate the power of fresh air and its ability to revitalize our environment.

Even a small dose of sunshine and open air can have a positive effect on our well-being or an invigorating impact on our motivation.  Taking the time out of a busy day to get some fresh air – be it through walking, running, gardening, or just sitting in an open space with nature – should not be underestimated.

How Housing Creates a Negative Environmental Impact Summary

Thoreau cautioned us against excess consumerism and a “Keeping Up With The Joneses” mentality when it comes to housing.  He challenges us to look at the negative impacts this type of thinking leads to and to consider the negative environmental impact it has.

•   Negative Environmental Impact: Housing Leads To Excess Consumerism
•   Negative Financial Impact: Assets Vs. Liabilities
•   Negative Personal Impact: The House Owns You
•   Negative Social Impact:  Keeping Up With The Joneses

Thoreau also recommended solutions to combat this mentality by focusing on abundance, getting closer to nature, and learning to appreciate things we already own.

•   Solution 1: Define What You Need vs. Want
•   Solution 2: Focus More On The Environment Around You
•   Solution 3: Elevate Your Surroundings
•   Solution 4: Develop A Mindset Of Abundance
•   Solution 5: Develop A Mindset Of Gratitude
•   Solution 6: Spend Time Outdoors

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