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I have lived with my fair share of roommates. Some have made me want to tear my hair out, others have torn my hair out and some were actually pleasant. Sharing your house and your living space with a person who may be nothing more than a stranger can be difficult. Things get more complicated if you are eco-savvy and you coexist well with the planet, but your roommate is some sort of wasteful, eco-unfriendly litter-harpy.
There must be a way to cohabitate peaceably with your flat partner, even if your apartment-sharer is some sort of smog-producing, waste-a-holic who owns a Hummer and makes styrofoam packing peanuts for a living.
How to confront your roommate into eco-friendliness
- Never yell. You may want to, but this will just stir up the proverbial hornet's nest. Wait until you are calm to confront.
- Confront ASAP. Don't let your anger fester in a bowl inside you. Tell your roomie why you're peeved. Work on change right away.
- Start with praise. A little flattery never hurt to soften the blow. Say things like, "I really like it when you throw trash in the vicinity of the trash can. That way I know that it is trash."
- Express specific emotions. Don't beat around the bush, man! Say exactly how you feel. "I don't like it when you take three hour showers. It runs up our shared water bill and uses more water than needed. This is frustrating to me. I am trying to live a responsible life."
- Use "I" statements. Start most sentences with "I"—I feel this emotion or I am saddened when. Don't use "you" statements unless "you" want to get punched.
- Ask them why? Ask them why they act the way they act. Try and understand their side and really listen to them.
- Help them change. You may dislike holding people's hands, but try and make life easier on them. If your recycle bin is around back, bring it into the kitchen. If he or she complains that eco-friendly light bulbs are too expensive, offer to chip in for the difference. Work within your housemate's apparent faults.
- Educate them. If they don't believe in global warming, leave pamphlets around the house. Shout factoids as they pass you in the hall. Try and get some knowledge through your roomie's stubborn skull. Do only what is comfortable for your living arrangement, however. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Your flatmate isn't going to change if he or she despises your fact-shouting face.
- Hope for the best. You can't win them all. If you can get your roommate to change, that's wonderful. Maybe they'll take up a responsible lifestyle as well. If not, you tried and lowered their carbon footprint for a short time anyway.
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