small-footprint living
n. A lifestyle that minimizes one's impact on the environment.
Also Seen As
small footprint living
Examples
2015
Another key to "small-footprint" living: healthy, local eating habits. Easy access to Minneapolis’ thriving co-ops makes it easy for Traeger to replace fast food with fresh, home-cooked dishes, which she occasionally supplements with meals at Birchwood Cafe and other farm-to-table mainstays in her area.
—Brian Martucci, “How a car-free calling led to a healthier, fuller, smaller-footprint life,” The Line, March 24, 2015
2014
Given their lower income relative to previous generations, many urban Millennials favor small-footprint living: studios, a few one bedrooms, some congregate housing, and micro-units.
—A-P Hurd, “How Outdated Parking Laws Price Families Out of the City,” The Atlantic, August 07, 2014
2012
The 2012 tour’s focus on small houses is just one example of an explosion of interest in small footprint living.
—Sam Hagerman, “Why don’t lenders see the value of ADUs?,” Daily Journal of Commerce, July 11, 2012
2005 (earliest)
Well, since seeing this post on MeFi, I've been captivated by the idea of small-footprint living. …I looked at my current apartment, which I share, and asked myself if I could live in a 500 square-foot house, about the same size as my current digs.
—adam, “Living Small,” Bad Samaritan, February 20, 2005
Notes
The intent of the Institute For Desert Living is to demonstrate "small footprint" living in the delicate environment of the Southwestern United States desert.
—“Institute For Desert Living,” The Free Energy Store, August 13, 2003
Posted: September 30, 2015