“Going green is a
hassle.”
“Those bins take up too
much room.”
“As an individual, can I
really make a difference?”
“I don’t even know what
that means.”
“Is there really such a
big problem?”
“How does going green
help?”
I’ve
heard all of these statements/question and many more concerning the idea of being green. Many people do not understand the concept of
going green and its implications or think it is just way to hard or
inconvenient. So, let’s take a look at
each of these and try to make some sense of it!
Going green is a hassle!
Yes, going green requires some
effort and changes in habit but it does not have to be a daunting task or
encompass a huge and burdensome change in lifestyle. Small, simple changes can make a huge impact! Anything you do that saves energy or resources
is considered as being “green”. So think
about the things you do, you may already be on the right track!
Those bins are space hogs!
The bins given out by some cities
can be cumbersome but there are alternatives.
Use a small trash can or a covered basket. Here is one of my favorite trick: I reuse the large dog food bags as recycling
containers, then when it is full – the whole bag goes to the recycling station. You can store your bins in an out-of-the-way
corner, a closet or garage.
Can one person really make a difference?
Absolutely! The best way to become aware of your personal
impact is to track your efforts for one month.
For example, take note of how many recyclables you take to drop stations
or watch your electric and water consumption and then compare your current bill
to the previous month to see your savings.
The greatest changes start with one person. Start programs to get your family or
community involved and see what a change YOU can make!
I don’t even know what ‘going green’ means!
Going green simply means to pursue
knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and
ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help to protect
the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future
generations. (Love this definition from
thrall.com)
Is there really such a big problem and how
does going green help?
The
answer to the first questions is a resounding yes! We are using our natural resources at an
alarming rate and once they are gone, they’re gone! The good news is it still isn’t too late to
help preserve these precious resources and become a more sustainable minded
planet. By using the “green” mantra, Recycle,
Reduce, Reuse, we can considerably slow the depletion of this beautiful planet.
Still not convinced?
Consider the following:
At least 50 million acres of
rainforest are lost every year! That’s
an area the size of England, Wales, and Scotland combined. More than 50% of all living creatures on
earth reside in tropical rainforest and with this continued destruction of
habitat, these creatures are disappearing at a rate of approximately 100
species per day!
Americans use about 385 million
gallons of gasoline every day!
Americans use 2.5 million plastic
water bottles every hour – most of just thrown away.
Every year, in the U.S., enough
writing and office paper is thrown away to make a 12 foot wall from New York to
California.
If every household in the United States replaced one
regular, incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), such as
the awesome options by
Cree, the pollution reduction would be equivalent to
removing one million cars from the road.
OR
If ¼ of all United States households
replaced 1 incandescent with a CFL it would save as much carbon dioxide as
planting 200,000 acres of forest.
63 million newspapers are printed in
the United States every day. Of these,
44 million or approximately 69% are thrown away. Recycling just the Sunday papers would save
more than half a million trees every week!
20 recycled aluminum cans can be
made with the energy it takes to manufacture a single brand new can.
The recycling of one ton of paper
saves approximately: 2 barrels of oil,
4100 kw of energy, 7,000 gallons of water and 17 trees!
As you
can see, our consumption is staggering but with just a few changes in mindset
and minimal effort we can make huge changes!
Are
you ready to get started? Here are a few
things to keep in mind:
-
Start small – don’t try to do too much at the
onset because you risk being overwhelmed.
2.
Don’t let others discourage you.
You will find people who do not support your
efforts.
Stay strong and keep up the
good work.
3.
Dedication goes a long way!
Stick to it even on the days (and there will
be those days) when you are totally lax and feel like you have blown it.
Get back on track and keep going.
4.
Spread the word and get others involved!
Green
is the new black!!
Have a great day!!
As
always I welcome your comments and tips!
