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Adapt to Going-Green
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Take your time going-green. Baby-steps do matter and will pay off by adapting to green-living-habits.
The concept of green living is all we seem to hear more and more about these days.
Many people ask the question "why-go-green" at all?
Personally, I think the idea frightens and threatens alot of people.
I think it is immediately equated with giving up everything comfortable and enjoyable and moving into a tent in the woods never again being able to enjoy anything. But, this isn't true at all.
So, what is it really all about then?
It's all about reducing the carbon footprints we make daily
that contributes to global warming.
Green-living is also a huge umbrella covering a number
of ways to reduce any kind of "footprint" we leave on
earth.
It may help to familiarize yourself with the
vocabulary associated with green-living to understand some of the terms
being used commonly nowadays.
Granted, it's difficult to avoid producing these footprints
of "some kind" on a daily basis during our daily routines.
So, how and where does one start to really reduce?
A simple example - Did you know that the fiber from ancient forests are what is needed to produce pricey, plush and extra soft toilet paper?
Two-hundred year-old standing trees provide the best pulp apparently.
Regular recycled materials can make recycled toilet paper, but knowing what is done to produce the luxurious brands is rather shameful. I mean, think about what it is - it's "toilet paper."
We have to know and understand some specifics first
to pin it all down, and ask ourselves a few questions.
How do individuals and families contribute to
carbon-dioxide emissions?
How do businesses, industries and organizations
add to the problem?
How do products and commodities we use get to market?
The factors relating to the answers to these questions
include specifics of our daily routines and activities,
habits, office policies and business practices.
In order to implement ways to change lifestyles, we have
to get "down and dirty" and ask ourselves a series of
more questions, and consider more eco-friendly-living choices.
Are the appliances we are using energy-efficient or
old and outdated?
What about fuel efficiency in regard to our modes of
transportation?
What about foods we eat? Where do we buy it?
How does it physically get to us?
What kinds of habits (good or bad) do we keep?
Are we faithful recyclers? Do we recycle at all, or does
everything we own with no further use find a way to
the landfills causing an incredible increase in carbon
emissions?
How do we entertain ourselves? What kinds of hobbies
do we have? How are they hurting the environment?
Can we make wiser choices in our current lifestyle to
towards going-green, and adapt to green-living-habits?
For the average individual like myself, sure I could.
I am well aware that I don't recycle "properly" like I should.
I am aware that I waste items that could be used for
other purposes, If I really thought about it.
I am aware that I get lazy and use my dryer when I don't
really need to.
I buy things I could get along just fine without, while
they eventually collect dust and get tossed anyway.
One of the biggest culprits at my house are plastic bags. Just can't seem to avoid them.
See interesting facts and wiser choices about eco friendly bags at the Eco Friendly Emporium.
In fact, there are many ways one can change their lifestyle.
Change the way you live with voluntary simplicity by choosing to simplify your life in every area that seems overwhelming, draining, or excessive. Get out of the cycle of consumerism and debt, accumulation and waste, disappointment and dissatisfaction, and emptiness and desire for more. Live lightly and naturally.
You'd be amazed at how many ways there are of going green in your own home. For example, Green-Energy-Efficient-Homes.com, a website for helping people save on home energy use, explains that energy saving window coverings can really cut back the heat escaping from your house in winter, or the heat leaking into your house when the air conditioner is running.
WHAT IS YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT? How would a carbon footprint calculator possibly figure this out about me? Find out.
Greenwashing-Tactics are heavily aimed at vulnerable consumers.
Become educated, and be aware of them if you are going-green.
These are just small but good examples of the countless
ways you can begin to implement changes and make some
differences by going-green a little at a time.
Commonsense will save money too in the long run.
Remember, it's all intertwined towards reducing the
chain-reaction effect that contributes to global warming.
The science of it all can be a little complex in some areas
on the much larger scales.
Individual and personal choices may seem confusing and
in vain when after making all of your best efforts,
you know for a fact for example, that you drive ANYTHING
but a vehicle that is fuel-efficient.
So much for going-green, huh?
Well, that's just life. It's not expected or financially
feasible to replace vehicles among other things at the drop
of a hat.
So, yes, it may seem like the savings in one area are
cancelled out by choices made in another.
It would be easier to justify doing nothing, right?
But, 2 wrongs have never made a right. If everyone did
nothing, nothing would ever change.
Baby-steps do matter!
Don't focus on what you can't change, rather focus on what
you can and are willing to change.
Once you have started finding ways of going-green gently,
you may just become a bit obsessed with making it a
thoroughly enjoyable new habit and challenge.
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