Enviro Mental: Going Green Without Going Crazy
It might be a good idea to get my eco-egregious habits out in the open now--before someone publishes a photo of me committing environmental sin. I drink Diet Coke (trying to cut back), I used to drive a big SUV (if offered now, wouldn't turn down a ride), and I hope to one day own a hot tub. (If we're all headed to hell in a handbasket, why can't I join in too?) Although there may be more than one occasion, when I talk the talk while driving a mile (to an organic farmstand, of course), I should be able to share some friendly green tips once in a while.
I stumbled on the concept of "green" this past year, as I wandered a thick forest of post-collegiate indecision. First, I wanted to be a fashion designer. (I realized clothes aren't all made in sweatshops and labor camps, but something quite like them.) Then, I figured I'd try interior design. (I had a traumatic renovation experience.) And then, I thought, Why not yoga instructor? (I won't explain what happened.) Soon, I wondered if graduating within four years was the worst mistake I ever made.
While feverishly searching the internet for job postings, I stumbled upon the blog Treehugger.com--it's about sustainable design, environmentally, socially responsible business and green lifestyle. I don't believe I've ever hugged a tree, but the site spoke to me nonetheless. How could design and business be part of the solution, not the problem? How could dueling factors--technology and nature, order and chaos, the proven and experimental--unite to sustain us through modernity? The approach to environmentalism through uncompromising innovation and a zingy spirit of adventure was new and fascinating. I wanted to be a part of it.
Enthusiastic yet unemployed, I got to work and started investigating every sustainability authority I could get my hands on. I read William McDonough's Cradle to Cradle: Remaking The Way We Make Things and Janine Benyus' Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired By Nature. I attended global warming rallies with strange people dressed up as sea creatures (see below pictures).
I contacted architects, designers, scientists, and gurus--anyone I could think of who was somehow dedicated to producing places, products, and services that are beautiful, practical, and helpful without harm.
In time, I met Starre Vartan, Huffington Post blogger and founder of eco-chick.com. Starre encouraged me to share my experiences, findings, and general musings. "Blog?" I laughed in apprehension. It wasn't long before I spread my wings and started writing for my original inspiration, Treehugger.
Over the past seven months, blogging has given me an excuse to study anything and everything related to sustainability. Moreover, it has given me an all-access pass to the green world. In the name of "social media," I have invited myself to conferences, symposiums, and design exhibitions. I have probed the pioneers and pestered the experts, from Greenmap creator Wendy Brawer to organic cotton and ecofashion pioneer Marci Zaroff to the Lazy Environmentalist himself, Josh Dorfman. I call myself an aggressive weasel; Treehugger founder Graham Hill says, "enthusiastic terrier."
This is an exciting time. The present is ripe with inventors, innovators, and frontiersmen. They are redesigning the material elements of our daily routines. They are offering superior alternatives. They are helping us practice what is possible. Their anthology is long. I have the time to study it, ask questions, and take notes; you probably don't. Instead, consider my abridged-of-the-abridged version. Every week I'll offer a general green "how-to," condensed advice from the experts, Cliffs Notes for the clueless, and my personal pointers to keep you up-to date, informed, and living a greener life without going "Enviro Mental."
Comments for this post are now closed
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
'Going green' is as simple as realizing that
we burn a lot of BTU's and kilowatts that are
unnecessary. To be successful at it, you have
to first understand what those terms mean.
BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a unit of
measurement that's used to describe the energy
potential of a volume of fuel, usually liquid or
gas, but also solid fuels such as wood, wood/organic pellets, and coal. BTU is a helpful
term when discussing heating or fuel requirements.
A kilowatt is a
common measure of electrical energy, which you'll see referenced on the side of appliances
at the stores, or like when you see a computer
monitor marked 'energy star' and so forth.
Lower wattage appliances use less energy in a
given time period, but can also have the
contrary effect by not doing the work that you
need done quickly, causing you to use the
appliance for a longer period of time, or, as
in the case of lighting, cause you to turn on
5 lights of a lower wattage where previously
one high wattage bulb would have served the
purpose of your lighting needs. So, you can't
go willy-nilly, but reading does help, and
little steps, like learning how to take care
of your car, can go a long way toward saving
a lot of money. Type of vehicle, as well as
engine size, are also important, as a vehicle
with an aerodynamic shape will end up being
more fuel-efficient than a boxy shape like your
SUV. Heavier vehicles also burn more fuel,
so do 4WD trucks and cars because of the different transmission type.
All that 'going green' really takes is a little
bit of thinking and planning, and understanding
that even in the realm of eco-poltix, there's
still people out there trying to sell you
something, so read the fine print and
judge for yourself..
My husband doesn't care about the environment as much as I do. However, he may be greener.
You see. He is a miser. They don't buy a lot. They keep the heat and air conditioning on low. They are even sparing with hot water. He buys new clothes only when absolutely necessary and fruit only in season.
If only I was able to resist temptation. I take frequent showers, I love to buy clothes, I run on a treadmill and I'll buy the latest sports drink if the bottle is cool enough....
I think Olivia's post is right-on. For those of us who love the environment but aren't eco-nuts, it's important to realize that there's a healthy and maintainable balance that we can achieve. We can enjoy the things that we love, while at the same time reducing our carbon footprint. There is no reason the two should be mutually exclusive.
Easiest way to do your part is to not eat meat.
Best thing anyone can do would be to stop agricultural subsidies that make meat cheap.
Utterly beside the point. American buildings alone consume - and waste - far more energy than the entire meat industry. And the only way real change will happen on climate issues is making the transition from combustion-based energy generation and transportation to solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, tidal/current, and whatever else works in the future.
Nope. Sorry. There is going to be a big price to pay don't kid yourself. Forget instant gratification. Not going to happen.
The only green solution is changing peoples mind set. (Good luck on that)
We've been hollering for 40 years now about these issues.
Hoping to have a hot tub some day is no sin-as long as you also hope to heat it with solar power.
I have been an environmentalist for forty years now. Since the biggest problem is overpopulation I limited the number of children I had. And I found two were too many and too expensive. But I couldn't take them back. Eeverything I use is multiplied by six billion because that is what would be used if everyone had what I have. I recycle every inch of paper. I use my own bags I reuse furniture, clothing, whatever. A lot of my furniture is over 100 years old and it is way better than new stuff. My electric bill is low low. I just bought LED light bulbs. They are very expensive but they only draw 1.5 watts per bulb. I walk everywhere. I make my own soup etc. so I don't have cans and cardboard. That's healthier and cheaper. I never buy junk food. I pick up cans thrown on the road and recycle them. Thousands. I never buy bottled water. The bottles are bad for you and they are made from oil. I don't gift wrap presents. I make quilts out of old fabric. I buy local and freeze. It saves energy and local farmers who are fighting land developers.
People should know that war is a direct by product of overpopulation. You should know that an SUV is fueling the war in Iraq. All the soldiers who are dead and wounded, all the programs which America can't afford because of a war for oil plus the deaths which will be caused by global warming - think about it the next time you have a look at an SUV. Finally, I ask myself why people don't realize the only thing they really need that their grandparents didn't have is the progress in medicine. People could and did have happy productive lives without turning the earth into a wasteland. I let my backyard become a tiny forest. It is has birds I never even heard of. It has small wild animals. I don't need an air conditioner because of the trees and my white roof and insulation. Enviromentalism easier and cheaper.
Maddog,
I totally agree with the overpopulation and war thing. People cannot accept the fact that we are physical beings and have physical needs.....
Also, kudos on the lifestyle. I have only two kids. The rest of the green lifestyle, I'm working on.
Definitely agree Dryfactoidobotanoid and this is a topic I would like to address outside of the tips column and in my regular posts. Obviously we can't save the world by wearing bamboo and switching to CFLs, but why not practice what we preach? Green living is the physical performance of our greater convictions. It is applying our far greater goals of environmental reform day-in and day-out.
if you also talked to an economist, he would tell you that a strategy based on individuals doing "the little things" (as RFK Jr calls it, rightly), then we are completely doomed.
why? because people based their behavior primarily on price signals. and price signals are distorted by bad government tax/subsidy and regulatory policies.
in short, you may save your peace of mind, but you won't be saving the world by doing "the little things." the only way to save the world is by understanding how media, the economy, and politics function systemically.
While "saving the world" is a little grandiose, I do agree with the overall direction you're taking. In order for us to slow the rate of climate change in meaningful and yet practical ways, the transition first needs to be at the national policy level, with a massive, World War 2-level effort directed at developing the technologies that will make such things as our transportation and building infrastructures significantly cleaner and more energy efficient.
The power generation and transmission infrastructure also needs a massive modernization, as does the collection of systems by which we get our clean drinking water.
And even with all those, with their significant differences presumed, we're looking at a potential world population increase of nearly 50% by 2050. Sea levels will continue to rise, imperiling the roughly half the world's population living within a meter or two of sea level, as erosion, tides, storms, and storm surges make large parts of these areas uninhabitable. Food fish stocks are predicted to decline precipitously at around the same time. So a large portion of adaptation will be required as well as redesign and transition.
Not to mention all those coastal refugees needing someplace to sleep.
So, "saving the world", as I said, might be a bit grandiose. Making some useful changes, starting at the policy level, which is in fact the only place change of such magnitude can originate, would still be a good idea.
educating girls stabilizes population sizes. that is the only thing that stabilizes population. wars don't do it. famine doesn't do it. disease doesn't do it. only making education for girls a national obsession does it.
Definitely agree Dryfactoidobotanoid and this is a topic I would like to address outside of the tips column and in my regular posts. Obviously we can't save the world by wearing bamboo and switching to CFLs, but why not practice what we preach? Green living is the physical performance of our greater convictions. It is applying our far greater goals of environmental reform day-in and day-out.
Thank you for your comment and please continue to send me thoughts.
Olivia Zaleski
I don't have a car, and my monthly utility bill is $5/month because I don't even use my refrigerator. you're preaching to the choir. but it makes no difference.
Check out this US Carbon Footprint Map, an interactive United States Carbon Footprint Map, illustrating Greenest States to Cities. This site has all sorts of stats on individual State & City energy consumptions, demographics and much more down to your local US City level...
http://www
Loading comments…
Posted September 25, 2007 | 08:00 AM (EST)