Going Green: Take Action Now

There is a lot of talk these days about “going green”; green cars, green supermarkets, green clothes and shoes. So why has this new emerald obsession started sweeping the country? Well, unless you have been living on the moon for the past few years, you probably will have noticed that global climate change is becoming a real and fast approaching threat. Documentaries, books, newspaper and magazine articles have been summarizing the growing threat to our environment for years, showcasing the different ways in which global warming is already starting to manifest. Hurricanes, floods, draughts, tsunamis; the past few years has seen a surge in almost every kind of extreme weather around the world. And experts predict that unless everyone — not just you, not just me, but everyone — starts living in a more eco-friendly, sustainable manner, things are only going to get worse.

So you’re aware of global warming and understand that it is affected by things you do every day.

Great!  Now what?

Even with the best intentions, starting a change towards a green lifestyle can seem daunting if not flat out overwhelming. Where should you start? The best way to get moving in the right direction is to determine how much of a negative impact you’re making on the environment already, appropriately called your ‘carbon footprint‘. There are a number of websites available to help you determine your carbon footprint. These sites take into account a number of factors — family size, location, age, etc. — and then ask you a series of questions about your fuel, energy, water and disposal practices. Your answers determine your basic carbon footprint – the starting point for making changes to your lifestyle to reduce your environmental impact.

Now that you know your carbon footprint you can start taking small steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle. The most commonsense options are, unfortunately, the most difficult for many people to change. Many people are finding that walking, biking, or bussing to work or the grocery store is a great alternative to driving. However, there are still a large number of people that don’t want to give up the convenience of driving, even if it would save hundreds of dollars in gas.

Reducing your water and electricity usage is another great way to shrink your carbon footprint. But, like driving, many people are reluctant to give up their favorite TV shows or extra long shower in the morning. Financially speaking, being conservative in your water and power use is a very smart move. Think about all the money you would save if you cut your water and power bills in half.

Impossible? Hardly.

By applying simple green changes to your lifestyle, such as turning off lights when you leave a room and only doing laundry when you have a full load, can save you a bunch of green as well as help save our environment.

There are larger, more involved things you can do to live green. If you must drive, choosing a hybrid or electric vehicle helps lower CO2 emissions in your area. Many power companies are starting to offer green options, such as wind, solar, or water powered electricity. There are even companies that you can pay to plant trees in your name. These “offset” groups generally are good-intentioned, but you must keep in mind that you can’t buy away your carbon footprint; it will require effort in your day-to-day life.

Luckily, there are big financial advantages to going green. Lowering utility bills and gas expenses are just the beginning. Installing energy-efficient windows and doors in your house will lower your energy bill as well as maintenance costs in the long run. Planting a simple garden — a great way to help clean the air and soil — will cut down on food costs when it comes time for harvest. Even reusing jars and cans for storage or arts and crafts projects keeps them out of landfills and saves you a little money in the process.

“Going green” has gone from a trendy buzz phrase to a lifestyle necessity in a few short years, and for good reason. If every household in the country took just a few simple steps towards a more sustainable existence, the earth would have a much bigger chance in its fight against a seemingly impending ecological doom.

And saving money? Icing on the cake.