By Pamela Okutoyi
Within the past few years, it seems like everyone - from local businesses to close friends - has begun the journey of “going green.”
But what does this mean exactly?
Some people believe “going green” is being a free spirited, tree hugging hippy! And yet some believe it’s simply not eating the meat and not using the plastic.
“Going green” can mean something different to everyone.
In general terms, “going green” equates to eco-friendly living. It means recycling when possible, using sustainable products, eating local food and doing whatever you can to reduce your impact on Mother Earth.
It could be just making one small swap to something less wasteful or it could be trying to ride your bike instead of driving or hanging your clothes on the line rather than using the dryer.
Whatever it is, every little change makes a big impact on the world, especially when millions of people decide to make a similar change.
The trend has been driven largely by the ever growing concern of climate change and its impacts on human life, our wildlife and the environment.
The Naysayers
Some critics of this emerging Eco-friendly norm emphasize that climate change isn’t much of a concern. They point to a chosen few who consider the overall rise in temperature and resulting changes in the earth a natural shift. They say “going green” is simply good for business. When a company brands its products as environmentally friendly, they fly off the shelves!
The Proponents
However, not everyone feels that way. Many people believe that “going green” is an effective way to halt global warming and safeguard the future of their children and grandchildren. No matter how small, each and every step taken in the right direction makes an impact that will eventually add up to an enormous shift in the environment.
The Pivotal Factor
The choice we make – to ether continue working toward a healthier planet or drop the endeavor - is what will drive future generations.
The more people believe that small changes can have a large, lasting impact, the better Mother Earth’s chance of surviving and thriving over to the next century or millennium.
The Way forward
So how exactly can you go green? And why?
The methods to decrease your carbon footprint are endless. You can simply turn down your thermostat, thus saving energy and fuel, or take a further step and plan an eco-friendly wedding. This will keep the planet healthy and even save some money.
If the changing status of the environmental doesn’t convince you that going green is essential, maybe the financial savings aspect will. Think of how much you could save on your electricity bill at home if you simply turned down the thermostat!
But bills aren’t the only reason to “go green.” It’s good for your health too. Consider, for instance, the fact that painters used to enlist lead-based paint – even in schools. Nowadays, painters use no or low –VOC paints so that their employees don’t breathe in toxic fumes, and neither do the people who inhabit the rooms afterward.
With so much evidence continuing to build that points to climate change as a long-lasting potential problem, you can probably bet that “going green” is not going away. It is a new way to treat the fragile Earth that provides us with so much.
Start doing your part in small ways, and you might be surprised by the larger change it helps to create in the world.
Thanks for your interest in this amazing, yet sometimes complicated topic!