Going Green

An increasing number of people are looking to tread more lightly on this planet and going green. This can be done in many different ways, depending on geographical location, social economic status, gender and profession, to name but a few. But the fact is that anyone in any situation can do their share to lead a greener lifestyle. One of the most effective ways of going green is switching to alternative energy. You can retrofit the house with solar panels, install a domestic wind turbine, tap into geothermal reserves and switch to a utility that generates electricity from renewable sources. Switching to a mode of transport fuelled by renewable energy is also an impacting way of going green. These include biodiesel and electric vehicles (EV), flex fuel cars (E85, for instance) and, even better, cycling (human energy is definitely a top renewable type of energy).

The average American produces around 4.4 pounds of trash every day (two kilos), therefore recycling and reusing are essential steps to take for going green. Recycling has already become a part of everyday life in many countries but it’s not enough. Reusing will stretch the longevity of objects before they go to the recycling mill. Reducing is also part of the process – even better than recycling and reusing is to avoid the need for any of the two. Being more thoughtful when out shopping (making lists can help a lot), avoiding products with too much packaging and valuing longevity over disposability can help to reduce waste.

In 2006 the U.N. published a report revealing that livestock produces 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions – that is more than all transport in the world combined. So adopting a vegetarian diet is a great and healthy way to go green and can be done three times a day. Still on the food subject, buying local and seasonal products and avoiding products that are linked to deforestation (such as palm oil) will add an extra green layer to your food habits.

Going green involves several other actions that can make a difference: switch to compact fluorescent lights (CFL); avoid long-haul flights whenever possible; save water by reducing consumption and installing a rain collection system; buy vintage instead of new; insulate the house properly; use a programmable thermostat; walk instead of drive; grow your own vegetables; compost and share more (which leads to more socializing). People always find that going green increases their sense of well-being and purpose.