Are You Really Being Green?

Since I began this article series people have asked more and more questions about "going green" Two questions that have been asked the most, "What does Green mean?" and "How do I know if the products I choose are not some con instead of being truly good for the environment?"

I always say that the answer to your first question is hiding in your last one. And you are right to ask the question because there are lot of companies that are jumping on the environmental band wagon. These groups claim to be trying to assist us in saving the resources of the planet but are in reality just trying to line their pockets with our cash.

So What is Really Good for the Environment?

That is not as simple as it sounds to explain, let me give you an example to make it more clear: Just recently, I was watching David Letterman interview Katie Couric and David made a comment that he owned an "Electric Car". I believe that he meant that his car plugged into a household supply of electricity, which charged up it's power cells, so that when he wanted to go somewhere it buzzed along like a "glorified golf cart". Well that's a fine start and Mr. Letterman should be applauded for his efforts (as well as his jokes), but that's not the whole test of being truly green.

Unless David has a solar panel on his home or other alternative replenish- able energy source installed for recharging his unit, his electric car is drawing off the same power grid that runs his toaster and maybe using more petroleum. Because, even in the case of hydro-generated electricity (like dams produce) when a energy source can not produce enough electricity to fulfill it's obligations, it shops for more and purchases from sources that may produce their energy by coal or oil. So the best way is to understand that truly green is to use replenish-able sources.

Example 2. If you choose metal in a building to save trees, if the metal-house causes the use of more natural resources to be consumed by the forging of the metals, you may not be as green as you think. The wood though, as a resource is replaceable, a better idea maybe to choose the wooden structure and go out and plant a few oak trees.

Example 3: Opting to use plastic bags instead of paper ones or paper bags instead of plastic: both are unfriendly for the environment, paper is a waste of a resource, wood and plastic are both bad for the environment. A better option would be a fabric bag for your groceries.

Hints: anything that grows or filters to clean, like drinking water, is replaceable if you take charge of their replenishment.

Hint: If you choose reusable and replaceable you got most of the problem of sustainability licked.

I will write more on your real green choices in the days ahead, so email me a question at

　

　robertleealfordjr@yahoo.com to get your question answered by someone who knows and cares.