Sustainable Living
Being a Green Consumer
By Larry Bricker
Kermit the Frog once said, "It's
not easy being green." Even though modern life
can be complicated and the choices confusing, being
a green consumer doesn't have to be hard. Being green
just means consuming less and making choices on a
day to day basis with some thought towards the consequences.
By the nature of the way we live we
have a distinct effect on the environment through
the consumption of resources and the disposal of wastes.
In a sense we are drowning in our own affluence (or
is that effluence?). Consider the following facts:
1. The solid wastes generated in the U.S. in ONE YEAR
could pave a highway 24 lanes wide and 1 foot deep
from Boston to Los Angeles.
2. Laid end-to-end, the 18 billion disposable diapers
thrown away in the U.S. each year could reach back
and forth to the moon 7 times!
3. About 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable,
yet we recycle less than 10%.
4. The amount of used, non-recycled motor oil that
is dumped in the U.S. each year is 10-20 times the
amount that leaked from the Exxon Valdez, and it only
takes one quart of oil to contaminate 2 million gallons
of water.
The consequences can be staggering. Landfills are
overflowing and leaking toxic substances into our
water supply. Incinerating trash causes air pollution.
Our oceans, lakes and rivers contain medical wastes
that are either radioactive or potentially pathogenic.
Plastic waste is killing wildlife. Not to mention
we are throwing away valuable resources that could
be recycled.
So what can we do about it? Obviously we can never
reduce our consumption to zero. But we can start by
looking at the four R's of being a green consumer:
1. REDUCE garbage volume by minimizing the amount
of materials you bring home from the store. Ask yourself
if you really need it. Avoid unnecessary packaging.
Think about where it's going to end up after it leaves
your hands. Practice "precycling" by making
environmentally sound decisions at the store and reducing
waste before you buy.
2. RE-USE whatever you can. Avoid throwaway products
and wherever possible choose to purchase durable goods
that you can maintain and repair. Instead of just
tossing, sell or donate those things that you no longer
need.
3. RECYCLE those things that can be recycled in your
community. Practice "precycling" by selecting
recyclable products and packaging when you shop. Start
a compost pile for your yard trimmings and food scraps.
(That will also reduce your dependence on artificial
fertilizers.)
4. REJECT products that are over packaged, non-biodegradable,
and that are disposable by voting with your dollars.
Businesses only sell what the public buys and will
change to meet your buying habits.
The frequently quoted adage "Think globally,
act locally" has never been more timely. A better
way to read it would be: "Local actions have
global consequences". This doesn't mean that
you need to feel responsible for all the environmental
problems, but taking individual responsibility is
where the solutions can begin. Because while no ONE
person's green consumerism will solve all our environmental
problems, multiplied by thousands or millions, it
will make the difference.
SustainLane’s
2006 US City Rankings—a nationwide study
that measures the 50 largest cities in America on
essential quality-of-life and economic factors that
affect your personal sustainability
Angelsnest.org
At Angel's Nest, we are embracing the latest sustainable
energy technologies and perfecting them in a real-world
setting.
Angels
Nest diagram of a living home.
In partnership with Time magazine, the
World Economic Forum hosts the Time Board of Economists
for a discussion of the issues and themes likely to
dominate the global economy in the coming 12 to 18
months.
Montek S. Ahluwalia,
Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, India
Jacob A. Frenkel, Vice-Chairman,
American International Group (AIG), USA
Nouriel Roubini, Chairman and Professor,
Roubini Global Economics, USA
Laura D. Tyson, Professor of Economics,
University of California, Berkeley, USA
Michael J. Elliott, Editor,
Time International, Hong Kong SAR
Peter Gumbel, Senior Writer, Business,
Time Magazine, France
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COSMETIC SAFETY
Did you know: the government cannot mandate safety
studies of cosmetics, and only 11 percent of the 10,500
ingredients FDA has documented in products have been
assessed for safety by the cosmetic industry's review
panel.
Explore your products with Skin Deep's in-depth rating
guides, and find safer choices for you and your family.
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