7 Steps to Becoming a “Green Being”
John Willoner’s Eco-House at Findhorn (UK). Turf roof, passive solar, solar panel.
“Is it possible to affect the environment?”
That was one of the questions that confronted me on one on-line questionnaire I took over a year ago.
As a naturalist and former instructor of natural science and ecology (grades 1 – 9), I found this questions to be the most provocative of all. My initial response took the form of another question: How do you mean–positively or negatively? From the radical environmental perspective, all we can do is have a negative impact on the ecology/biosphere–just by existing as we do.
But, after some thought, I realized that we can also (and must) affect the eco-bio realm positively –by working towards moderating our personal energy consumption (related to one’s “carbon footprint”), diminishing one’s waste creation, and minimizing one’s environmental impact.
There need not be any rigid ideology backing these goals up. These can be achieved in different ways by different folks. I believe the general goals should be taught in schools starting at an early age (indeed many schools are already doing so). Although not everyone raised in this new culture will be completely successful at achieving these goals, enough will grow up attempting to do so to make a real, long-term difference.
But what can the average gal or guy do, practically, starting right now?
Here are my own personal steps to becoming a “green being”:
1} Try to stop driving exclusively gasoline powered automobiles. Carpool at least
once a week. Ride Public Transportation when you can and encourage Public Transit to
utilize/purchase alternative fuel buses (bio-diesel, natural gas, electric, etc.)
2} Support and vote for politicians who want to invest in sustainable and clean energy
solutions and who support efficiency standards and environmental accountability.
3} Try to buy food that is locally grown and raised. Become aware of the entire industrial
process that brings a product to your doorstep, and thus shop/purchase with the eco-bio
in mind.
4} If you invest in the market, Invest in environmentally responsible companies (a little bit of research is needed here).
5} Work to preserve and/or support organizations that preserve green space, forests and
wildlife habitat.
6} Conserve energy locally (in your home environment). Use energy more efficiently.
Recycle as much as you can. Minimize waste. Compost if possible.
7} Try to live “low” on the energy hierarchy as much as possible. This means consciously
not living a lifestyle that depends upon profligate consumption of energy.
By the by, all of these steps will save you money in some fashion (step 2 will save tax dollars in the long run through better efficiency standards and increased over-all prosperity through raising your state’s GDP)
These 7 steps are things that are easily doable for most folks, and things that I try to do in my own life…and true, I don’t always succeed at all of them, but I have found that most of them are achievable with a little bit of effort (and I know ’cause I can be pretty lazy sometimes).
Good luck. Keep going green.
photo: W.L Tarbert / Public Domain
