Interesting Facts About Going Green

There are many ways to go green.

There are many ways to make your life more environmentally responsible and reduce the burden that you are putting on the planet. Some options are small, fast and easy, while others involve a total lifestyle transformation. Different people exhibit differing levels of commitment to a green lifestyle, with some committing themselves completely, some giving it lip service and others ignoring it entirely.

Cars

There is much in the media about the damaging effects of SUVs and the wonderful hybrids that could replace them. In fact, the difference between different types of cars is fairly minor, compared to the damage that they all do to the environment. Focusing solely on tailpipe emissions gives a false view of the impact of cars. In fact, over half of the ecological impact of cars comes from their manufacture and disposal, meaning that buying a new car may be doing more damage than driving an old one, no matter how efficient it is.

Meat

Commercial meat production uses up vast amounts of water and produces huge methane releases that contribute to climate change. Choosing to stop eating meat is a way of going green that also contributes to health and reduces the suffering of animals. Most North Americans are meat eaters and see vegetarians as an aberration, but in fact most people in the world are vegetarians, whether voluntarily or for religious or economic reasons. The source of non-meat food is also an environmental concern. If you stop eating meat and instead buy vegetables that have been trucked halfway around the world, you may be doing more harm than good.

Consumption

Much of the damage that is being done to the planet is from the production, transportation, consumption and disposal of stuff. From hair dryers to plastic toys to cell phones to magazines, we live in a world that is swimming in stuff. The less of it you consume, the less damage you do to the planet. Most of it is completely unnecessary to a happy and healthy life.

Oil

Oil has been in commercial use for less than 150 years, but has completely transformed human society. Oil exploration and extraction has caused tremendous environmental damage, and its use is altering the climate of the planet. Alternatives to the oil economy need to be developed very quickly to avoid further damage and potential collapse of societal infrastructure.

Breeding

The current human population of the planet is being supported by the use of petroleum. It is not sustainable. The most effective form of environmental action that an individual can take is to choose not to have children, thus decreasing human pressure on the planet and giving the rest of ecological reality slightly more room to breathe.

References

• The Daily Green: 30+ Surprising Ways to Save Money by Going Green
• Web Ecoist: A Brief History of the Modern Green Movement in America
• Care 2: Going Green: Separating Environmental Fact from Fiction