Typically, it means being more aware of how your individual behavior may impact the environment.
You don't have to become an activist, join a group, picket or live in a tree house to be considered 'green.' YOU can make small changes to your everyday decisions that will cause less stress to the environment in the long run.
The world has a fixed amount of natural resources - some of which are already depleted. So as population growth greatly strains our finite resources, there are fewer resources available.
If we intend to leave our children and grandchildren with the same standard of living we enjoy, shouldn't we preserve the foundation of that standard of living? Couples save for their first home. Moms and dads save for the children's college educations. Some save for a new car, TV, smart phone, kitchen appliances and gadgets. Most save for retirement, but what about saving clean air, water, fuel sources and soil for future generations?
Some of the greatest threats to future resources come from things we throw away everyday.
Household batteries and electronics often contain dangerous chemicals that may, if sent to a local landfill, leak through the bottom barrier and pollute the groundwater. This can contaminate everything from the soil in which our food grows, to the water which will eventually come out of aquifers and into our tap water.
Many of these chemicals cannot be removed from the drinking water supply, nor from the crops that are harvested from contaminated fields. The risks to human health are tremendous.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the world population is expanding at a mind-boggling rate. The world population is reaching new heights every day. Population counts reached 1 billion people in 1800, and by 1922, that number doubled. The millennium saw over 6 billion people on earth. Guess what that number is today?
People who keep track of such statistics predict our earth will be home to over 9 billion by the year 2049. If you average use of natural resources worldwide, people living in 2050 will only have one quarter of the earth's resources available as compared to people living in 1950. That means that if the world’s natural resources were evenly distributed, people in 2050 will only have 25% of the resources per capita that people in 1950 had.
That's staggering, especially when you consider that earth has a fixed amount of natural resources, and we now know that some of our resources are already diminished. Doesn't it make sense to "Go Green" if you haven't already?
As a mom, home kitchen cook and dog owner, our family is diligent in the simple step of putting applicable trash in the recycle bin. But that's not all. Here are a few things we do.
1. Switch off and unplug electronic devices.
Make sure the TV, DVD, computer, etc. are powered down when not in use. Appliances that are plugged in are still drawing electricity, so remember to unplug them.
2. Adjust the temperature on your water heater.
Showers account for two-thirds of all water heating costs. Try to shave a few minutes off your shower time, which will lower your utility bill, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from your home. You can also purchase "low-flow" shower heads.
3. Replace your normal light bulbs with fluorescent, energy-saving light bulbs.
This can help you save at least $60 a year in utility costs.
4. Make the switch to energy-efficient appliances.
And once you have them, keep them clean. Regularly changing your air conditioner filter or cleaning the gaskets and coils on your refrigerator will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions and can lower your utility bill.
5. Reuse instead of using something new.
A simple example is for your daily cup of coffee, take your own cup or mug. And you’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s time to make the switch. Instead of taking a bag every time you buy something, make a habit of carrying reusable bags with you. Once you make it a habit, it’s easy.
Most Americans already do most, if not all, practice these "green" habits. There is more we can do, and we can continually come up with new ideas. Even small steps make a difference, don't they?