Introduction
Living green is more than a lifestyle change, it is a mindset. It means to live with intention—to preserve our planet today and into the future. It is also a connection to our past. It’s a return to a time when wasting food, resources, consumer goods and money was taboo. It was not that long ago. So, when did our perspective change? Was it with the first packaged dinner? Or maybe it was with the first disposable diaper added to a landfill. The list is endless. But once the throw-away concept caught on, business couldn’t keep up with the demand for single use items. It is time to reverse this trend and business agrees. Today there is no reason to not go green. Alternative technologies and products are readily available to the green consumer.
The easiest place to start is in our homes. It’s convenient and inexpensive to make green choices at the supermarket. Green products now fill store shelves alongside more traditional brands of cleaners and paper products. Organic and local produce is making its way into mainstream grocery chains and specialty stores are expanding. Farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Community Gardens are commonplace in both rural and urban settings.
The home construction and remodeling industries have embraced eco-friendly products and alternative energy systems. Many local governments offer tax incentives and subsidize low interest loans to homeowners wanting to go green. The installations of water saving systems are encouraged and often mandatory, as communities struggle to meet private and commercial water needs.
The failure of Detroit to recognize the need for fuel-efficient cars has all but ruined the U.S. auto industry. The rush is now on to catch up in the hybrid, electric and alternative fuel market. Consumers are demanding better choices and each year brings new technological advances in transportation from major manufacturers.
The fact is that the green movement has infiltrated just about every area of society. The travel industry promotes eco-tourism, our pets are going green, Wall Street has taken notice with green investments, and fashion designers are now eco-chic. All for a good cause, saving our home, Planet Earth.
Elaine Webster, Staff Writer for Greener Living Today, lives in the Sonoma County wine region of Northern California. The strong environmental movement of the San Francisco Bay Area allows her access to the best in green technology and innovation. Elaine writes media, product and book reviews and has recently finished a series of articles on eco-tourism.
