So this excellent thread started by Shortpoet - Opinion poll-sustainable living - got me to thinking. All the different answers made it seem to me that we may all have different ideas of what it means to be green. I mean in our personal lives. What we do on a daily basis and how we live.
Personally, I do believe that living as low impact a lifestyle as possible is the greenest way to live. Using as little energy as possible and using as much sustainable energy as can be done. Consuming little. Living in small, energy efficient spaces. Not driving much, using public transportation, walking, biking. Reusing the vast majority of what you buy, or recycling what can't be reused.
This blog post rings very true for me because it describes how I grew up. Very minimalistic compared to life these days.
http://gaasedal.word...friends-status/
It seems to me that in the search for sustainable energy and environmentally safe and sustainable materials for manufacturing new products that we overlook just how much we consume compared to what we used to consume just a few decades ago. Of course, really and truly changing our consumption habits would probably throw our whole economy into chaos and turmoil, but unlimited growth isn't possible. It's going to happen sooner or later.
So, what do you think? What is your definition of green living?
| Create a Free Account or Sign In to connect and share in green living and alternative energy forum discussions. |
0
What's Your Definition of Green Living?
Started by mariaandrea, Jan 16 2012 01:09 AM
32 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 16 January 2012 - 04:03 AM
Thank you sweetie, such a nice comment in your opening line. 
You're probably not as old as I am, but I have seen the changes to the climate
in my lifetime
and it's a sad thing to see. The quickness of it boggles the mind.
How can I, as one person help the hippo or the butterfly?
By using less coal and driving less, I'm reducing the emissions that are eliminating those magnificent creatures.
When you see migrating geese damn near black out the sky by the thousands, flying together as a youngster,
and see those same beautiful birds down to strings of 40 or less as a senior, it's frightening.
Knowing the habitat destruction, knowing the pollution, knowing the tainted water supplies have all led to their reduced numbers.
I've always been an animal lover, and when I witnessed first hand (working at a slaughterhouse) the
horrors perpetrated on those animals, I became a vegetarian.
Video's on the web reconstituted my resolve to boycott that cruelty, not to mention the water used
in the process, the transport emissions; the emissions from the cattle/pigs.
(And that's my choice, I'm not condemning others for their choices.)
We all know that plastics come from oil and gas, so the less packaging I buy in the first place, is less
for me to recycle and less money in the pockets of regimes that might harm us.
With the insulation, better windows, shutting e-gadgets down, I'm burning less coal that adds to the
warming. I spread the word to others, so they use less coal too.
Being raised by a father that had suffered through the great depression as a teenager, our family reused as a way
of life. I'm a baby boomer and in those years, being frugal was the patriotic thing to do-for the war effort.
The whole country pitched in to help our soldiers.
bush, on the other hand, told us to go shopping.
In years since, Americans (and others, around the world) have turned into throw away societies with no respect
for the resources it takes to make that product.
We stopped thinking about "the other guy" and kept our focus on "me." What can I buy? What can I own?
Greenies turned that question around and say "what can I do to help?"
You're probably not as old as I am, but I have seen the changes to the climate
in my lifetime
and it's a sad thing to see. The quickness of it boggles the mind.
How can I, as one person help the hippo or the butterfly?
By using less coal and driving less, I'm reducing the emissions that are eliminating those magnificent creatures.
When you see migrating geese damn near black out the sky by the thousands, flying together as a youngster,
and see those same beautiful birds down to strings of 40 or less as a senior, it's frightening.
Knowing the habitat destruction, knowing the pollution, knowing the tainted water supplies have all led to their reduced numbers.
I've always been an animal lover, and when I witnessed first hand (working at a slaughterhouse) the
horrors perpetrated on those animals, I became a vegetarian.
Video's on the web reconstituted my resolve to boycott that cruelty, not to mention the water used
in the process, the transport emissions; the emissions from the cattle/pigs.
(And that's my choice, I'm not condemning others for their choices.)
We all know that plastics come from oil and gas, so the less packaging I buy in the first place, is less
for me to recycle and less money in the pockets of regimes that might harm us.
With the insulation, better windows, shutting e-gadgets down, I'm burning less coal that adds to the
warming. I spread the word to others, so they use less coal too.
Being raised by a father that had suffered through the great depression as a teenager, our family reused as a way
of life. I'm a baby boomer and in those years, being frugal was the patriotic thing to do-for the war effort.
The whole country pitched in to help our soldiers.
bush, on the other hand, told us to go shopping.
In years since, Americans (and others, around the world) have turned into throw away societies with no respect
for the resources it takes to make that product.
We stopped thinking about "the other guy" and kept our focus on "me." What can I buy? What can I own?
Greenies turned that question around and say "what can I do to help?"
#3
Posted 16 January 2012 - 06:44 AM
I always come back to the premise that we have to vote with our wallets to be green. It means buying quality goods that will last and paying the premium to companies that are doing things well. It also means lambasting the companies that hock goods that will end up in a landfill in short order. We have to avoid this mentality of seeking the lowest price at all costs. It also means always questioning the companies that produce goods we buy to test them for their sustainability. If we buy quality goods, we then have a better chance to maximize their lifetime and to give them another good home if we can no longer use them.
Next I think it is important to push for urban intensification. Big houses and big stores mean we must spend more energy for transportation regardless of how efficient we get. We should be working to eliminate the current suburban lifestyle that consumes so much land and requires so much infrastructure and energy to maintain. If more of us were living in taller buildings, we would save on energy for heating/cooling and transportation.
So for me, green living is about promoting and educating people about the benefits of sustainable living while trying to live it.
Next I think it is important to push for urban intensification. Big houses and big stores mean we must spend more energy for transportation regardless of how efficient we get. We should be working to eliminate the current suburban lifestyle that consumes so much land and requires so much infrastructure and energy to maintain. If more of us were living in taller buildings, we would save on energy for heating/cooling and transportation.
So for me, green living is about promoting and educating people about the benefits of sustainable living while trying to live it.
#4
Posted 16 January 2012 - 07:12 AM
My definition of green living means ensuring that my way of living affects the environment in the least damaging way as possible, while at the same time, making sure that precious resources and commodities aren't wasted and needlessly consumed. After all this, it still needs to be sustainable.
Also, getting as many people to shift to greener lifestyles, while sticking to the above, is what is my definition of green living.
Also, getting as many people to shift to greener lifestyles, while sticking to the above, is what is my definition of green living.
#5
Posted 16 January 2012 - 11:42 AM
Btw I'm 24 years old, but I have definitely seen the change in climate really clear. In 2010 in my country(Bulgaria) there was snow in July and it was freaking cold the whole year with the exception of August. Usually in July we have around 33-35C temperatures and August they get up to 35-37(some places over 40), however that was not the case.
For me living green means taking in account the effect of your actions towards the nature. Though even if I say there are still things that I do, which I shouldn't.
For me living green means taking in account the effect of your actions towards the nature. Though even if I say there are still things that I do, which I shouldn't.
#6
Posted 16 January 2012 - 05:48 PM
Ok, so here's a little exercise. Take 2 families and decide which is greener. Each have 2 parents and 2 kids.
Family 1 - they live in a city neighborhood and have solar panels on the roof which cover most of their energy needs because their house is energy efficient and they're careful. Dad rides a bike to work, mom takes the bus. They recycle and own one hybrid car they use for running errands. They only buy organic produce and meat, usually at a farmers market, and they do lots of little green things at home, like make their own cleaning products, use canvas bags for shopping and buying used clothing. There's a vegetable garden in the backyard. They take one vacation every year, sometimes they fly but they also purchase carbon offsets.
Family 2 - a traditional Amish family living on a small farm, raising all of their own food, or bartering from neighbors doing the same. They do not have electricity or telephones and drive a horse and buggy and build their own homes and barns. Their water comes from a well. They earn money by doing traditional wordworking with hand tools. They purchase cloth but make their own clothing and linens. Their lifestyle is based on re-use and they waste nothing. They mix with the modern world as little as possible.
Which family is greener?
Family 1 - they live in a city neighborhood and have solar panels on the roof which cover most of their energy needs because their house is energy efficient and they're careful. Dad rides a bike to work, mom takes the bus. They recycle and own one hybrid car they use for running errands. They only buy organic produce and meat, usually at a farmers market, and they do lots of little green things at home, like make their own cleaning products, use canvas bags for shopping and buying used clothing. There's a vegetable garden in the backyard. They take one vacation every year, sometimes they fly but they also purchase carbon offsets.
Family 2 - a traditional Amish family living on a small farm, raising all of their own food, or bartering from neighbors doing the same. They do not have electricity or telephones and drive a horse and buggy and build their own homes and barns. Their water comes from a well. They earn money by doing traditional wordworking with hand tools. They purchase cloth but make their own clothing and linens. Their lifestyle is based on re-use and they waste nothing. They mix with the modern world as little as possible.
Which family is greener?
#7
Posted 16 January 2012 - 07:09 PM
Well the most obvious choice is family 2, however they don't do it because they want to be green, but because their lifestyle is like that. If we take that into account then family 1 should be the "greener" family, but they are obviously doing less then family 2. There isn't really a right answer in my opinion, rather both families are doing great. Besides it's not really a competition :)
#8
Posted 17 January 2012 - 07:41 AM
I think green living could means having a lifestyle that would not want to bring harmful effect to the environment. Which it was hard to have totally when living in a city using modern products, technologies and a lot other things modernization has to offer to us. But there are ways to make our lifestyles greener as possible on our own little ways.
Just like planting some trees and other plants. reusing and reylcling, not smoking and using water and eletricity wisely.
Just like planting some trees and other plants. reusing and reylcling, not smoking and using water and eletricity wisely.
#9
Posted 17 January 2012 - 01:45 PM
A few years back, I had a major water problem. My outside faucet broke, flooding the yard.
The city would fix it for free, but along with their free help is usually a 30 day wait.
I could turn on the water at the meter, but the water gushed out of the faucet;
so I'd only turn it on for a few brief minutes every day.
I would turn it on once a day for a shower, flushing the commode, fill the sink with wash/rinse water,
and potted a lot of water in containers I had. (Laundry was done elsewhere.)
When you can't just go to the sink and turn on the tap, or flush as often as you'd like, or bathe;
you appreciate that water so much more when you have to carry a several gallon container around.
That 30 day wait taught me a lot about how precious water is, and how much we (I) waste.
Talk about fast showers!
It might be a good experiment for anyone here to try. (Renters couldn't)
Jug up water and turn the water off at the meter for a week or two, and see how drastically you can
reduce your use too.
(I triple dog dare ya')
The city would fix it for free, but along with their free help is usually a 30 day wait.
I could turn on the water at the meter, but the water gushed out of the faucet;
so I'd only turn it on for a few brief minutes every day.
I would turn it on once a day for a shower, flushing the commode, fill the sink with wash/rinse water,
and potted a lot of water in containers I had. (Laundry was done elsewhere.)
When you can't just go to the sink and turn on the tap, or flush as often as you'd like, or bathe;
you appreciate that water so much more when you have to carry a several gallon container around.
That 30 day wait taught me a lot about how precious water is, and how much we (I) waste.
Talk about fast showers!
It might be a good experiment for anyone here to try. (Renters couldn't)
Jug up water and turn the water off at the meter for a week or two, and see how drastically you can
reduce your use too.
(I triple dog dare ya')
#10
Posted 17 January 2012 - 06:55 PM
I usually reduce my showers in the summer by using only cold water(really cold water) and my showers are really fast. I do take at least 2 a day, but they are many times faster then my usual showers.
Also I've been in such a situation myself when I visited my grandmother. There wasn't any water due to some problem with the pipes for a whole week, and I had to carry water for about 300-400 meters. Now that's not much for me, but for a 86 year old woman, that's rather unpleasent, also imagine having to do that every day...
Also I've been in such a situation myself when I visited my grandmother. There wasn't any water due to some problem with the pipes for a whole week, and I had to carry water for about 300-400 meters. Now that's not much for me, but for a 86 year old woman, that's rather unpleasent, also imagine having to do that every day...
#11
Posted 17 January 2012 - 08:20 PM
mariaandrea, on 16 January 2012 - 05:48 PM, said:
Which family is greener?
I would say family 2 is greener, but it would be very difficult for the current population of America to revert to supporting themselves and living in this way... perhaps once the population falls dramatically, but as of right now I don't think we have the amount of arable land available to us that would be needed for everyone having a small farm and their own livestock and horses.
Personally, I am happy my son lives in an era where we have computers and the internet... he is rather gifted and creative and I am not sure he would be appreciated as much in a community or lifestyle where long hours of physical toil are probably the better accomplishment than coming up with a new idea or creating a work of art.
#12
Posted 18 January 2012 - 09:42 PM
If this question was ask in times of my grandparents, they would never knew what green living is. Its because they can eat anything they want without the fear of getting ill or develop cancer or other serious problem. Its because they only eat foods that are not tainted with chemicals.
So if I want to define green living in the foods I eat, then I would define it as eating only the foods that are all organic.
I the environment aspect of it, I will also refer it to my grandparents way of living. That is living in an environment free from the current way of life like electricity, gadgets and the like.
So if I want to define green living in the foods I eat, then I would define it as eating only the foods that are all organic.
I the environment aspect of it, I will also refer it to my grandparents way of living. That is living in an environment free from the current way of life like electricity, gadgets and the like.
#13
Posted 18 January 2012 - 10:49 PM
Personally, I think a blend of both families would be the most sustainable and environmentally friendly way to live in the modern world, particularly for city dwellers. I may camp for a week at a time without electricity, but I wouldn't want to live that way day in and day out, and living in a city apartment I certainly don't have the space to grow all my own food. But I like the idea of living with as little impact as possible. And I also like the idea of being able to buy carbon offsets. There are trade-offs for living in the world as we've made it.
#14
Posted 21 January 2012 - 12:33 AM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 16 January 2012 - 04:03 AM, said:
You're probably not as old as I am, but I have seen the changes to the climate
in my lifetime
and it's a sad thing to see. The quickness of it boggles the mind.
in my lifetime
and it's a sad thing to see. The quickness of it boggles the mind.
I never thought you’re an old guy until this… revelation.
@ Topic:
Green living for me is living harmoniously with nature. That said I can’t bring them harm, I must avoid doing anything that may cause destruction to them. I would always remember that little things mean a lot. So if all you can do is to dispose your garbage properly, drink on your tumbler instead of buying bottled water, consuming less energy by turning the lights off in the morning, however little but if you mean to do it for the sake of the environment, that could already bring a big difference.
#15
Posted 21 January 2012 - 03:51 AM
Green Thumb, on 21 January 2012 - 12:33 AM, said:
I never thought you’re an old guy until this… revelation.
That proves my theory-age is a state of mind, not years marked off a calender.
But I'm a golden girl not guy.
#16
Posted 21 January 2012 - 09:45 AM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 21 January 2012 - 03:51 AM, said:
Thanks!
That proves my theory-age is a state of mind, not years marked off a calender.
But I'm a golden girl not guy.
That proves my theory-age is a state of mind, not years marked off a calender.
But I'm a golden girl not guy.
Haha. I would have thought the quote in your signature and the kitten avatar might have given away that you are a lady.
#18
Posted 25 January 2012 - 02:21 AM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 21 January 2012 - 03:51 AM, said:
Thanks!
That proves my theory-age is a state of mind, not years marked off a calender.
But I'm a golden girl not guy.
That proves my theory-age is a state of mind, not years marked off a calender.
But I'm a golden girl not guy.
Sorry about that. I assume you’re a guy because you sounded like a wise man to me. Er, I think that speaks of age. Green Peace!
#19
Posted 25 January 2012 - 02:50 AM
Green Thumb, on 25 January 2012 - 02:21 AM, said:
Sorry about that. I assume you’re a guy because you sounded like a wise man to me. Er, I think that speaks of age. Green Peace!
#20
Posted 20 February 2012 - 10:00 AM
I always try to waste as little as possible - not just to save money, but because I was brought up that way. My grandparents were very poor, and their motto was, 'Waste not, want not.' Everything that could be used, was re-used until it was fit for nothing else. She'd also water down things like detergents to make them go further.
I carried on with that, and I've now taken it even further, I use a laundry ball instead of detergent, and only use detergent for very dirty wash loads and my sheets, which don't come up white without detergent. I use microfibre mops for the floors, and a microfibre mitt for dusting and cleaning the windows, so that cuts down on more cleaning products.
I define my way of living as green and frugal, because I'm saving on raw materials and waste, and also saving money.
I carried on with that, and I've now taken it even further, I use a laundry ball instead of detergent, and only use detergent for very dirty wash loads and my sheets, which don't come up white without detergent. I use microfibre mops for the floors, and a microfibre mitt for dusting and cleaning the windows, so that cuts down on more cleaning products.
I define my way of living as green and frugal, because I'm saving on raw materials and waste, and also saving money.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
