Can You Afford to "Go Green"?

Published on April 19, 2007 By JillUser In Home & Family

I watched GMA this morning and, like a lot of other talk realted shows recently, they focused on "gowing green". They showed all sorts of "green" products for the home. All the while I was wondering what everything cost. At the end of the segment they addressed the cost issue with the answer of "All of these products are comparable to regular products on the market".

I don't know for sure about those products but I do know that a lot of the "environmentally friendly" products at the supermarket cost sometimes up to double the average price. Not only that, but it isn't easy to find sheets made with bamboo fiber or VOC free paint. I'm not even convinced that those products are all that helpful.

I just wonder if all of these celebs that are pushing the "green life" are living it. One instance that made me chuckle was the Cheryl Crow tour where she is going to college campuses to talk about going green and she is contributing by riding in a bus that burns corn oil. What about the pollutants that the corn oil is producing. Sure, it's an alternative fuel but is it a good alternative?

I hope people aren't just gobbling up these "green" products as a knee jerk reaction and as a way of being able to say "See, I'm doing my part!" Don't get me wrong, I think there are plenty of things that we should do to conserve resources. I just think that people need to use their brains about it.

I think we need to get away from being such a disposable society but in order to do that, two things need to change 1) We have to have products that we can repair and then reuse and 2) We have to have products that cost less to repair than it costs to just by a new one. Right now, far too many products in our lives are easier and less expensive to merely replace than to repair and reuse.

I also think that we are going to have to slow down. As of right now we are expected to go, go, go all the time. Where is the time to make your own ___, repair your ___, or even make changes in our homes in order to save energy and resources. Anymore, if it isn't simply a matter of a phone call, stop at the store or visit to a website, most people don't do it.

We used to make our own clothes, patch them and hand them down. Now, we don't have the time and it often cost less to buy an article of clothing than to buy the materials and make it.

I guess I can't complain too much about the steps people are taking since I don't have any answers to the problem myself.

Comments (Page 2)

Dr Guy

on Apr 20, 2007

Change is always for the better eventually; it’s the only way you can make things better.

That is a very dangerous attitude. If a doctor does not know what is wrong with a patient, then giving them drugs that might help with a staff infection - when the problem is an abnormal heart beat, is dangerous. If we are to accept the assumption that these celebrities and other "experts" are playing doctor with the planet, then doing something before we realize the cause and effect can be, and probably will be more lethal than doing nothing.

If Global Warming is a normal cyclical event that will change in time (and the data shows that the current hot spell has only been occurring for 30 years - hence the hysteria about global cooling - for the same reasons they are yelling global warming today - 30 years ago), then if we were to effect a change in the weather, and the pattern shifted back to the post WWII years (cooler than average), we will send the globe into an ice age, instead of a few cold winters.

So far, NO ONE, with any reasonable authority, can tell us that in fact global warming is the sole result of man's activities, or that it is not a cyclical event. Doing something to stop global warming when we are not doing anything to cause it is worse than doing nothing.

Dr Guy

on Apr 20, 2007

p.s. That does not mean we cant or should not do something about polution. The issues may be related, but they may not. But as the UN scientists have already stated (and this can be taken with a cow lick of salt), if we eliminate all polution tomorrow, it would not affect global warming.

foreverserenity

on Apr 20, 2007

I think there are plenty of things that we should do to conserve resourcesAnd I think this is the key to how to go "green" affordably. Sure, not everyone can afford to drive a hybrid or buy VOC free paint (I had actually never even heard of that), but everyone can afford to turn off the lights when they leave a room, or turn the heat down a few degrees. People can also look into additional efficiency methods that are designed to save them money--for example timed thermostats that program the temperature so that you don't have to keep the air conditioning on when you are away all day, more efficient lightbulbs that will save you money on your electricity bill, or even making a point to purchase EnergyStar products when you have to replace electric items like your television. [From my experience, EnergyStar products are equivalent in price with the other items--in fact, I purchased my television in college because it was the cheapest one available and only afterwards did I realize it was EnergyStar]. All of these things will reduce your electricity consumption which in turn will put money back into your pocket. Now, whether you use that money to buy sheets made with bambo fiber or put gas in your Hummer is completely up to you!

I agree with you Shades! We might not all be able to buy the fancy stuff but we each can do little things towards making our environment better. I think it's something that everyone should seriously think about and try to do. Sometimes we can't look at the messenger who is givng the message, but we definately can look at and listen to what is being said.

stubbyfinger

on Apr 20, 2007

I care because I am not convinced that humans are the primary cause of global warming and even if they are, I'm not convinced that a degree or two of temperature change is that bad. And so, when I see those who are yelling that the sky is falling not behaving in tune with their words, it brings into question about whether they really believe it either.

I didn’t think the article was really about global warming just being conservative. But I think it could be a 100 years before climatologist will be able to say for certain that humans effect climate change. Even if Florida disappears we still won’t know for certain it wasn’t a natural climate cycle. You got to admit though it’s pretty funny that Doc thinks if we try to do anything about it we might overcorrect and cause an Ice Age:)

None of the politicians or celebrities has any credibility to speak on global warming. It’s all just there opinion, not even an educated guess on their part.

They do however have enormous influence. Some celebs have fan clubs that number in the tens of thousands. So if they can speak an cause ten thousands mindless fans to live a more conservative lifestyle that’s gust peachy, I’ll get over any issues I have with hypocrisy or there credibility.

Your analogy was imperfect anyway, stubby. I thought this was about the environment and not about you trying to "go nazi" as the weight police. That's a complete hijack and I will ignore it.

Wasn’t my analogy Gid. I continued it because I thought I could use it to make the point that we get very defensive when we think someone is trying to tell us what to do. Even if we know what they’re saying is correct. And our knee jerk reaction is to look for an excuse to ignore them.

Jewbu

on Apr 20, 2007

Hi All,

Great article JillUser, thank you. I wonder myself about the media folks and their green efforts, but such wondering can get in our own way and, in the end, doesn't help us. Personally, I do what I can. I use those spiral light bulbs, try to consolodate wash, try to wash dishes by hand as often as possible. Don't let the tap water run. I ride my bike as often as I can to places I need to be. Or run. I think its the little things that are important. Collectively they add up like pennies in those ubiquitous jars in people's homes.

In the mountains we lived without electricity for two years, added solasr power in the third year. We used oil lamps, a wood burning cookstove, and collected our own water from our rooftop. We lived thirteen miles off the highway so we didn't drive much. We had a couple of horses and I often rode my horse the three miles or so to my mailbox. This was a great experiment for us.

When we decided to add the solar power system, we needed to decide what sort of things we would like and how much power they consumed. We chose low wattage items with a few exceptions like a coffee percolator. Our refrigerator was propane and had no moving parts so it was both energy efficient and completely silent.

This effort taught us a number of things. First we could live with a whole lot less and actually live better than we had before. We ate less prepackaged foods, took time to cook, and found that living could be a series of truly deliberate choices which, if thought out, made life really wonderful.

As my body began to decline however, we had to move back down off the mountain and into a small city. We have tried to maintain some of our experimental habits. But, alas, convenience is a slow killer of value.

Be well.

Draginol

on Apr 20, 2007

I'd love to power my house with solar power. Wind power is more problematic since it requires a seperate structure using space.

I'm willing to spend money on things I'm convinced will help. But I don't do it for the environment but rather I do it because I like being less dependent on others for my energy.

Me and KarmaGirl have talked about the GM Volt. I'd buy that right now. Even if there was a $5k cost involved, I'd buy it. I'm driven by convenience. I don't like having to go to the gas station every 20 days or so like I do now. It's a little thing but I just don't like it.

I get a magazine called Mother Earth News on occasion and it's often not clear which things are good for the environment and which things are merely good for opportunistic scheisters.

Make it convenient and straight-forward to be green where the benefits are obvious and people will come. I think there's a significant market of people who will pay a slight premium for renewable technologies as long as the benefits are spelled out and they're convenient to implement.

Jewbu

on Apr 20, 2007

I'm willing to spend money on things I'm convinced will help. But I don't do it for the environment but rather I do it because I like being less dependent on others for my energy.

It was a very good feeling to have one monthly utility bill, a telephone bill. Our solar system creates more than enough electric to meet our needs on a daily basis. We still own that house and the system, but it is up for sale.

Make it convenient and straight-forward to be green where the benefits are obvious and people will come. I think there's a significant market of people who will pay a slight premium for renewable technologies as long as the benefits are spelled out and they're convenient to implement.

I agree. Those florescent spiral lights, for example, out perform regular bulbs and are far more efficient. Even though they cost a little more, in the long run, they are far less expensive all the way around. I've tried renewable/rechargable batteries (AAs) but am not a fan of them. I do like those inexpensive continers for food storage as opposed to baggies, though baggies have a use. And the multi- size paper towels are a great little invention. Still, I try to use a simple spray bottle filed with a little Clorax and water with a cloth towel for most kitchen clean-ups.

There are a lot of small things that can be done. Mother Earth News is a good source of info, but I saw as repetitive and somewhat preachy (like me

.

See ya!

KarmaGirl

on Apr 20, 2007

Wind power is more problematic since it requires a separate structure using space.

Yeah, you have to have land (over an acre), open area, and a place that has zoning that allows for it. Solar can be installed just about anywhere, but it's not very efficient in Michigan.

Mother Earth News used to be a good source for environmentally friendly living, but they are getting a little commercialized and not as sensible as it used to be.

foreverserenity

on Apr 20, 2007

Mother Earth News used to be a good source for environmentally friendly living, but they are getting a little commercialized and not as sensible as it used to be.

It's ridiculous how everything eventually go this route isn't it? I guess if they can't survive the way they started out, eventually they have to earn money to exist. Kinda like most things anyway!

Draginol

on Apr 20, 2007

Yeah, you have to have land (over an acre), open area, and a place that has zoning that allows for it. Solar can be installed just about anywhere, but it's not very efficient in Michigan.

Indeed. BTW, is quoting not working for you guys?

JeremyG

on Apr 21, 2007

There is a really good example of a simple way for people to "go green", but they dont out of pure laziness.

Don't use plastic bags at the supermarket!

JillUser

on Apr 21, 2007

There is a really good example of a simple way for people to "go green", but they dont out of pure laziness.
Don't use plastic bags at the supermarket!

This isn't entirely true. I often forget to bring bags and even when I do, it seems I always have too many groceries to fit. I reuse the plastic bags over and over again though. Also, my supermarket uses more bio friendly bags and whenever I can, I get paper bags but it is really difficult to handle a baby and paper bags that have no handles.

But I do agree that you should bring bags whenever you can and most people simply never do.

JillUser

on Apr 21, 2007

MasonM

on Apr 21, 2007

think that recycling hard to manufacture (or easy to recycle) things is a good idea, too. I mean, why throw out cardboard when it can be recycled so easily? I think the garbage in the dumps will overwhelm us before man made "global warming" ever has a chance.

I agree and that's where I focus most of my own attention when it comes to reducing waste. I recycle my old clothing for cleaning rags and such instead of just tossing them out. I use my own mug when I buy coffee to avoid disposable cups, use a backpack instead of the plastic shopping bags most store use these days, etc.

I try to not throw away anything that can be reused in some fashion. I try to buy products that are bulk packaged when I can and store them in glass jars so as to avoid throwing out a lot of packaging.

A lot of these things can actually save you money as well as reducing waste. I know riding my bicycle instead of driving sure saves a lot of gas money. (but I'll admit that lately I have been seriously considering buying another Harley)

Texas Wahine

on Apr 21, 2007

I have NEVER seen anyone bring their own bags to the grocery store. Tell me more about this.

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