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Small Changes Prevent Big Footprints

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The more we learn about carbon footprints and greenhouse gases, the more mindful we become about the damage that is being done to Mother Earth. The fact is that much of the damage could be prevented with just a little effort. Surveys show that most Americans acknowledge the environmental crisis we are facing and most are concerned about global warming. Unfortunately, too few people translate those concerns into positive action.

Some think that “going green” is expensive. They think greening their home has to mean installing fancy solar panels, radiant heat floors or expensive outdoor greenhouses. But it can begin with simple, inexpensive steps. For example compact florescent lights (CFL) last 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs and use 75 percent less energy.

Some people don’t embrace green living because they believe there is little that an individual can do to make a difference. The truth is an individual commitment can make a significant difference, especially when millions of individuals explore ways to honor Mother Earth. For instance, just taking your own coffee mug to work instead of using disposable Styrofoam cups can make a big difference, particularly if you encourage your coworkers to do the same. Stop drinking bottled water. How often do you recycle that plastic water bottle? Collectively we are dumping 40 million plastic water bottles per day. Purchase a home water filter and start carrying tap water in a stainless steel bottle.

Buy canvas grocery bags and take them with you when you go grocery shopping. Canvas bags are very durable and much easier to carry than flimsy grocery bags. If something spills in your canvas bag, just toss it into the laundry. Buy vegetables at your local farmer’s market. Food from local farmers is fresher and usually less expensive.

Paying your bills online saves a lot of paper waste and is more convenient. Assert your spending power and refuse to purchase from companies who pollute or damage the environment. Join a consumer list that tells manufacturers you will not buy their product and why.

From the beginning Mother Nature has provided us with an abundance of natural resources but the human race has depleted many of them. It is time for us to nurture the earth. Going green is not a marketing fad; it is simply a matter of living mindfully and thinking about what we consume and how it affects the environment. The changes will only come when we translate our good intentions into meaningful actions. Perhaps the concept of green living can best be summed up in the following quote from Thomas Edison: “Until a man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favorable comparison with the products of Nature, the living cell of a plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life.”