Going+Green

( http://www.whataretheywaitingfor.com/america-going-green.html)

‘Going green’ refers to a heightened awareness of using the Earth's resources more efficiently. (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Nation) As the human population on Earth increases we are becoming conscious of how our choices affect the environment. The efforts to go green began when the theory arose that humans’ production of carbon dioxide contributes to the increase in Earth’s temperature. The ‘go green’ movement aims to create a more sustainable lifestyle and to protect the Earth’s resources for future generations. The idea is summarized by the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle.” It asks that each of us reduce our waste, reuse any material we can, and recycle what we can’t reuse.

(http://www.getenglishlessons.com/6829/the-3-rs-song-reduce-reuse-recycle/)

‘Going green’ involves many practices, all of which contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. One of these is to consume locally grown, seasonal, organic foods. This cuts down on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with shipping food over longer distances, and eliminates the need to process food for preservation. It promotes sustainable farming practices through the elimination of artificial fertilizers and chemical pesticides. (Living Organic)

Another practice deals with energy use. ‘Going green’ promotes the reduction of our use of electricity, and the use of clean power sources such as solar and wind for electricity, rather than the burning of coal. We should perform simple actions such as turning off lights that are not in use, and turning off running water while brushing our teeth to save power. We can also conserve energy by switching to LED light bulbs that require less energy than incandescent bulbs and switching to high efficiency appliances such as washers, driers, and dishwashers. Another method to save energy asks us to use heating and air-conditioning systems only at more extreme temperatures.

A third practice deals with transportation. A goal of the ‘go green’ movement is to reduce our emissions and oil consumption. Carpooling and the use of public transportation are promoted along with alternative transportation methods such as walking and riding bicycles to lessen the impact of our cars. Car companies are building vehicles that are more fuel efficient along with hybrids that use a combination of fuel and electricity. (Gordon) We have added ethanol to our gasoline and have developed biodiesel to produce less harmful emissions. We are also developing solar powered cars.

Another effort that is part of the ‘go green’ movement is to replace consumable products with reusable ones. We replace plastic shopping bags with reusable fabric bags. Stores contribute to the green movement by selling reusable bags for customers to carry products from the store to their house. We fill reusable water bottles from our taps rather than buying individual plastic bottles every time we want a bottle. We use refillable mugs rather than buying paper and Styrofoam ones every morning. ( http://www.stockngo.com/blog/why-you-should-go-green-now)

Even bathroom practices have gone green. Instead of providing paper towels many public bathrooms just have air dryers. We have low flow toilets that use less water. [|For more information about low flow toilets click here.] Our efforts to conserve our natural resources have expanded into all areas of our lives.

Green practices are redefining how we live as Americans and as a global society. We are reducing our waste, reusing, and recycling. We are more conscious about conserving our natural resources. We are trying to ensure a quality of life similar to ours for future generations. (http://www.whygogreentoday.com/10-ways-to-go-green-save-green/)

Resources:
All-recycling-facts.com. //What Does Going Green Mean?// 2011. []. Accessed Dec. 29, 2011. Web.

Enjoy Going Green. //Go Green Definition//. Aug. 2011. []. Accessed Dec. 29, 2011. Web.

Gordon, Jacob. Treehugger. //How To Go Green: Cars.// Nov. 16, 2006. []. Accessed Dec. 29, 2011. Web.

Living Organic. //Organic Farming- Definition//. 2011. []. Accessed Dec. 29, 2011. Web.

Team Treehugger. //How to Go Green: Why to Go Green//. Feb. 9, 2007. []. Accessed Dec. 29, 2011.Web.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Nation. //What Is Going Green?// 2011. []. Accessed Dec. 29, 2011. Web.