The Many Shades of Green Living

Do you drive a hybrid car, use phosphate free shampoo and conditioner, compost your organic free range eggs and take the stairs instead of the elevator to conserve electricity? Well, if you said yes to all those things then you're well on your way to living Green. I must admit that I do only half those things. I would like to do more. How many people does it take to change a light bulb?  A lot. All of us, according to David Suzuki.     

Green Living is a life philosophy. It means we recognize that all the decisions we make have an impact on our environment, our body and all living things. So, how can you live green? It's like any other positive habit we may want to create in our lives. Change doesn't happen over night but every step you take in the right direction makes a difference. Start with the 3 R's and work your way up.   

Green Living or Greening is not all or nothing. It's not a black and white issue. There are many shades of Green. I say these things because unfortunately some people can get very critical of others efforts to reduce their impact on the planet. For instance, it's not uncommon to hear someone react negatively towards a Hybrid SUV.  It can be argued that a smaller car has less CO2 emissions. But what if your lifestyle/work requires you to have one, then I'd rather see a hybrid on the road. Then there's the example of a family living in a 6000 square foot sustainable home that is completely off the grid. Many, including myself would argue that you don't need that much room to live. But what if that house inspires other contractors to build green?  By definition; building is a destructive act that requires holes dug, land cleared, and materials consumed. A sustainable home reduces that. So, I'm putting this out there, instead of judging these people harshly, perhaps we could commend them on there efforts.  

If I turn my water off when I brush my teeth, I save fresh water.  If I turn off my computer at night I save electricity and sustain the life span of my Mac's battery. I can reduce my carbon footprint, albeit a small footprint, by taking public transit.  And if I purchase local goods I help sustain my economy and reduce the amount of subsidized imports that travel across oceans to get here.  It does make a difference.    

When I was a kid, I was embarrassed when my mother pulled out her grocery list written on receipt homemade notepads (she would collect receipts, staple them together and write on the blank side).  Back then, I thought it was cheap and frugal, but now I see how smart and resourceful she was before it became the trendy eco-friendly thing to do.   

So, how many people does it take to look after our environment?  A lot, all of us - one person at a time.  When it comes to the environment and living Green, it's not about perfection, it's about participation

By Emmanuel Belliveau

Green Lingo of the day: (Thanks to Wiki)

Greening: is the process of transforming artifacts such as a space, a lifestyle or a brand image into a more environmentally friendly version. The act of greening involves incorporating "green" products and processes into one's environment, such as the home, work place, and general lifestyle.

Emmanuel Belliveau, Generation Green
		About the author:
		Emmanuel Belliveau's knack for transforming dated objects into modern classics landed the designer a successful television career. During his 4 years on My Parents House on HGTV, he was known as the handy and handsome designer - often shirtless - who designed and built creative household furnishings from coffee tables to water features for deserving parents. He can hold his own when featuring with world renowned architects on HGTV and Discovery's World's Greenest Homes.
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