First of all, let me just welcome you to our "Green Living Forum"!! We're so glad you found us!! For those of you who are new visitors to this forum, or are new to the concept of "Green Living", I thought maybe a good place to start would be to explore the question: "What exactly IS "Green Living"?
Here is a definition of "Green Living", which I thought sumed it up quite nicely:
"A lifestyle intended to ensure that one’s impact on the environment is as minimal (or positive) as possible."
Often, "Green Living" and "Simple Living" are thought to be synonymous. However, simplifying your life doesn't necessarily mean that you are reducing your ecological footprint and/or saving the environment, just as "greening your lifestyle" doesn't necessarily mean that you're making things easier on yourself.
"Green Living" is often just "Simple Living" taken to the next level. I'll give you an example of how they can be different, yet at the same time, two sides of the same coin. Washing your laundry in cold water is frugal - 90% of the energy that is used to wash in warm or hot water is just to heat the water - BUT, it is also "green" because the energy savings cuts back on carbon emissions, which is harmful to the environment.
There are many ways in which someone might “lessen their footprint on the Earth“, or otherwise “Go Green”…
...and here are some more examples:
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Conservation of resources (use of electricity, gasoline, and water for example)
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Reducing household waste (food packaging, or overall consumption)
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Living an environmentally-conscious lifestyle (Recycling, reusing, and repurposing)
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Buying natural products (non-toxic soaps or cleaning products, and/or beauty products, which are gentle to the environment)
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Making your own cleaning products (from non-toxic, "planet-friendly", or even
edible everyday ingredients)
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Buying organic foods (wholesome, natural, pesticide-free, and/or cruelty-free food products)
...These are only SOME examples of ways you can "be green"...
...Check out our forums to find out more!!
Here is an excerpt from a blog entry about "Green Living", in which I felt the author had some great points:
"...I cannot wait until the day when there is no such thing as “green living.” When plain old regular living is “green living.” Today there is a name for it, because we are the minority…
...I believe that a prerequisite of green living is simple living. Recycling is great, but reducing is the “R” that makes the biggest difference. I cannot wait for the day that there is no such thing as “simple living,” because the term would be redundant...
when “excessive living” will be the minority, not the norm…
...People might be opening up to ideas such as throwing their waste in the recycle rather than the trash, driving a hybrid rather than a gas-guzzler, and shopping for organic rather than pesticide-covered food. While this is fantastic and encouraging, it won’t be enough if we want our planet to continue to exist. We will need major changes in the fundamentals of our culture, not just small adaptations to the current system. We will need the majority of people to throw away little to nothing, whether in the garbage or recycle. We will need the majority of people to drive less days than more. We will need the majority of people to buy much less of everything, the green version or not."
(Taken from:
simple living « sewing my shadow on, Author unknown.) (Rather inspiring, isnt' it?)
As you browse through this forum, you will see that our members have offered up some great advice on many "Green Living" topics!! And chances are, we've already touched upon a subject or two you've been wondering about. If not,
please feel free to jump right in with any questions you may have - We will do our best to find answers for you!!
So, join us in discussions today!!
Who knows?...It just may inspire you to "Make the Change"!!
New to "GREEN LIVING"?? Find out more HERE...
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