What Does “Going Green” Mean?

The term “going green” has been floating around for a while now, and most people understand what it means. It is the process of becoming more environmentally or eco-friendly. This sounds like a very simple thing to do, but going green means making a lifestyle change, rather than just changing a few things here and there. However, because it is a lifestyle change you’ll start by making a few changes, eventually creating a fully “green” lifestyle.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

One of the most common ways that people become more environmentally friendly is to use the 3R Model: reduce, reuse ,and recycle. Reduce means to cut back on the amount of something you’re using, whether it’s water, energy, or even trash. Reuse means to find a new use for an item as opposed to throwing it away, and recycle means to create something new out of something that could have been thrown away.

The 3R Model is a great way to reduce pollution, conserve both renewable and nonrenewable resources, significantly reducing one’s carbon footprint. Some other ways to put this model into practice is to use reusable shopping bags instead of the plastic ones; stop using plastic utensils, paper plates, and plastic water bottles; and to only buy what you need instead of buying in bulk to reduce your chances of wasting food.

Make the Switch to Smart Appliances

Technology has played a major role in helping our society become more efficient, and this includes becoming more energy efficient. Many smart home appliances and devices are created to help conserve energy, specifically water and electricity. Some of the most popular technologically advanced and smart appliances include:

• Energy efficient washers and dryers

• Smart toilets

• Low-flow shower heads

• Smart thermostats

• Smart kitchen appliances

Many households have already made the switch to LED light bulbs and smart plugs. LED light bulbs use a significantly lower amount of energy than traditional light bulbs and last much longer. Smart plugs are also a huge energy saver because they cut off the electricity to your devices and appliances when they’re not in use. LED light bulbs, smart plugs, and other smart devices are an expensive investment upfront, but they will save you a lot of money on energy bills in the long run and they are all better for the environment.

Walk, Ride a Bike, or Switch to an Electric Vehicle

Because cars emit a lot of carbon dioxide, many environmentally conscious  people choose to walk or ride a bike to their destinations instead of driving to them. However, today’s gasoline cars emit much less carbon dioxide than they did just twenty years ago. Still, the most environmentally friendly type of car on the market today is the electric vehicle (EV). EV’s are the best option for those who want to become more eco-friendly, but walking or riding a bike aren’t viable options for travel.

Still, another downside is that EVs are expensive. Because of this, you can choose to switch to a hybrid vehicle (runs on both gasoline and electricity), which is still a more eco-friendly option than a gas-powered car. But if you can walk or ride a bike to certain places, not only will you be reducing your carbon footprint, but you’ll also become more physically active.

Use Natural Household and Personal Care Products

Another way to become more environmentally conscious is to switch to natural household and personal care products— something that many people don’t think will impact the environment. The fact is that many household products are not only detrimental to our health, but they also harm the environment in some way. Many of the ingredients in both household and personal care items contaminate water when they’re washed down the drain. 

Another example is outdoor lawn care, such as weed killers. Not only are many of these weed killers harmful to the environment when they’re sprayed on the ground, but scientists have found links between using certain weed killers and its users developing Parkinson’s disease.

The Bottom Line

Becoming more environmentally friendly is obviously good for the environment, but these benefits impact our overall health and wellbeing as well. Not only do many of these practices save energy and reduce your carbon footprint, but switching to a more eco-friendly lifestyle will also save you money in the long run. Although it may take some time to adjust to this new lifestyle and can cost a lot of money upfront, it’s worth it in the end.

This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2022.