Going Green - Sorta

I’m a big fan of COSMOPOLITAN but before any of you judge me about my reading habits you should know that the magazine offers a lot more than beauty and sex tips. While reading this month’s issue (with Lady Gaga- ugh.) I came across an article entitles “Rethink Your Green” and it got me thinking.

Today it is not uncommon to look around and catch some sort of “go green” advertisement. Whether you are at the grocery store, out with friends, watching TV or even at the mall shopping people are pushing for the planets rights. I think that there is nothing wrong with trying to minimize the damage that were doing to the earth, but I also think that some people take it a little too far. Personally I’m not the type to monitor every single thing I do in fear of hurting a tree, but I am conscious about many of the decisions I make and their effect on the environment. For example, I don’t recycle all that often but I don’t throw my trash out my car window either.

The article in COSMOPOLITAN is down to earth like me and gave me some great tips and tricks to do my part without going over the top. They have paired with Ebay’s Green Team to enlighten readers on some good ideas and then suggest even better ones and clear up some myths.

A good idea is to stick to locally grown product to avoid economically unfriendly transport but a better idea would be to purchase organic/pesticide free products because most of the energy involved in farming comes from growing the food with fertilizers and pesticides rather than the actual transport.

Another idea is that instead of buying a hybrid car buy a fuel efficient used car in good condition. It takes a massive amount of energy to make any type of new car but when you buy a used car that gets at least 30 mpg then your sucking up fewer fossil fuels. Used cars are also considered to be more carbon footprint-friendly. The only exception to this is that if your planning on buy an hybrid type and keeping it for more than five years- only then might you offset the energy needed to produce it.

It is always a good idea to turn off appliances when you are done using them but did you know that even though they are off they are still running energy. The US Department of Energy estimates that 75% of electricity used in power homes occurs when the devices are off. Granted not everything is that convenient but unplugging larger items like computers and the AC unit on a nice day will do wonders.

Rather than using biodegradable products it makes more sense to buy quality items that can be reused. Landfill are already so packed with trash that often it is still difficult for sunlight and oxygen to penetrate and decompose these so called earth friendly goods. Instead spend a few extra dollars to get something pretty and functional and use it over and over.

These are just a few of the ideas that I have come across. Going Green isn’t about altering one’s entire way of living usually but rather about making small changes for your and the planets benefit.