Use what you know

When I decided to start blogging I was a little apprehensive about finding stuff to write about. And, would I have enough “educated” material to keep my readers interested? The best advice I was given was to write about what I already know and to use a blog like my personal diary. When I have something to say, or have heard/learned something useful I should write it down.

This advice holds true for going green. There are many reasons for taking hold and running with the movement. What is yours? Some people recognize the economic value of living a greener lifestyle. Some people are passionate about treading lightly and leaving the environment around them in the same shape that they came into it. And, others believe in righting a wrong that has been done to the planet. There are many, many reasons to green your lifestyle. As I have said before this is not an all or nothing thing. Do what you can when you can do it.

All of us are starting this race from a different spot. Some of us have our toe to the starting line and others are a mile back from it. Take what you already know and what you are already good at and figure out how that can help the Ecological cause. I, for example, am an elementary school teacher turned financial analyst.

I have found that I am able to use my background in teaching to take all of these ideas and break them down to the simple so that anyone can grasp and implement the concepts. I have also used my financial and database background to calculate ROI and long term savings of energy efficiency. There is also a profit and loss to recycling, using renewable energy, re-using materials. Actually, there is a profit and loss to just about every action we take in our lives. My goal is to show people how the profits far outweigh the costs when it comes to anything green.

Green T's first blog

Sitting in a breakfast meeting the other day I was told by someone who, in my opinion is much more “green” than I, that if she heard one more person say they were going green, are green, working green that she would turn green.

As I was thinking about her comment I started to see where she was really coming from. “GREEN” is a fad. It is a passing craze and will soon be “unpopular” again. “GREEN” means something else to every person and there are just as many word combinations for the acronym.

As we embark on this new “GREEN” Journey I think we need to stop thinking, passing craze and start thinking sustainability. We as American’s are way behind the 8 ball. Other countries have become Eco-friendly and Eco-conscious in recent years. It is in the face of a depression deep in a recession that Americans are starting to think of cost saving solutions to their current situations. Many of these cost saving solutions are also Eco-friendly.

Don’t feel bad that if in coming to your “GREEN” lifestyle you were actually selfishly looking to save money. The effect is the same. And, there are many ways to save some green and save the planet at the same time.

Also, please don’t think that becoming Eco-friendly it is an all or nothing thing. We don’t have to follow the advice of such people as Sheryl Crow who said we should start using only two squared of toilet paper per visit to the commode. A good friend of mine says of these people…”You first”. Turning a new leaf to a new “GREEN” lifestyle can be done at your own pace and to whatever extent you are comfortable with. Remember, if each ONE of us just does a small amount WE can make a huge difference.