Over the past several months, it has occurred to me that more and more people are beginning to be more aware of the environment around them. Celebrities and politicians are speaking up against global warming and taking initiatives in driving hybrid cars and informing others of what they can do. I see stores selling eco-friendly T-shirts, as well as tote bags made out of recycled material. So, North Carolina, what exactly is "going green"?

 

According to www.lohas.com/glossary, "going green" is the phrase referring to "individual action that a person can consciously take to curb harmful effects on the environment through consumer habits, behavior and lifestyle." The consumer habits mentioned in the definition are some of the most important components to going green.

 

Recently, I joined millions of users on Yahoo answers in asking a simple question that I needed immediate feedback on. The simple question I posted was, "Ideas For Going Green?" I immediately received eight responses, one being uncaring in saying that it was a way for liberals to control our society. This was a perfect example of how a great deal of people won't take the time to consider what being green is as well as lacking the overall knowledge of what they were speaking about. Nevertheless, I threw out that response and read the responses to choose the best answer to my question. The best answer I received was an organized list of ways that the top contributor was doing in order to conserve energy and the environment. Some of his techniques for environmental conservation included adding insulation to his attic, installing motion sensor lights to automatically cut off when not in use, drinking tap water, buying local foods, using rechargeable batteries instead of regular, recycling, looking for products with post-consumer content, building rain barrels to catch the run-off during rainstorms, recently purchasing a Black and Decker electric lawn mower powered by solar energy, and using a programmable thermostat for climate control when he's not in his house to reduce the amount of wasted energy. These are exceptional ways to go green.

 

Going green is not just a phrase used by "liberals to control our society." Green is a way of life -- a lifestyle, to say the least. Who wouldn't want to cut down on energy and protect our environment? We all have an impact on our environment, whether good or bad. With all of this talk of our rain forests becoming diminished by greenhouse gas emissions and pesticides being used in Argentina that could affect the U.S., why exactly should anyone go green? Being completely overwhelmed by a heap of information about conservation and going green, you ask yourself, "What do I have to do with any of this? I'm just one person." When you realize that so many of your actions have a great impact on Earth, everything seems to change. One simple flick of a light switch could be a step in conserving the energy that we use, and over time, add years to our diminishing atmosphere. Each rechargeable battery is a stepping stone for saving energy and depleting the ozone. One glass of tap water could lead to two, and two could lead to millions!

 

We can control the rapid rate of global warming if we reach out and try new ways of living and behaving. The easiest steps impact our environment positively, and all of us should be positive contributors in this process. So hop aboard the green train and give it a go!