Living Green is More Than a Trend

By Aliya Hassan

Nationwide, Americans face a barrage of worrisome news reports with warnings of impending environmental disasters. And although at times these warnings may seem more nagging then remindful, the country is catching on. Supporting eco-friendly or “green” products is more than a trend; it’s become a movement. Once just an expected effort put forth by the wealthy and the famed, people everywhere now choose green products, conserve energy and purchase sustainable materials. 

The Yale School of Forestry and Environmental studies reports that many Americans will pay more for eco-friendly substitutes of their usual products, even if they are suffering financial hardship and if it requires paying up to 15 percent more for items like detergent, furniture and even automobiles. It is evident that many Americans have made a commitment to their environment.

This commitment has been the inspiration for change in places outside the American home as well. This year, the Democratic and Republican parties both chose to host environmentally friendly conventions for the upcoming 2008 election. According to america.gov, Democratic convention-goers taxied in vehicles outfitted with hybrid or alternative-fuel technology, the paints used for interior design within the convention hall were low in formaldehyde and following the convention, the wooden stage was dismantled and recycled to companies for reuse.

The Republican party followed suit by putting a paperless office system in place, using recycled furniture, using climate control throughout the buildings and turning off all electrical equipment when not in use. Nothing of this magnitude has been done at presidential conventions previously—2008 marks a time in which conserving energy and materials wisely is not only a good option for the environment, it’s an essential political move Americans anticipate.

Not everyone is financially prepared to make drastic lifestyle changes for the better of the environment—thankfully being “green” is easier than it may seem. Many Americans choose to make small but important adjustments in their routines. For example, bringing reusable cloth bags to the grocery store instead of using paper or plastic, installing eco-friendly light bulbs that consume less electricity, purchasing organic food and using non-toxic and environmentally-safe household products are just a few ways that citizens are addressing environmental concerns. Between wearing clothing made from sustainable fabrics and remembering to recycle weekly, it’s hard to imagine a time when the country wasn’t consumed with being green. Worldofgood.com reports that an astounding 88 percent of Americans consider themselves to be “conscious” of the environmental problems and “socially responsible” in taking measures to stop them. Google reports that when “ethical shopping” is researched on their database, a staggering 700,000 results are returned, proving when it comes to shopping green, no amenity is forgotten.  The old proverb reminds us that if you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime. Now that people nationwide have learned how to go green with ease, one can only hope that this will lead to a lifetime of taking careful care of the environment and taking advantage of materials that can be quickly replenished. Being green is being proactive, and being proactive is the key to success.