January 2nd in Other by Cyrus . Leave a comment.
"Going Green" is not a new concept
This is a stretch from actual greenwashing but is close enough that we thought it to be a good topic to bring up. This whole idea of “going green” is not a new concept. Many of us see this as a recent trend… a movement even. However our elders have “gone green” quite a bit. Perhaps not with the whole industrial revolution period, but in other ways. Here’s what we mean:
- Drying clothes on a line instead of in the clothes dryer. (This was an economic choice more than an environmental one, but it’s the result that matters)
- Paper towels are a new thing. Our parents and grandparents used cloth towels over and over.
- They bought second hand. Not everyone did, but it was a much more common way to save a few bucks. With the advent of Craigslist and Freecycle, this should be a bigger tool of the eco-conscious.
- Remember Victory Gardens? We don’t either, but learned about them in school. Growing your own food is one of the biggest steps a consumer can take to green their diet and our forefathers relied much more on their own food.
- Canning use to be a bigger thing than it is today. Along with growing your own food, storing it long term is a very eco-conscious step that was taken by our elders.
- Making your own clothes/mending clothes was a no-brainer yesterday. Today we tend to think “time for a new one”.
- Our grandparents cleaned with things like Vinegar, not Magic Erasers (who knows what they put in that thing to make it “magic”.
- Reuse and repurpose – again, a standard practice in the old days. Now our culture tends to look at new things as the only option. Heck, we even have things for which there is no practical need just because someone on TV said we needed it. (Read: plastic christmas tree garland holders)
- And finally: turning the thermostat down. Heat = money my grandfather might have said. We are a little spoiled now with our heaters, air conditioners, air filters and ionizers. Instead of turning the heat up, go put on a sweater you just mended and eat some canned peaches.
Source: The Huffington Post
January 27, 2010
There’s a 2010 diary called an ‘Ecodiary’. The only green thing about it is the paper it’s made from, which is recycled. That’s it. None of the information inside – there’s the usual international dialling codes and more – has an environmental slant.
There’s more about this on the blog attached to the website of SolarUK, the solar thermal company: http://solarukweblog.wordpress.com/.
February 24, 2010
This is all good advice, but if what you live in a NY luxury condo? Are you really going to be able to use a clothes line to dry clothes, plant a Victory garden, or can your own vegetables?
March 8, 2010
I wonder if we’ll see people return to these old ways of doing things. People didn’t use these methods because they were green, they used them because there was no alternative – they just happened to be more green.
The problem now is that people aren’t always wiling to return to less convenient ways of doing things.
April 22, 2010
This article is spot on Cyrus. A lot of my elders wouldn’t even know what ‘going green’ means. For them, it’s just about doing what they’ve always done to save money. As Alex said though, most people won’t want to return to the slower way of doing things.
July 1, 2010
goin green is well better said conserving energy and utilizing it wisely so when you have an old washing machine try setting everything to the minimum. that way we are utilizing the enery wisely and in a conservative way.
July 15, 2010
I’m amazed to see many second-hand or used products for sale on ebay. Before, we would think twice before buying used stuff. Now, it seems like people are selling used stuff to earn money and people are buying them to save money.
July 16, 2010
Yes, growing your own garden is one of the best ways. This way you know that your vegetables or fruits are pesticide free.
July 25, 2010
These are good advices however not all of us can do it. It all depends on where we live or the community where in. Also, not all of us has this much time to spend to do those natural food processing and planting, most are busy now making a living in the city. I agree with going green though.
July 26, 2010
I hope a lot of household owners will read this so they will be aware of their environment and help all the people encourage to “going green” campaign. Having your own garden at home is a good start and recycling your trash too. This is something that we should be aware of.
August 2, 2010
Nice article and i really appreciate this. thanks for give useful information about it.
August 3, 2010
Going Green sends us a message of going back to the real essentials of simple living in a friendly environment. It’s our way of making our environment healthy, conserving our resources and having a cost-efficient lifestyle.
August 4, 2010
That’s an interesting fact about old people. They don’t rely that much on new technologies and new way of living. They prefer to do it the old way, which I think is safer, economic and more eco-friendly.
August 5, 2010
Nowadays, people are trying to be more “green” due to the effect of global warming which is great for mother earth.
August 12, 2010
Go green by re-using items you might otherwise dump in the trash!Repurposing’s only limit is the imagination, and if our Depression-era mothers and grandmothers made do with less, so can we! Re purposing involves a little more thought and effort than whipping out a credit card, but it’s a greener alternative to consumption and it’s a thrifty choice for those on a budget.
August 12, 2010
thanks for the great advice!
August 17, 2010
Most folks are unaware of the dangers in common household cleaning supplies and pesticides, but they all have a cumulative effect on our bodies. From switching to greener cleaning supplies to eating more organic foods, we can all take small steps to positively impact our own personal health.
August 19, 2010
I hope people should be mindful on how to take care of our environment and they must do something and help even in little ways to save our environment.
August 27, 2010
Reduce the amount of trash you contribute to landfills by choosing products with less packaging. Buy in bulk, and skip the bottled water; use tap instead.