Feature - GOING GREEN
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Seeing Green
Harnessing the Eco-Sensitive Movement       by Karen Koza

Spring is officially here and it’s the perfect time to think about going green……that is, if you haven’t already. Today’s attitude toward ecologically responsibility is far more than a trend, it’s a movement and clearly a step in the right direction.

The proclivity to reduce, reuse and recycle is not exactly new, but it seems today that both consumers and corporations are going beyond the “three r’s” to do their bit for the earth. Consumers are demanding eco-friendly products and services and are receiving them in record numbers (see our special section “Who’s Green Now?”). And it’s rare to find a company that doesn’t have a corporate policy or statement about its commitment to a cleaner and safer environment. As Lisa Belkin recently reported in her “Life’s Work” column in The New York Times, “Green is to this decade’s workplace what flexible hours were to the last.”

But as the saying goes, it all starts in the home and the good news is that being an ecologically responsible individual does not require whole life changes or a 180 degree turn in attitude. What many experts cite about starting small is true. There are easy and simple ways that each one of us can be friendlier to the earth. And the upside? Going green and reducing your carbon footprint, can actually save you some green in your wallet.

Just what is the carbon footprint that so many ecologists cite? According to Wikipedia, a carbon footprint is a "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases, measured in units of carbon dioxide.”

Simply put in layman’s terms, the everyday things we do like driving the car, running the dishwasher, using a plastic bag (it had to get made somehow!) contributes to green houses gases released into the environment.

To reduce your carbon footprint, just think about:

• Unplugging all cell phone chargers, coffee machines and video games when not in use. Did you know 25% off your daily household energy use is consumed by appliances that are plugged in but turned off?

• Forgetting the car for short trips. Use your own two feet to walk or pedal a bike. You’ll not o

• only feel better physically but think of what you saved in fuel!

• Turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth and taking three minute showers. Did you know that you use more water in your bathroom than in your kitchen? Look for ways to conserve your water usage and see the savings pile up.

• Buying in bulk. Sure, you do it to save money, but bulk goods create less waste in packaging than traditional goods. Plus, you will make fewer trips to the store, saving on gas for your car.

• Bringing a reusable tote to the grocery store. Many retailers offer incentives, like coupons and raffles, for customers who help them reduce their use of paper and plastic bags.

• Planting a tree. Not only will it help the environment, it will help shade your house and reduce your home cooling costs.

• Taking the stairs. You’ll be surprised at how quickly this can become an important and healthy habit.

• Dining in style; ditch the paper plates and plastic cups. Use china, crystal and cloth napkins.

• Hanging a dry erase board for leaving notes for family members and saving paper.

• Buying organic and locally produced goods? They’re good for the earth and good for you. Organic goods may be slightly more expensive than traditional but think of it as a short term cost. As more farmers enter the organic marketplace to meet the demand for naturally grown goods free of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals, the premium for organic produce should dissipate.

• Paying bills online? Not only will you save on postage but on fuel to drive to the post office.

• Reading labels. See if the products you are buying are made from recycled or all natural materials. Opt for all natural cleansers versus those made with harsh chemicals. Many eco-friendly products outlast and outperform traditional ones.
  

It’s so easy to adopt simple habits that add up to big savings in natural resources and money. Who knew that “going green” was a double entendre?

Special Section ------------------------------------------------------------------

Who’s Green Now?
Green is so cool that we are………………

Going green underneath

Online intimate apparel retailer figleaves.com has launched a special department on its website for eco-friendly underwear and sleepwear for women and men.

Called Greenleaves, the department features lingerie sets, robes, loungewear and even hosiery for women from niche, environmentally-focused designers as well as special "green" collections from mainstream brands. On the men's side, Greenleaves offers briefs, tanks and tees crafted from eco-friendly fabrics like soy and bamboo.

Going green in repelling insects

The patent-pending Insect Shield process is designed to prevent loss of active ingredient outside the system, and once applied, Insect Shield repellency is so tightly bound to fabric fibers that garments retain effective repellency through 70 launderings. Compare this to insect-control methods that require fogging or spraying, and traditional topical repellents that last just a matter of hours and readily wash off in water.

(For more on this, see our article on “Raising a Buzz”) Reading green……………
TIME Magazine has a weekly column on “going green”. Wearing green………………
New companies dedicated to organic clothing crop up every day. Stay tuned!