Have You 'Gone Green'?

United States
December 22, 2009 5:40am CST
In the past year or so the slogan 'Go Green' has become quite popular in the United States, I'm not sure about other countries but I'd be surprised if it hasn't. I personally love the idea, I think it's great for the Earth and this Environment. More people need to be aware of what to do to help protect the Earth and it's natural beauty, it doesn't take much to help some everyday, I'm sure a lot of people can make time, the question is do you? When I go grocery shopping I use reusable bags instead of a ton of plastic bags, any that I've had I bring to the grocery store and put them in a bin they provide so they can be recycled. I am huge on recycling as well, I will recycle anything that can be recycled, even if it's the smallest thing, I truly believe it has helped. I love the whole Going Green thing, I think it's helped a lot so far but there's much more that needs to be done but the first step is making people aware. So my question to all of you is have you 'Gone Green'? What do you think about it?
6 people like this
23 responses
@shibham (16977)
• India
22 Dec 09
Hi there, happy to hear your consciousness on nature and environment. I think this idea has run worldwide to make each city green to reduce global warming. In india, this awareness is still running and i m also involve on it. Im going to celebrate 31st birthday on coming 24 dec. I have a plan of a plantation of 31 plants as i have been doing it for last 17 years. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@shibham (16977)
• India
22 Dec 09
Yes friend, we hve a huge group of friends who are conscious about environment and pollution. Thanks that we have same purposes towards our earth. Nice to meet you fnd. Take care and a happy christmas in advance. Lol
• United States
22 Dec 09
Wow! That's awesome, thanks for the response! I'm so happy to hear that it has gone worldwide, I figured it would but you never know. I'm glad I'm not the only one who cares about the Earth, Nature and the Environment.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Dec 09
I have yet to go green..the most I have done to go green is recycable which I know is a good start but I also know there is mosre that I can be doing. I need to start using recycable bags as well but always forget to get them. I think going green is a great thign I just need to get off my lazy toot and get it going.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Dec 09
Thanks for the response! Hey, at least you recycle, I know many people that don't and just throw all their cans or anything else that can be recycled in the regular trash. That's a huge pet peeve of mine because it's not that hard to recycle it, many places provide you with a bin for cans and one for paper goods or at least one bin. I know when I've filled both bins before if you put items in a paper bag and put it near the recycling bins or whatever you might have most trucks that pick it all up will take it.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Dec 09
We have an old neighbor that comes and collects our soda cans and so they only things that go into the recycling bin is glass, plastic and veggie cans. I also just realized that cardboard can be recycled as well so that saves a ton of space in the trash.
• United States
22 Dec 09
I have doing my best to go green, but then again, my family has been recycling things for years, so it is really not that big of a deal to go green. We recycle cans, bottles, aluminum, and paper all of the time.
• United States
23 Dec 09
Thanks for the response, I'm glad to hear you recycle and your family has been for years, that's great, even if people don't do a lot of other things as far as going green but they do recycle I applaud that, it's better than doing nothing.
• Mexico
23 Dec 09
Hi rogue: in my office there's a recycling plan on every department, I participate on this activities because I think their objectives are good and that's the way every company should act. Thanks for mention this rogue, I forgot to mention it. I think that your action (to make this at home) it's very important for the sake of our planet. Thanks for your answer. Hope you are having a nice day. Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays. -Alvaro.
• United States
22 Dec 09
i have to an extent..i always try to see if something has a second use before i get rid of it.anything i can't use i recycle if it's something they will pick up. i like cloth bags over plastic for reasons even beyond recycling-those plastic bags are flimsy and break before you even get home.
• United States
23 Dec 09
the problem is my state's behind on the recycling places-many items they don't accept,like only certain numbers of plastic.otherwise,i'd try to do more. i've been taking people's concrete myself and using it in the garden.slabs make excellent stepping stones:)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Well, it's good that you have to an extent, it's surly better than nothing at all because some people don't do anything to help. Cloth bags are good and way better than plastic your right about that, and the plastic break so much more easily, it's hard if your walking with them, they give out in no time.
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Hi, sahs. I have not went green completely. I do recycle but not as I would like to. I have bought Scotts's tissue and it is green recycled. I think that this helps with cutting costs. So, I bought it. And I have bought notebook paper in the past that has to be recycled as well too.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Dec 09
Hi, thanks so much for the response, hey anything helps even if you haven't completely gone green. That's a great idea for the toilet paper, I didn't even think of that so thank you! and I try and buy recycled notebook paper myself, it definitely helps, it's the little things like that that a lot of people don't think about until someone mentions it.
1 person likes this
@Emvy548 (387)
• India
22 Dec 09
Reusable bags, turning off electricity when not needed, saving water, switching over to green products - these are all things that many people have started doing. The good thing is that they're catching kids young and awareness pertaining to the environment and green products amongst today's children is very high. I can say with confidence that tomorrow will be a better world because of today's children who will ensure that the environment is not harmed in any way. Waste in the future will be a thing of the past with everything being able to be recycled.
• United States
22 Dec 09
I very much agree with this response and everything you've said, I thank you for responding and sharing, I definitely love to hear peoples point of views/opinions.
1 person likes this
• Canada
22 Dec 09
Yes, I live in Canada and we have gone green, too. I use reusable bags or boxes for my groceries, we burn CORN in 2 stoves to heat our home, that is organic and renewable annually, instead of killing trees or using limited supplies of fossil fuel. I feed my lambs organically, no hormones or antibiotics in the feed. And a huge group of people, thousands of us, fought the County here to STOP a Dumpsite that intended to create another LANDFILL. We are advocating incineration, or any other method of disposing of our garbage that will not impact the environment harmfully. They wanted to put the landfill on top of the purest water in the world, the Alliston Aquafer. We stopped it, but it took a lot of us and 16 ppl were even arrested for stopping the trucks from entering the property. The natives helped considerably. A farmer donated some land directly across the road from the main driveway, and the natives set up a Protest Encampment and lived there all summer. It became our centre of operations. All of us blocked the gates at some point or another, round the clock, until our voices of reason were heard by the County Council and they passed a motion to NEVER develop that site as a landfill.
• Canada
22 Dec 09
I forgot to metion that we recycle as well and the garbage is limited to only 1 bag a week now, to promote recycling. Plus they even have separate bins for us to put organic material in now as well as glass, plastic, paper, newspaper, boxes, etc and xmas tress, too. I discovered the corn stoves when I was looking for a wood stove, actually. But I really wasn't happy about having to handle wood again, very messy and tons of labour. We burn the same corn as we feed to the animals. It is also much cheaper than wood, oil, propane, natural gas, electric, etc. The stove costs about $3,000, but worth every penny as we heat our home now for around $1,000/yr, so they have already paid us back as we've been using them for a few years now and the oil bill was quoted at $4,500/yr. We just have to insulate the house and put in new windows and our heating bill will likely go down to $500/yr or maybe even less. It is neat and clean, and it takes a week to produce as much ash (with 2 stoves going) as we would produce in one day using a wood stove.
• United States
22 Dec 09
Wow! That's amazing that you heat your home with corn, I've never heard of such a thing, that is amazing!! I'm so happy to hear you've gone green. Everything your doing is great for the Earth, I applaud you and your household. That's good they didn't put the landfill but it sounded like it took a lot to fight it but I'm glad you did. Thanks for sharing and responding!!
1 person likes this
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
22 Dec 09
Like you I recycle whatever they will pick up. Right now its only paper and plastic. I use to recycle glass too when I lived in New York. For some reason its not happening here in New Mexico. I also use paper bags instead of plastic bags if the store has them. I use all the new light bulbs in all my light fixtures in the house. I wash clothes only twice a week and have brought the new upfront washer and dryer which uses less energy and water. I use Green works products also.
• United States
23 Dec 09
Hi, thanks for your response. That's great to hear, I myself use the new light bulbs, I've noticed they certainly help and I can tell the difference on the electric bill every month. I feel so much better buying and using those instead of regular ones. That's good about washing clothes twice a week and that you have a recent washer and dryer, I like the new ones that use less energy and water, their great. I'm sure if more people could afford them than they'd have them, I'd like to have a set one day.
@jilshi (271)
• Malaysia
22 Dec 09
First of all, i would fully support to save the earth. Therefore, i shall bring my own bag whenever go for grocery shopping. Besides that, i will reduce paper printing and make sure to print only essential documents in office.
• United States
23 Dec 09
That's cool, I bring my own bags as well, their great and very sturdy, way better than the weak plastic bags all the stores have.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
22 Dec 09
I have tried to go green at work. I stopped buying styrofoam cups for the staff and had a supplier give out insulated mugs and cups. Next to go will be the plates. We also recycle at work. At home I use the re-usable bags like you do for shopping. I also recycle and reuse whenever I can. I also donate to local charities instead of throwing things out.
• United States
23 Dec 09
Wow, that's great to hear your doing things at home and work, and it's awesome that you donate to local charities, that certainly helps the Earth and people as well.
22 Dec 09
In England we are heavily into 'Going Green'. The buzz words are 'Reducing your carbon footprint' and everyone is obligated to do their bit. We recycle all our rubbish into garden, food, plastic, cardboard, paper, bottles, cans, old clothing, etc. This all goes to be recycled back into the system. Few shops give you plastic bags now - most are the re-usable type often made out of recycled bottles or paper. You are encouraged to turn off everything electronic which you whould have left on 'standby' in the past eg TV, music systems, etc. At the moment many houses are decked in Christmas lights but we always turn these off when we go to bed. If you take a journey by plane you are encouraged to off-set your 'carbon footprint' by using your car less frequently or taking a journey by public transport. Many people have taken to cycling to work or taking public transport where possible. There are lots of programmes on the TV showing you how to grow vegetables and cook from scratch rather than buying heavily packaged processed foods or fastfood. All children are educated in the 'going green' and 'recycling' philosphy. I'm like you, I love the whole idea and have started to be more thrifty and back to basics with cooking and using things around the house. In the long-term the energy bills go down as well!
• United States
23 Dec 09
Thanks for the response, it's a great one. I agree with what you've said : ) I'm glad to hear in England your heavily into Going Green, very awesome!!
• Canada
24 Dec 09
I live in an apartment complex so I feel that my ability to go green is limited. By this I mean there are certain light fixtures that are so old they don't take energy saving bulbs and there is no composting option at my buliding. I do recycle paper, plastic and glass and use energy saving light bulbs where I can. If I had a house I would do everything to make it eco friendly including using solar power options. Cheers!
@Drew_29 (26)
• Philippines
25 Dec 09
Well our country has lots of saying keep our city clean and green but i don't see the progress but some yes their are some progress. But For me am using my own recycle materials for my earning for my future.
• India
26 Jul 10
Hello friend, i am from india Each staff of my college had planted a tree on the side of the road that connects the main street to the last college where i worked, but the municipal authority cut them all in the name of road expansion, i felt so sad.. i am not going to do any thing..i feel so depressed Thanks for sharing. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
• United States
23 Dec 09
No, and I won't. What is that going to solve?
@calyxus (825)
• Philippines
23 Dec 09
YEAH!!! lol last november, we joined a local fun run called "go for green". we ran for 5 kilometers. this was a fundraising project for the environment. it was really fun and we had our chance to support go for green campaigns. happy i've gone green, calyxus
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
23 Dec 09
No I have not gone green yet. I do recycle somethings and my husband takes the plastic sack we get from the stores and they use them in the truck as garbage sacks. I have though about buying some of those reusable bags but have not yet.
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
23 Dec 09
I noticed that many things are recycled now. Like all the containers and boxes are made from recycled goods. I try to recycle as much as I can. I even recycle the plastic bags the store gives out. I use the CFL bulbs and reusable bags too. Those CFL bulbs look really cool and are pretty bright.
@snafushe (791)
• Canada
23 Dec 09
I have been trying to erase a bit of my carbon foot print! I recycle, compost, and walk places in stead of drive. I took the train instead of the gray hound, which is the lowest in fuel emissions. I have a titanium water bottle to protect myself from carcinogens, and the landfills from another plastic bottle. It's so easy to be green! It just takes a couple of life changes. Your benefiting the world, and yourself.
• United States
23 Dec 09
when i heard about this global warming the term Going green came hand in hand so i kinda have actually. i now recycle my cans and take then down to the recycle place and cash them in. other than that i looked at hybrids but found out that they are WAYYYYYYYYY too expensive =[ maybe in the future il get one but not now