"So, are you like, going green or something?" That's what I was asked the other day by a friend who was checking out our blog for the first time. The phrasing of it struck me as funny. It kind of indicated that she thought of Green as a personal lifestyle choice, like say, becoming a vegetarian. "So, you're going vegetarian? Does that mean you have to eat that tofurkey stuff?"
This lifestyle-type question caught me off-guard, because lately I've been thinking about Green more at the macro-economic level. More as a gamechanging global initiative. With Barack Obama, T. Boone Pickens, and many others talking about making huge, wide-ranging, multi-billion-dollar investments in Green-related projects, it's hard not to be fixated on the big stage.
But in focusing so much on the high-level stuff, am I neglecting to face the reality of my not-so-sustainable lifestyle? Here's a snapshot of my life in terms of my carbon footprint:
- I live in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex, which is really spread-out and has virtually no mass-transit (all freeways, see photo to the right)
- My wife and I live in a 1720 square foot townhome
- I drive a Toyota FJ Cruiser that only gets about 18 mpg
- I live about 13 miles from work; I sometimes carpool w/ the wife
- We buy most of our "stuff" from Wal-Mart, Target, or other importers
- We like to travel a lot
So, I obviously have some work to do if I wanna "go green." My worst guilty pleasure is my FJ. It's an "eco-foul" no doubt. But I love it! I don't really want to swap it for a Prius, and can't really afford to take the hit on the trade-in value. But in a place like DFW, I really shouldn't own an SUV. There are just too many miles to drive, too many gallons of dirty fossil fuels to burn. But it's an off-roading beast!
Most of you probably have a guilty pleasure or an eco-foul of your own, right? What is it? Come on, you can admit it. Is it your gigantic, oversized suburban home? Your 45 minute commute each way to work? Your obsession with turning the A.C. down to 60 degrees the moment you walk into your hotel room? Swimming pool? If you're a true red-blooded American, you have something wasteful to share, so let's hear it...
16 comments:
Yeah, I'm not so Green myself.
The Good
1. I recycle religiously and get on to others for not doing so. I am known as the Recycle Nazi in my office.
2. I only live 3 miles from work and drive carpool with my wife there every day (we only have one 25-30 mpg vehicle).
3. Our home is fairly small (1200 sq ft) and we try not to run a/c or heat unless its unbearable.
4. I'm a vegetarian.
The Bad
1. I'm a big video gamer and I'm sure my less than green gaming computer sucks a lot of power (though I do turn it off when not being used).
2. I too shop at Walmart and Target.
The Ugly
1. My wife and I average 2 trips out of the country per year, which completely negates any good green habits I have. Ben Thurston needs to get on inventing teleportation so I can avoid this.
My "bad" habit is that I am a Republican...or so some would say that it is a bad habit. The other day one of my new friends was talking about George Bush's press secretary Dana Perino. She said she is cute, but she is a Republican and a sell-out and therefore evil. I think she even stuck her tongue out. Obviously she had a problem with Republicans, although she did not know that I was one, nor did I tell her.
So when I read your blog for the first time today, I was annoyed because while the green movement may be most important to you, politics are most important to me. I was annoyed because many people may automatically think you are an environmentalist just because you are a Democrat and that I am an evil baby killer who hates black people just because I am a Republican. So to that end, here are my stats:
Good:
I am a vegetarian and have been for about 8 years.
I share a car that gets 25-30 mpg with my husband and we carpool to work. We have shared a car for 5 years. Somedays he takes the car and I get to walk to nearby appointments. It is 2 miles to work and if I wouldn't get killed by a car I would ride my bike (as I have done in the past) and I would make my husband ride his bike too.
I recycle and I hate doing it.
I don't have any children, nor do I plan on populating or overpopulating the planet.
I give a monthly donation to the Humane Society who helps to curb animal population which I am certain is not good for the planet.
I shop at the local farmer's market when available.
I save water religiously... like when I am waiting for the water to heat up for my shower, I put the cold water in buckets and then add that to my washing machine. No waste there.
I buy Organic/chemical-free/environmentally sound products when I can which is more often than not.
Bad:
I shop at Walmart (apparently the person above thinks this is bad so I will go with that) because the only alternative is a small overpriced grocery store that doesn't have everything that I need and I would have to go to Walmart anyway. We live in a small town and there ain't much here. If I could afford the small grocery store I would probably shop there more often, but when their milk is $6 and Walmart's is $3 that is a hard bargain to pass up... and yes their half gallon of Organic milk is $6.
I use an airplane to travel about twice a year and I don't feel bad about it. I think I am contributing to other society's and my own learning of them.
I drink a lot of soda. I think it takes a lot of water to make soda.
The Ugly:
I do all of these things because they make me feel better about myself and I don't do all that I could because I don't give a shit. I am not going to be around long enough to see the world turn to shit and I don't have any chilren to worry about. That is the Republican in me talking.
That has to be Marija commenting above. Bless you my dear.
Republicans don't need blessings they have God on their side.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add to my Bad list that my wife is a Republican. Just kidding beautiful. As you can see from the post, she is a strange Republican indeed. Perhaps you can Green up the GOP baby.
I drive a Land Rover that gets around 15 miles to the gallon. I only live 4 miles from work however I drive 30+ miles to Tampa at least once or twice a week.
Also I travel- alot.
The car I plan on doing something about as soon as possible. The travel however will just have to be my guilty pleasure because I enjoy it too much to give up.
Matt,
I can't believe you married a Republican. Oh well, my wife helped influence me to change sides so maybe you can bring her over here to the good side.
1. I drive an economical car and we try to limit trips as much as possible.
2. I built my own home and insulated it well to save energy.
3. That's crazy about the water in the buckets from the shower. You should win some sort of miser award for that.
4. I travel most often to in state places (the beach, etc.) and plan on taking a long trip only once every 3 or 4 years.
5. I do boat recreationally, but my motor is a 4-stroke, so that helps.
6. To my wife's dismay, I have stopped watering my lawn.
My Bad Habits are:
1. I love meat (is that really bad?)
2. I have to drive to get everywhere. That is a byproduct of living in Polk County.
3. I don't recycle (it's not EASILY available).
4. In lieu of ironing, I throw my clothes in the dryer. This must waste a ton of electricity, but I'm too lazy to iron.
Question: What is more spread-out, Dallas-Ft. Worth or Polk County? I remembered thinking it was nothing to drive from Polk City to Cypress Gardens (about 27 miles). If I want to go downtown Dallas from my home, it's about 29 miles.
Another question: Will we ever make mass-transit feasible in such spread out areas? Or will we just need to all drive SMART cars and avoid leaving the home as much as possible?
Trevor, obviously you did not read my November 23 post:
"As most of you guys know, I am a vegetarian. According to a University of Chicago study (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060414012755.htm) a vegetarian diet can lower your carbon footprint by as much as 1.5 tons."
Mike,
I think Smart Cars are more practical for America and it's love of open space. I think though we as consumers and entrepreneurs should start shopping at and creating more and more "consumer villages." Little shopping areas with all the necessities within walking or biking distance of major residential areas. Marija and I could bike to just about everything we need on a daily basis except that we would die because Hattiesburg is not bike friendly.
I once saw a guy riding a fold-up bicycle along one of the many freeways here in Dallas. Yeah, he was insane.
There's a planned neighborhood that I want to visit north of Dallas that is supposedly a completely self-sustained neighborhood. It has schools, shops, a water park, etc. all within the neighborhood. And no, it's not one of those polygamist compounds you might have read about recently (they're out in west Texas).
Lombard- that sounds a lot like Haile Plantation in Gainesville. A lot of college towns across the country have begun to adopt the town center style of development. Live where you work, shop, enjoy entertainment. Those developments are usually really nice.
So it's not at all like downtown Polk City?
hi guys!
after reading all your posts on this link for the first time, i'm pretty excited about what i'm seeing. what an amazing time we're in when many of us are at least putting issues like the importance of the world around us into perspective.
as far as a guilty non-green pleasure, mine is definitely shopping at target. as hypocritical as this may sound, i avoid wal-mart. many of their specific business practices are disturbing. i also have a 15 mile commute to work,and in memphis, driving my car is the only choice i have.
on the other hand, i've been a vegetarian for going on 15 years now. i recycle, take my own bags to stores, keep electricity low low low and lots of other little things here and there and everywhere. unfortunately, i can't afford to solar power my home of course, but i do what i can.
let me just say- i'm proud to see you auburndale boys writing such awesome things!!!
;)
melinda
Melinda, welcome to The Greeniuses and thanks for adding to the conversation! I'm glad to see that even you have some bad qualities.
By the way, we never settled things under the tree at Auburndale High.
I burn wood like you wouldn't believe. Seriously, you wouldn't believe me if I told you...you kind of have to go camping with me to understand. I drive several hours sometimes to go camping.
I also shop at the big box stores and eat non-local foods.
I traveled out of the country 3 times in the last 12 months...not to mention all the in country parties, i mean weddings i fly to.
matt,
it isn't easy being near perfect. (ha)
there are so many things i do all the time that i know i could make better decisions about. i think it is important to be aware though. just knowing the possibilities where we can make better decisions helps along the way to actually make them. plus, knowing is half the battle. ;)
oh, and about that adale tree- i waited and waited and waited...i understand your fear though. it's ok.
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