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It seems like the internet is constantly debating about the pros and cons of going green. There are saucy memes and reels on everything from electric vehicles and solar panels to zero waste living. You can scroll and get even more confused as to how those sustainable approaches to modern living fall short of expectations or are superior to fossil fuel dependence. At the end of the day going green is an entirely personal choice, but choices are made easier if you know where to start. If you are thinking about going green then read on for a little Going Green 101 and to learn 3 easy changes you can make to begin your green journey!

Going on a Green Journey

Going green is a bit of a journey. And just like any great journey there are twists and turns, but that’s what creates the adventure and helps us find the meaning. Do you ever think about how far we have come since our ancestors were eking out a living in the wild foraging and hunting? I mean, right at this very moment you could open the food delivery app of your choice to find a plethora of delicious options, and then with a just few clicks your meal is on its way to your doorstep. 

Now, this is my kind of journey. Instant food delivery. The human creative mind and drive for innovation have contributed to…let’s face it, extreme convenience. So much convenience, perhaps, that less of us are even embarking on a journey. (Oh yea, creativity and innovation have also led to longer lifespans and an overall better quality of life, so we want to stay on track there.) 

However, we now know that modern, extreme convenience living has numerous negative consequences to both humans and the natural world. Convenience in the moment tends to leave serious inconvenience in the long run. Ultra-processed foods are super convenient, but the latest research connects these types of foods to cognitive decline and increased risk for strokes. What’s more, the 24-7 business model has caused a significant bump up of CO2 emissions into the millions of tons. Does anyone really need kung pao chicken at 2 am? 

This is where going green comes in. And believe it or not, going green has been a concept for centuries even though the phrase itself is relatively new. 

In this post, we are going to dive into what it means to be green! We will start with a little Going Green 101 and then discuss how you can make 3 Easy Changes to embark on your going green journey.

Going Green 101

You may have heard the phrase “going green” in conversations with friends or in the media and wondered what exactly it means. Or you have a vague recollection that “going green” is connected to the nifty “reduce, reuse, recycle” slogan that stemmed from the 1970’s environmental movement. But it’s really more. Let’s take a dive farther back in time to consider how this idea of “going green” got started, and what it means for the average person.

We don’t really know when the terms “going green,” “living green,” and “green lifestyle” first emerged. Nor do we know who was the first to coin these phrases. We do know that across countries, continents, and cultures the color green represented life. For thousands of years the ancient world equated the color green with life, fertility, Spring, hope, and joy. By looking back through historical texts and artifacts there are examples of practices and actions we now associate with going green. These ancient peoples were being responsive to their environment to sustain health. Through the centuries, the color green maintains its status as a symbol of nature and life and has become a synonymous with the environmental movement.  

London, We Have a Smog Problem

As people were getting industrious in the late Middle ages through the Renaissance and on into the Romantic age (or as I like to call it the 1200s AD-1800s AD), they were burning coal at home and at work. Skies quickly became black with smoke and coal particles. People soon began getting ill with serious respiratory issues. Coal burning releases a number of different pollutants that can cause health problems, and some of those pollutants contribute to smog. Smog, a portmanteau of “smoke” and “fog”, causes coughing, wheezing, and asthma for both humans and wildlife. The prevalence of London smog prompted numerous publications calling for the reduction of coal burning to clear the air. The smoke was so bad it prompted early legislation resembling a clean air act. 

But the convenience! Coal burns hot and was readily available, so the wheels of industry kept on turning. Fast forward to the 1950’s and London experienced what would later be called the Great Smog Event. A thick, heavy smog lasted for 5 days and was later estimated to have caused 12,000 deaths. If you think about Bert (Dick van Dyke) and Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) singing and dancing across the residential smoke stacks of London during what was supposed to be around 1910 then you have an idea of the output. Would you rather live with black smoke covering everything or amongst green lawns, parks, and trees?

Silence Speaks Green 

Across the Atlantic, Rachel Carson published her influential book “Silent Spring” in 1962. In its pages, Carson outlined the consequences of pesticide use, particularly DDT, which was decimating populations of wild birds. Pesticide development and use grew quickly post WWI and WWII. Farmers quickly leveraged the convenience of being able to spray a single chemical substance on crops to reduce a wide-ranging number of pests. And then there was silence. The absence of birdsong and the buzzing and chirping of insects created an eerie silence that Carson explained in her book. The silence became deafening and sparked widespread environmental awareness and concern. 

Through the late 1960s and early 1970s there was a rise in environmental activism. Republicans and Democrats united to initiate events such as the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. This period marked the beginning of widespread public recognition of environmental issues. Then there was the Brundtland Report of 1987, also known as “Our Common Future,” which introduced the concept of sustainable development. Sustainable living was described as finding ways to live comfortably without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Even though we live on a pale blue dot, the color palette for environmental activism became green. 

Inconvenient Convenience

Then the internet! The early 21st century saw the mainstream adoption of “going green” as more people became aware of climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable living practices. Media, corporations, and governments began to use the term more frequently. Businesses started to adopt green practices, promoting themselves as environmentally responsible. Product labels were banners for these green practices. Unfortunately, it seems the pull towards convenience is hard-wired, because we love plastic.

Recently, the entire plastics industry was called out for including recycle labels on products that were not being recycled. The 3 twisty arrows noting a products recyclability were introduced in the 1980’s, and placed on plastics to assuage consumers conscious about buying single-use plastic products. Recent reports explain that plastics are technically difficult to recycle and much of what is sent to be recycled winds up in a landfill.  

Today, “going green”, “living green” or “green lifestyle” means thinking more long-term about all aspects of our lives. It encompasses a holistic approach to living that includes reducing waste, conserving energy, supporting sustainable products, and advocating for environmental policies.

Advances in technology have is making it easier to achieve green living. Renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, and eco-friendly products are becoming more reliable and available. Grassroots movements, local initiatives, and individual actions (that’s you!) continue to play a significant role in promoting green living. Social media and digital platforms means you can share information and inspire collective action!

Going Green with 3 Easy Changes

1. Switch from single-use water bottles to a reusable water bottle
2. Switch from plastic grocery bags to reusable grocery bags or bins 
3. Switch thermostat settings by 2°F +/- in summer and winter

1. Single-Use Water Bottle to Reusable Water Bottle

Folks have been bottling water up for centuries. Prior to the 1970’s, water bottles were made of sustainable, natural materials, like animal skins, pottery, and glass. It’s always been much more convenient to go to the water source, fill up a bottle and stow it away for later. Everyone needed to maintain hydration during long days of foraging for food! 

Then plastic came along. 

Plastic made bottling water really convenient! Plastic bottles were lighter, more durable, and cheaper for bottling companies. Currently, over ONE BILLION (that’s 1,000,000,000) plastic water bottles are consumed and thrown away daily. In the U.S. alone we use 60 million plastic water bottles per day and 80% end up in landfills. Yet, the vast majority of Americans have access to clean, safe drinking water with a simple turn of the tap. This is something our foraging ancestors didn’t have! Switching from single-use water bottles to a reusable water bottle will help you go a long way on your green journey. 

Need some convincing? It is helpful to think about each step in the process of making your plastic water bottle in terms of carbon emissions:

Wow! That’s a lot of energy and carbon to slack your thirst! You can keep tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, plastic waste out of landfills and oceans, AND save a ton of MONEY by switching to a reusable water bottle. What kind of bottle? Click the link to read my post on two of the most popular reusable water bottle brands: Nalgene vs. Hydro Flask! I love my Nalgene and you pick your favorite color and style! My kids prefer a Hydro Flask for the long school days!

2. Plastic Grocery Bag to Reusable Bag

Have you ever noticed a ragged plastic grocery bag snagged in the branches of a tree in your neighborhood? An unnatural flag whipping in the wind waving in a wild place to remind you that convenience has consequences. Plastic grocery bags are another type of single-use plastic that is not recyclable. These bags can have dire consequences on wildlife and the environment. 

It is estimated that over half of marine life have ingested plastics. Birds, mammals, and other wildlife can encounter plastics and become tangled, strangled, and placed at risk of predation. Beyond the immediate threat to wildlife, plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years (one thousand!) to break down. It takes 1,000 years to decompose a product you will only use for a few minutes. 

Again, the change is easy! Switching from plastic grocery bags to bringing your own reusable bags means less carbon emissions and less threat to wildlife. Plus, there are so many fun and practical options for personal grocery bags that it will make your entire shopping life easier! I love these sturdy reusable bags with a foldable bottom. Bonus, you won’t have gobs of plastic bags piling up in your pantry. 

3. Plus or Minus 2 Degrees

Let’s face it, we all want to save money. By adjusting your thermostat up just 2 degrees in the summer and down 2 degrees in the winter you can save a lot of cash! Even better, or at least just as awesome, this action will also keep tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. 

The heating and cooling of our homes accounts for about 45% of electricity use in the U.S. That translates to over 440 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. At the University of Utah’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences, they have studied how adjusting the thermostat can make your life a little greener. According to their Thermostats 101 report, if everyone in the U.S. made just a 1 degree adjustment that would reduce carbon emissions by 7.2 million tons.

For some, the thermostat is a sacred object that holds the power of maintaining the perfect temperature in the house even if the temperatures are extreme outside. As a sacred object, it is not to be touched. I’ve been there and I understand. It takes some courage to change the thermostat and I want to recognize that. But remember, convenience now means inconvenience later, so what’s plus or minus 2 degrees?

Embark on Your Green Journey Today

Going green is deeply embedded in our history and cultures, and our very nature. Green is the color of life, hope, and joy. Choosing a green lifestyle means taking a look at your actions and asking if those actions are purely for convenience or for necessity. It’s important to think ahead to the potential impact on your health and the environment. If going green seems intimidating, then start with those 3 easy changes:

• 1) Switch from single-use water bottles to a reusable water bottle.
• 2) Switch from plastic grocery bags to reusable bags or bins.
• 3) Switch thermostat settings by 2° +/- in summer and winter. 

Get inspired to live green by being more outdoors! Subscribe to get more going green tips and inspiration in your inbox! As well as tips and resources for hiking and outdoor recreation! Tenderfoot Hiking invites everyone to embark, explore, and enjoy the outdoors! 

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