The Meanings of Green

SUSTAINABLE LIVING | by CELESTE TELL

SEEMS LIKE EVERYWHERE YOU TURN THESE days, everything is either “green”, “sustainable” or “carbon neutral.” So what gives? Are they the same or different? And what DO they mean, really?

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Green. Originating with the green-building, energy-efficient and environmental-type folks, “green” is all about the physical and natural environment, and generally refers to reducing our collective carbon footprint by reducing resource use, reusing things or recycling. “Green” often refers to products and services having minimal or reduced impact on the planet than the previous version or model, and which meet standards established by “green” organizations.

Carbon Neutral. A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular on climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc. A carbon-neutral lifestyle is when you have a “zero” or “no-impact” carbon footprint. That’s a tall order for most of us. At carbonrally.com you can dive right in and join challenge activities to help you quickly reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and see the impact (calculated in real time) of your shrinking carbon footprint.

Sustainable. Sustainability is about the bigger picture. I like Paul Hawken’s definition: To “leave the world better than you found it, take no more than you need, try not to harm life or the environment, make amends if you do.” It speaks to how we grow and harvest our food, drive and manufacture our cars, build our homes, take care of our health and well-being, interact with each other, and manage the economy. By better understanding the impact we each have on the whole, we can learn to find our own personal balance point for sustainable living.