Why is “going green” so expensive?
April 23, 2010 by admin
Filed under Green Living Q & A
Everyone wants to “be green”, but once they figure out how much it costs its just not possible. If people really want us to “be green” then they should make it affordable right? Because no ones going to buy something that costs as much as their house to “be green”. I see all these great ideas on TV and I want to “be green” but its out of my price range, since I don’t even have a job, because im only 14 I feel like there is nothing I can do to help our enviorment.
i dont know im 15 and i tried recycling
but i would have to pay $60 dollars a months just for the little box
and i would have to get rid of it myself
im actaully trying to get a law passed cause of that
One reason that “going green” seems so expensive is because we’ve already adopted all the cheap ways of going green.
Basically, if something green costs the same or less than what we are doing now – then we’ve probably already adopted it. Not because it’s green, but because its cheaper or easier.
For example, we don’t usually make writing paper out of plastic. I’m sure that we could make a type of plastic (made from petroleum) that you could write on, but why would we? It would be more expensive. So we’re already doing the “green” thing – not using fossil fuels to make writing paper.
In the same way, we usually don’t put milk in glass bottles anymore. So we don’t pay for all the gas to haul those glass bottles around. Instead, we use more lightwieght (and more easily recyclable) plastic bottles. We did the “green” thing because it was cheaper.
So the stuff that’s left – and hard to get everyone to accept, is the green stuff that costs MORE (instead of less.)
That’s why going green is so expensive.
it is expensice because its a new process , like poeple need to make the abilitiy for going green to becoem mroe noticed ,, eventually hybrid cars and energy efficient appliances will be cheap, when noticed.. now though not many people are dependant on this yet so the developeers would get frustrated for doing all this work…and sell it for a high price because of the things put into the products
it is expensive because it is a kinda new concept and new things are expensive
it is also more expensive because “green” things are usually safer and better quality.
It doesn’t have to be. There are cheap ways to go green. Plant a tree, ride a bike to work, save water, save electricity, etc…
Well you are half on to it. Very smart for a 14 year old.
As rivergirl said “One reason that “going green” seems so expensive is because we’ve already adopted all the cheap ways of going green.” but we didn’t do that because they were “Green” we did that because they were cheap.
“Going Green” is bull. It is all marketing hype.
As you have already figured out that it is expensive, and there are plenty of cheaper ways to do the same thing. Thulsy Going Green will ALWAYS more expensive. That’s why people don’t do it. It is a waste of resources. (Any time you do something one way when there is a cheaper way available, you are wasting resources.)
One of the reasons this is true is that all the forms of recycling that DO make economic sense people have already been doing for years….it’s just not called “going green”.
Think about it, people have been recycling cars for as long as there have been cars… it’s called used car lots. People have been recycling lots of things, for a long time, it’s just not called “recycling” or “Going Green”…it’s called “the scrap metal industry” or “thrift stores” or “used book stores” or “libraries” or “garage sales”.
The only time a company markets something as “Green” is when they have an idea they can’t sell it any other way. I’ll give you an example. Look at the hotel industry. Laundry is a HUGE expense for hotels… they have to wash every set of sheets on every bed every night. You have a couple of hundred rooms in hotel, that is a LOT of money each day. They would LOVE to be able to cut back on their laundry bills. Problem is, customers don’t like that… if you are paying $125 bucks a night to sleep somewhere you darn well expect clean sheets on the bed, right?
So what did they do? They “went Green”…. lots of hotels now say that they only change the sheets on the bed every other night (or between guests) “so as to save water, energy, soap, and help the enviornment”…. bull puckey. What they are really saving is on is their laundry bill, it’s just that if they put a “Green” lable on it people will go “Oh… how enviornmentally minded of them” and not “those cheap %%%!s, I expect clean sheets for $125 bucks a night!”
Most “green” ideas are bad, or even stupid, ideas…because if they were good ideas people would already be doing them, and you wouldn’t need the government to step in and MAKE people do it.
Look at Biofules. People have known how to do that for years… why don’t they… well it’s to expensive. Sure making gasoline out of soybeans SOUNDS good…till you really think about it. What happens is people use oil to make fertilizer, then they use oil to plant and harvest the soybeans, then they use oil to truck the soybeans to the biofule plant, then they use oil to turn the soybeans into gasoline, which isn’t even terribly good gasoline. When you add it all up, you wind up using MORE energy to produce less gasoline, and it is lower quality stuff. (And as a secondary effect you take so much farmland away from producing food the food supply drops, food prices go up, and poor people start to go hungry. )
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You are burning energy to make fertilizer to grow food to burn for less energy… (corn-power, more correctly, ethanol distillation and refining USES electricity… at the end of the process you get less energy out of the process than you put in) . It is simply stupid.
But why do people do it? Same reason the hotels wanted to do less laundry… money. Al Gore is RICH… he and his and company get rich out of this, the UN scientists get big grantsand tenure and travel and conferences in Rio and Kyoto.
So that is why going green is always and will always be more expensive… you are wasting money to do something that can be done more cheaply another way.
Good for you for figuring this out. Most grown ups still haven’t done that yet.
Unless you go for the ultimate “green” lifestyle, using no electricity or fossil fuels, the “non-green” way costs less in the short run but it destroys the environment and your health. As a14 year old, there are things you probably already do because you have no other choice: ride a bicycle or use your local public transit system. Driving a car will be more expensive by the time you are old enough to get a license.
I have a HUUUUGE list of FREE ways to go green available at www agua-luna com it’s like 33 pages long and would just spam this whole answer. But here’s a few cut from the list below. if you’d like the entire list feel free to visit www agua-luna com or email me through the site directly and I’ll send you a copy.
Also Agua-Luna com now offers Carbon Offsetting Credits, since our Team of Volunteers is already accomplishing several carbon eliminating projects, we’re now converting the carbon offsets to you. Visit www agua-luna com for a FREE carbon calculator to calculate your carbon footprint for free and more info on carbon credits.
You could also Volunteer with us, planting a tree or working on a Sustainable Renewable Energy Building Project in Mexico with us. Again see www agua-luna com for more info.
I also do some free consulting, there’s more info on the site about that too. Here’s some more ways to help the environment…
Recycle paper, cardboard, newsprint and magazines.
Recycle aluminum cans.
Recycle all batteries.
Recycle and reuse. Roughly 50% of the average person’s trash can be recycled. Don’t forget that hazardous waste like batteries, your printer’s ink cartridges, and cell phones can be recycled too! Find out how and where to recycle in your area. Always buy recycled paper. Just 1 ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees.
Just because your community doesn’t pick up all recyclables on the curb, it doesn’t mean there are not viable alternatives nearby. Check with dry cleaners, supermarkets, manufacturers, your local public works department and civic organizations to find out where recycled goods can be dropped off, at a location near you.
Did you know that just in 1995 alone, recycled toner cartridges kept over 21,000 tons of trash out of landfills? Believe it or not, now you can recycle your printer’s toner cartridges! Every year, Americans throw out enough printer cartridges to stretch from Los Angeles to New York City and back again. Toner cartridges can be recycled, having just as good a performance as an unrecycled cartridge. To recycle your toner cartridges, find a local business that does printer cartridge recycling, or contact the manufacturer of your current toner cartridge and ask about a cartridge recycling program.
Not only should you recycle, but buy products that are recycled. By purchasing these products, you are helping to conserve natural resources, and to protect the environment.
Wash clothes in cold water.
Hot water is unnecessary for most clothes. When needed, use warm water.
Fill your toilet tank.
Put a plastic bottle or two, filled with water and rocks, in your tank to reduce the amount of water used in each flush.
Clean your filters.
Clean the filters of your air-conditioners once a month to improve energy efficiency. While you’re at it, change your car’s filters as recommended in your manual.
Get a low-flow shower head.
Stop at the hardware store on your way home, and get a low-flow shower head. Takes a few minutes to install, and it’ll save gallons of water a day.
Lower your thermostats.
If you use heating, get by with less heat and wear warmer clothes. If you use air-conditioning, get by with less cooling and wear cooler clothes.
If it’s a nice sunny day, hanging clothes only takes a few minutes, and you’re using solar power instead of electricity to do the job. It also makes your clothes last longer.
Turn down your water heater.
Most people have their water heater’s thermostat turned up too high, wasting energy. Turn it down to 130 degrees, saving energy but still hot enough to kill bacteria.
Use CFC light bulbs.
If your light bulb burns out, replace it with a Compact Flourescent bulb (those spiral-looking ones). They’re more expensive, but if you just replace them one at a time, it doesn’t cost much, and the energy savings is great. And as they last longer, over the long run, you’ll save money.
Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
Follow your community’s water use restrictions or guidelines.
Install a low-flow shower head.
If you are not looking to change your car just yet there are a number of ways you can be more environmentally friendly and help you save money by conserving fuel.
Lighten your car to reduce weight by not carrying unnecessary items.
Cut your speed and stick to the speed limits
Drive smoothly avoiding heavy accelerating and braking.
When stationary for a long time, switch off the engine.
Closing windows will make the car more efficient by being more aerodynamic. Remove roof bars when not is use also helps.
Make sure your tyres are properly inflated as under inflated tyres cause more resistance.
Where possible, walk, cycle or even use public transport.
If possible lift share to reduce the number of cars on the road.
Try mass transit.
Millions of people use it, and it saves tons of fuel. If you don’t already, give it a try.
Unload your car.
Remove excess weight from your car (such as stuff that might be in the trunk) to reduce the amount of fuel you use.
Walk instead of drive.
You don’t have to do this all the time, but walking the short trip to a store, or to lunch from work, or some other short trip like that, can reduce the amount of fuel you use over the long term, and you shed some fat at the same time. Or at least burn off that morning donut.
Buy a smaller car.
You won’t be able to do this today, probably, but the next time you’re in the market for an automobile, get a smaller and energy-efficient car rather than a big, lumbering one. It’s one of the best things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption.
Inflate your tires.
Many people don’t realize that their tires are under-inflated. Check the recommended pressure for your tires, and fill them up to that pressure. It only takes a few minutes, but it will save you on fuel consumption (a little) and more importantly, make your tires last longer and reduce the rubber that’s worn off your tires.
Get creative with gift-giving. The gift of time, services, or environmentally positive gifts may be more appreciated than disposable goods that are not to the taste or needs of the recipient.
Look into those lifestyle changes you’ve been putting off
Work from home more. Many organisations, when prodded a little, will accept flexible work arrangements where there is no impact to the work that needs to get done.
Use your oven less.
The oven not only uses a lot of energy, it heats up your kitchen, requiring more cooling. Instead, use toaster ovens, crockpots, microwaves, and electric grills when you can. And when you do use your oven, open it less – you lose 25% of the heat every time you open the oven door.
Mend your stuff.
Try not to throw stuff away and buy new stuff if the old stuff can be fixed. Torn clothing? Takes a few minutes to sew up.
Install a water filter.
If you buy a lot of bottled water, use your tap instead. Some places need a filter to make tap water taste drinkable, but they don’t cost much and they can save money, water, and plastic bottles over time.
Unplug appliances.
If you don’t use an appliance several times a day, it’s better to unplug it, as they often use energy even when turned off
Use rechargeable batteries.
Instead of throwing your batteries away all the time, reuse rechargeable batteries. Costs a little more, but cheaper in the long run.
When you’re looking to buy appliances, be sure to research the most energy-efficient ones. They may cost a little more, but they’ll more than make up for that in the long run with lower energy bills.
Buy a smaller home.
The next time you’re home-shopping, instead of buying the McMansion, look for a smaller home that’s big enough to meet your needs comfortably. Reducing the amount of stuff you own is a good way to need less house. It’s cheaper, and requires less energy to heat and cool. And easier to clean at the same time.
Look for energy efficiency.
Use acryllic paint.
Compost.
It’s not hard to set one up (look it up online), and you can save a lot of waste from the landfill and help your garden at the same time
Water grass early in the morning.
Reduces the amount of water you need to keep your grass looking fabulous.
Plant shade trees near your house.
It’ll take awhile before they can make a difference, but shade trees greatly reduce the need to cool a home.
Coat your roof.
This’ll take up an afternoon, but you only have to do it once every few years. And it’ll save you a lot of money and energy in heating and cooling over the long-term, more than making up for the cost of paint.
Avoid fast food.
Instead, eat at home or at a sit-down restaurant. Fast food restaurants are one of the worst polluters of the environment, both in the massive amounts of beef they must raise, in the wasted packaging, and in the energy they use in so many ways. And they’re tremendously unhealthy.
Buy a manual reel mower or electric mower.
If you’re looking for a new lawn mower, and you have a small yard, consider getting a manual one. They’re much advanced from the reel mowers of our grandparents’ generation, much quieter, cheaper, and they save on fuel and pollution. Electric mowers are also quieter and use much less energy.
Clean up.
Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.
Dan Martin
Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From
Expensive? I recycle to get a little extra pocket money.Turn in all those plastic and aluminum cola containers and buy some CFL’s.
A lot of people are asking the same thing. There’s no conspiracy here, it simply means getting back to the natural ways of life.
Here’s some ideas:
Hang your clothing to dry instead of using the dryer
Ride your bike or carpool more instead of driving everywhere
Don’t use chemicals that harm our environment biology, you can make them yourself. I use a steamer. There are a lot of recipes online for making your own soap, laundry wash, etc.
Unplug (or use a powerstrip with one button turn off) your tv, computer, etc. when you’re not using it
Reduce your consumption, don’t buy things to be more eco friendly, that defeats the purpose. Using reusable items such as canvas shopping bags and shopping at thrift stores will save you money.
Those things don’t cost much and most of these things will save you money too.
Every little bit counts. If we all do it collectively, imagine the difference.
Whoever says it’s BS, needs to learn some respect for the planet. We should all take care of what we have, especially if someone else is going to use it after us.