Here at Re-Nest, we talk a lot about how every small green move is still a move in the right direction. We point out that whether you're saving a couple of gallons of water a month, or you've completely moved off the grid, it's still making a difference—we applaud them all! Whether you're just turning an earthy shade of khaki, or you're a tree-hugging activist who boycotts all things that consume petrol, it's highly commendable.
So this online article from the New York Times last week caught our eye by bringing up this point: "What shade of green are you, exactly?"
This article points out that all of us showcase our green-ness at different levels. Some of us are very public about it, letting our coworkers know that, "Yes, this is organic free-range chicken on top of these home-grown greens and I'm wearing shoes made from recycled bike tubes and fair-trade cotton." Others take a quieter approach, swapping out old-school lightbulbs with CFLs at home and taking reusable bags to the grocery store.
The NYT article points out that the "dark greens" are still viewed by some as crazy fanatics. Others call them catalysts who embrace small carbon footprints.
If we had to assign a shade of green to ourselves, we think we'd fall at a pretty solid kelly—darker than mint, but lighter than forest. We're vocal about how we've reduced our footprint by using public transportation, growing a little bit of our own food in a container garden, shopping local, recycling as much as we can, and greening all of our habits. We think about how each decision can become more sustainable...but we haven't sold our cars and we probably won't be "off the grid" for quite a while, as we still rent an apartment. So, we'd consider ourselves somewhere in the middle of the green spectrum, but always aspiring to become darker green.
So, we want to know...where are you on the green scale? And do you plan on moving around from shade to shade?
Photo by Jonathan Alcorn for the New York Times
I'm not really sure, maybe a mossy green. I don't own a car, I walk to work, I recycle, I only use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning, I let my clothes dry naturally, I only eat meat once a week, I buy used items, I donate books and magazines and clothes, I only buy all natural personal products, I never use paper towels or napkins, I try to avoid certain types of packaging like plastic bottles when possible, and etc.
I'd eventually like to avoid even using public transit and bike or walk everywhere I need to go (damn school being a bus ride away 3 days a week). Also I'd like to remember to bring my metal utensils to work cause I usually forget once or twice a week resulting in using plastic. And I'd like to switch over to more organic cotton and hemp clothing.
view Cheryl K's profile
I don't know where we'd fit in the "green scheme." We've lived in a semi-earth bermed home for over 20 years. We have an air-lock entry and passive solar. We've used a computerized heating/cooling system for the same amount of time (winter heat set at 67 day, 60 night). We recycle paper, glasss, plastic and aluminum. We donate books to libraries and household stuff and clothes to Goodwill. We use a water filter for drinking water and we have low flow shower heads and low flow toilet. We had new windows and doors installed about 5 years ago to increase our energy efficiency. Washer/dryer, frig, cooktop and dishwasher are all Energy Star. We use CFLs in about 80% of our lighting. Since we're over 60, we probably won't change our ways much more (I eat beef because I like it and I won't give up my central air). What color of green do you think I am?
view williamsweyr's profile
We've been posting over at tinychoices.com about how every choice we make, at every point during every day is an environmental decision point, and how we just have to learn to identify that we have a choice, and then figure out what we're willing to do at that point.
I find that as you make more tiny choices that are green, it's easier and easier to make bigger ones!
view Karina at Tiny Choices's profile