From Guest Blogger Delicia Warren: Finding the Motivation to Go Green
Never has a debate been more widespread and divisive than that of climate change. Not a day goes by that there isn’t something on the news related to it in some way or other. For most people, it has become a kind of constant background noise, in much the same way as living healthy has. Yes, you know it matters, but you have so many other things to deal with and think about it’s hard to worry about the ideals of life as well. When there’s so much discussion, disagreement and advice floating about, it can seem hard to embrace the changes that come with greener living. If you’re finding it difficult, go back to basics and start with some of the more straightforward steps.
Why it’s hard to embrace greener living
It’s simply human nature not to act until something makes a demonstrable difference to your life. If you can’t see any immediate effects, it’s hard to find the motivation to change. You know you should stop smoking, but until the doctor tells you horrid news, somehow you carry on thinking you can stop next month or next year; that you feel ok, so you must be alright. It’s only when the stark reality of being faced with a terminal disease strikes that you that the switch goes on in your head and you take some action.
Climate change is such an amorphous concept, and as long as there is still debate about its causes and even its existence, there’s a comfort in thinking that you don’t need to worry too much. After all, despite the gloomy predictions of climate change scientists, your life hasn’t altered, so is it truly that important? To find the answer, compare this attitude to something you may be able to relate to more easily.
Imagine you have a busy road outside your house. People tend to drive too fast because it’s straight, so you can’t let your children play out the front, you and most of your neighbors have had cats run over, and trying to pull out, or park is a kind of Russian Roulette every day. When you complain to the authorities, they say there haven’t been enough accidents to warrant the expense of putting speed restrictions in place. Until enough people have died outside your home, they aren’t going to do anything about it. Climate change is the same – until it can be proved that enough people have been directly affected, the motivation is largely absent.
Can one person make much difference?
History is full of examples of one person making a difference to the world. You aren’t just one person, you are one part of a whole, and the more each part can do, the more profound the effect will be. It’s true that industry and governments make a much bigger contribution to climate change than you as an individual, but that doesn’t mean that what you do is insignificant. Even if you doubt the science, whatever steps you take aren’t going to make your life any worse – but they could make everyone’s life a whole lot better.
In other words, you’ve got nothing to lose by doing your bit. One of the traditional barriers to adopting a greener lifestyle has been the cost of investing in renewable energy, but this is becoming far less of an excuse. Technological advances are making renewables increasingly more efficient, reducing the up-front costs and in many cases not only saving you money on your bills but providing a source of additional income as well. If you’re sitting on the fence, help yourself to make the right choices by finding out more about renewable options.
The power
Energy use is one of the most contentious areas of green living. The energy industry is so vast and powerful it can wield a significant influence on policy-making by governments. That doesn’t mean they are all bad guys and climate change deniers. Many energy companies and manufacturers are investing heavily in green technologies. As an individual, you do have the choice of how your power is supplied to your home, by choosing to use a supplier that guarantees your energy will come from renewable sources, for example. If you live in a very windy area, you could install your own turbine (subject to any planning permission you might require). You could use an expert company like GreenForm to install your own solar voltaic system on your roof, so you are chiefly supplying your energy. Or some very effective air and ground source heat pumps generate heat from the environment and use it to power your home efficiently.
Easing into green living
There are many small ways that you can make a positive contribution to a greener world. Recycling, reducing the waste you generate, walking and cycling or taking public transport instead of driving everywhere are some of the more recognized examples. These are options that are available to everyone, and every person who makes an effort to change is helping sustain the ecology of your area.
There are many other ways that you can green up your life that you may not have considered though. How about your yard? If you plant trees, grow vegetables, and encourage beneficial insects with a flower garden, these are all ways to reduce your impact on the environment. Shopping locally and buying local produce benefits your community and reduces food miles, so it’s doubly beneficial.
Choosing to vacation in-country is good for the economy and cuts down on air travel, and cycling to work instead of driving keeps you fit as well as reducing exhaust emissions. There are many other examples of how small changes can have a big impact, so see what you could change in your life that wouldn’t affect your standard of living but would make a positive contribution to you, your community and the environment.
Don’t be dissuaded from making an effort to go green. You can make a difference, and it won’t be the difficult and costly experience you may have imagined. There are multiple ways in which you can adjust or change the way you live to make it better for both you, your family and the entire world, so make a start now.
— Delicia Warren is a freelance writer, passionate about the environment, organic farming and food production. An advocate for a holistic approach to the world’s problems, she has a particular interest in the small changes individuals can make to their lifestyle to minimize their environmental footprint.
