It wasn't so long ago that an environment-friendly person just had to recycle properly. However, the goal posts have been shifted a long way due to growing concern over the uncomfortable and inconvenient truth of climate change and global warming that is causing a rise in the sea level and abnormal weather, rapid depletion of natural resources, etc. It's simply not eco awareness these days if a person isn't being completely carbon neutral.
It's a simple but strikingly brilliant concept. If every entity, be it an individual, business or organization, learns to take responsibility for curbing their own carbon emissions, there isn't anything more that needs to be done. It doesn't work that way in reality because people have other priorities that take precedence over leading a green lifestyle.
The problem at the moment is that it threatens all life on the planet, but people just don't realize it or choose to neglect it as scare tactics by tree-huggers. That is why most non-profits and governments who are doing something about it tend to focus on increasing awareness than on passing laws and regulations. Earth Hour, Earth Day and other such events are less about resource conservation and more about engaging people and involving them in the process so that they realize how important it is to conserve resources.
But let's get past all that and say an already-aware citizen now feels like leading a green lifestyle. There are two methods that can and must be deployed. To start with, emissions must be eliminated or reduced to a minimum. After that, whatever is left over needs to be balanced using carbon credits.
Emission reductions are there for the taking in every aspect of an individual's life. Vehicle owners can eliminate the harm done by their driving by getting an electric vehicle and charging it using clean power from a solar generation system. It's a hassle to make the switch, and it's expensive too. But the end result of zero-carbon transport with no gas costs is well worth the trouble.
Within the home, there are likewise a host of methods to reduce energy usage and other consumption. Living in a LEED certified building or at least doing a top-to-bottom energy retrofit will vastly reduce electricity usage and save money on bills. Water can be saved on everything from lawns (use artificial grass) to dual-flush tanks in the toilet. Preparing meals using sustainably grown local produce goes a long way towards reducing personal emissions.
An eco-friendly workplace is just as important, and this is where corporate responsibility takes over from the individual. Companies must implement green practices and make use of natural materials in their products that can be easily recycled. Factories must have solar arrays on the rooftop providing clean power, and offices must go paperless in order to help stop deforestation. Industrial waste must be processed and recycled instead of being pumped into landfills, rivers and oceans.
Despite all these and other such efforts, it's not really possible to lead a completely zero-carbon life. This is where the second part kicks in, with carbon credits available for purchase to offset whatever is still left over. The buyer pays for credits, and the seller has done or will do something such as planting trees or generating clean power that balances the buyer's emissions.
It's a simple but strikingly brilliant concept. If every entity, be it an individual, business or organization, learns to take responsibility for curbing their own carbon emissions, there isn't anything more that needs to be done. It doesn't work that way in reality because people have other priorities that take precedence over leading a green lifestyle.
The problem at the moment is that it threatens all life on the planet, but people just don't realize it or choose to neglect it as scare tactics by tree-huggers. That is why most non-profits and governments who are doing something about it tend to focus on increasing awareness than on passing laws and regulations. Earth Hour, Earth Day and other such events are less about resource conservation and more about engaging people and involving them in the process so that they realize how important it is to conserve resources.
But let's get past all that and say an already-aware citizen now feels like leading a green lifestyle. There are two methods that can and must be deployed. To start with, emissions must be eliminated or reduced to a minimum. After that, whatever is left over needs to be balanced using carbon credits.
Emission reductions are there for the taking in every aspect of an individual's life. Vehicle owners can eliminate the harm done by their driving by getting an electric vehicle and charging it using clean power from a solar generation system. It's a hassle to make the switch, and it's expensive too. But the end result of zero-carbon transport with no gas costs is well worth the trouble.
Within the home, there are likewise a host of methods to reduce energy usage and other consumption. Living in a LEED certified building or at least doing a top-to-bottom energy retrofit will vastly reduce electricity usage and save money on bills. Water can be saved on everything from lawns (use artificial grass) to dual-flush tanks in the toilet. Preparing meals using sustainably grown local produce goes a long way towards reducing personal emissions.
An eco-friendly workplace is just as important, and this is where corporate responsibility takes over from the individual. Companies must implement green practices and make use of natural materials in their products that can be easily recycled. Factories must have solar arrays on the rooftop providing clean power, and offices must go paperless in order to help stop deforestation. Industrial waste must be processed and recycled instead of being pumped into landfills, rivers and oceans.
Despite all these and other such efforts, it's not really possible to lead a completely zero-carbon life. This is where the second part kicks in, with carbon credits available for purchase to offset whatever is still left over. The buyer pays for credits, and the seller has done or will do something such as planting trees or generating clean power that balances the buyer's emissions.
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