Most Common Green Living Myths

Who doesn’t want to reduce their carbon footprint? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to go green! In fact, I think “Green” has become the new buzz word for a lot of the products we buy. But how do you get a handle on what is really green and what isn’t when EVERYTHING seems to be “Green?” Well, hopefully, I can help dispel some of the more common Green Myths that are out there and sort through some of the green clutter and misrepresentations.

Myth #1: If I turn everything off, it stops drawing power.

False….

Some things draw power, even when they are off or not being used for their primary function. Sure, when we’re are not making popcorn, our microwave is a great clock. But you might be shocked to know how much power these things are using. In the energy industry they call this Stand-by power, or Vampire power. This sort of stand-by power is typically 5-10% of residential electricity used. And is roughly responsible for 1% of global CO2 emissions. http://standby.lbl.gov/faq.html

See the chart below for the biggest offenders.

We all have these Vampires in our homes, and unfortunately they are not the sparkly ones. These little suckers are disguised as black boxes on chargers. Unfortunately, with all the technology we're carting around, those devices need to be plugged in every night, so chargers have become unavoidable accessories. The problem is we leave them plugged in; it’s just easier that way, right?

So how do we get rid of the vampires in our house? Especially when our neighborhood werewolf is not around? UNPLUG IT! A simple solution? Maybe… but some things need to stay on. For example your DVR. If you are on pins and needles waiting for the next episode of New Girl to record (and who isn’t?) then you need to keep that DVR plugged in. You can always unplug it when you go on vacation or when your favorite shows are on hiatus.

Personally, I like to have my appliances, or anything else that needs to be plugged in, plugged into power strips. That way I can turn a bunch off at once and not have to crawl around furniture to unplug them. As an added bonus, not only can I ensure the vampires are at bay but they are safe from power surges and lightening.

Myth #2: Older homes are less energy-efficient than a new home

Once again, False…

True, older homes can be drafty, as insulation was an after-thought, but is it really that bad? Let’s take a look at homes built in the last decade. Homes are now averaging bigger square footages, which uses way more energy to maintain and they are chock-full of energy sucking electronics. You will not find built-in vacuums, sound systems or intercom systems at Grandma’s house. Grandma had a clothesline, dish rack and window fans. We have busier lives, so we have more appliances. At least, that is how we justify it to ourselves.

What we can do is make sure we are using every available resource to make our appliances run as efficiently as possible. At least when we don’t have them unplugged (see myth #1) J

Another thing we can do is have an energy audit, then act on their recommendations and save money and energy usage. Some energy companies do this as a free service for their customers. According to the Home Performance with Energy Star program (www.energystar.gov), improving energy efficiency will produce a utility bill savings of 20% or more.

Next Myth!

Myth #3: Always buy organic, it is always best for mother earth

False…

Since I love to eat and I love mother earth, this one is near and dear to me. The word organic is the other “Buzz” word on just about every product you find.

We know organic is better for the environment and, in many ways, for us. Some reasons are way more important than others but how do we choose which to stand firm on and which we can let slide?

Organic can mean a lot of things. Could be the cows were not given growth hormones or made to live in a cage? The produce in our mixed green salad bag may have been grown specifically to enhance the sustainability of the land and food source? Or maybe the cucumbers were made to feel very welcome in the range they were allowed to run free in? It could mean one or all of these things. Either way, organic does sound good and we like to buy things that say it.

In actuality, the more food we buy that is organic the fewer pesticides in the ground.

However, if we only consider the organic products without looking at the environmental factors we might be doing a disservice to the very environment we are trying to protect.

Given all those things, how can they be bad? Here’s how. Imagine you are now in your kitchen and you are about to sink your teeth into a juicy steak, but that steak started in an organic cattle ranch in Topeka, Kansas. Any organic benefit became null and void as soon as it was packed into the shipping container. It is estimated that the average American meal travels about 1500 miles to get from farm to plate. (http://www.cuesa.org/page/how-far-does-your-food-travel-get-your-plate)

Shipping, trucking or flying organic food across the country will actually counter any good you thought you might have done by buying it from the hippies out west. Not that you shouldn’t buy from hippies, feel free! I love hippies. Just buy from the local ones. They are around, closer than you think. Check out your local newspapers, or Google “local Organic farms”/CSAs [Community supported agriculture] in your area. Better yet, grow your own if you can.

Think of it in food miles; the less miles it takes for the food to make it to your plate, the less fuel, energy and emissions it takes to produce it.

Myth #4: Green cleaning products are substandard and too costly!

False once again…

Let me start by saying I hate cleaning almost as much as I dislike when my kids ask “What’s for dinner?” So any reason not to do it, I’ll take. So if you tell me it can be a green activity, you should know I will be skeptical.

Cleaning is a chore, and can be boring. Besides it never seems to end.

Currently there seems to be an increasing amount of green cleaning products available on the market. Mostly because people are becoming more aware of the chemicals they are exposing themselves and their kids to. So the need has been increasing for better choices.

And, like magic, the rule of supply and demand has kicked in and what was once very costly and hard to find, became reasonable and even competitively priced. Even the ingredients that are used for the green cleaners are just as effective as the ones in the non-green formulas. And that is good news for all of us. Well, except for the ones who don’t like to clean, that is. Bumme.

Though the fact is that DIY cleaners, the ones your Grandma used to clean her drafty windows, are the best around. They are better in price and for eco-friendliness. So check out YouTube for how-to videos or Pinterest for instructions on making eco-friendly cleaners, then run to the local hardware store for the supplies. You will feel accomplished and be able to spend the extra moola on something fun like a massage to get the kinks out from the cleaning.

Peace out!

Tianne Haines