Photo Credit: Flickr/simonbrown
There are a lot of people in the world who are interested in green living and likely just as many answers to this question. Everyone has a different motivation for wanting to go green. What are some of those motivations and where do you fall?
Do no harm to the environment – Your major motivation for going green is to stop global climate change or eliminate pollution of local waterways. You want to save the rain forest or stop coal mining. You care most for mother earth and want her to be healthy and whole.
Health and wellbeing of self and family – You see a direct correlation between green and health. You focus on keeping toxins out of your personal care products, food, clothing and other household items. You don’t mind paying a little extra if it means you will be providing healthy alternatives to your loved ones.
Green can equal frugality/saving money – You may try your hardest to not spend your money at all! You are always reusing things so that you don’t have to buy new stuff. You may have spent money on a book about a thousand uses for baking soda and tried them all. (You actually checked that book out of the library and took notes on scratch paper). You may follow your family through the house turning off lights and unplugging appliances to save on your utility bill.
Social justice – You are concerned with things being fair. Everyone should have access to clean air and water. You believe that no one should be exposed to toxins because of ‘cost effective’ practices of some large corporation. The government should govern to benefit the people – all the people, not just the rich. You feel strongly that no one should ship their garbage to the developing world.
It’s a growing trend – You pride yourself on staying current and recognize that going green is the way things are going. Maybe one of your favorite celebrities is an eco-activist. Or, maybe you want to be on the cutting edge of a new green technology. You have no shame in admitting that you are doing it because everyone else is doing it.
As you can see, the possible motivations are all over the place. And each person can have a different combination of reasons why they are interested in green living ideas and techniques. But you can see, whatever the motivation we get the same result – people living greener. And that is the goal, right? I have a sneaking suspicion that as each of us understands our own motivations, this will help us to reinforce why we do what we do: give us a green-focus, if you will. Not only that, but when we talk to others about green living and find out what their internal motivations are, we can help them to see the benefit of going green if we highlight benefits that are important to them. (That’s psychology!)
Eco Home Consultations provides green living consultation services in the Seattle area, focusing on practical ways to integrate green living into your household. Learn more at www.ecohomeconsults.com or email questions about this blog or other green living issues to Melissa@ecohomeconsults.com.
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