Why Be Green

The Problem

At Live Green, we think that an eco-friendly lifestyle can be a lot of fun! But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t serious issues at the core of our mission.

Human impact on planet Earth is enormous, and we’re learning every day that poor stewardship is taking us in a dangerous direction. We’re talking about global warming, pollution of our air and water, and a range of human health issues brought on by eating, drinking and breathing toxic chemicals.

Global Warming 101

The greenhouse effect is a process where certain gases in the earth’s atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, slow down the release of heat into space. Without it, we’d all be popsicles. The trouble is, since humans started burning fossil fuels and destroying habitats that help to absorb carbon dioxide, the gases that trap the sun’s heat have increased to dangerous levels. The result has been a worldwide warming trend that has wreaked havoc in many localities. Local climates are sensitive to very slight changes and depending on where you live, global warming can lead to massive droughts, stronger hurricanes, devastating floods, and other calamities. We are actually in a period of planet-wide climate destabilization and the consequences are deadly.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, 98% of carbon released in the U.S. comes from the combustion of fossil fuels – from industry, energy production, transportation, residential, and commercial use. So, if you want to make a difference, think carefully about the role fossil fuels play in your lifestyle.

Check out the Live Earth Carbon & Lifestyle Calculator to learn more. If you’re interested in learning where the carbon comes from in your lifestyle, check out Carbon Footprint’s breakdown.

Learn A Little More

Check out these sites to learn more about how human consumption is changing our Earth, and what you can do to turn it around:

An Inconvenient Truth: Climate Crisis Site
http://www.climatecrisis.net/thescience/

The 11th Hour: Problems and Solutions to the Environmental Crisis
http://wip.warnerbros.com/11thhour/

The Earth Policy Institute
http://www.earth-policy.org/Indicators/indicator5.htm

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
http://www.ipcc.ch/

The U.S. Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/summary/carbon.html

The Solution

(Or, at least, a step in the right direction…)

Yes, you guessed it! Join Live Green.

The problems out there are big (and scary), but we have control over how we live our lives and how we impact the planet. With just two steps, we can substantially alter our footprint:

1. Consume Less: Reconsider excesses and become a conservationist in everyday life. Don’t buy what you don’t need. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Take a shorter shower. Simple actions add up to big changes.

2. Consume Mindfully: When you need to purchase a product or service, just look for the Live Green Spot. You’ll know that your dollars are supporting a green business and are purchasing a green product. And you’ll get great deals and discounts too.

Check out more info and tips on greening your life and lightening your impact on our beautiful blue planet with these great sites, just a few of many on the Web today:

Coop America: http://www.coopamerica.org

TreeHugger: http://www.treehugger.com

The Daily Green: http://www.thedailygreen.com/

Center for a New America Dream: http://www.newdream.org

Ideal Bite: http://www.idealbite.org

Going Green DC: http://goinggreendc.wordpress.com