There are different versions of what it means to have a green lifestyle. Some may speak more about what’s important to eat, some put accent on the products you buy and others combine the two aspects. Looking at the definition of what “green” means, it refers to products, services, laws, policies that do little or not harm to our environment. This way, a green lifestyle means adapting all your actions and habits to the needs of the environment. We’ll talk about how you can do this and present some green products facts to help you understand better.
A green lifestyle includes all aspects:
- food
- clothing
- housing products
- electronics
- living aspects (home, building, roof, windows)
It may seem a wide range of aspects, but every little step has a powerful impact on nature and the world overall. By simply going from plastic to cloth reusable shopping bags we can make a difference. Plastic takes between 15 and 1000 years to decompose and only 2% of disposable plastic bags are recycled due to high costs. When you go for the alternative (the cloth bags), you contribute to raising some important numbers.
Here are other 5 green products facts to help you understand how even the most insignificant actions can have great effects.
Replacing old electronics with new eco-friendly ones
You may have heard other people say “I will not buy a new TV until this one stops working.” It depends from what perspective you look at this saying. It makes sense not to purchase new electronics just for the sake of it. Imagine buying a new TV every year just because you want it. It may not be the best decision.
The second perspective refers to replacing old electronics with new eco-friendly ones. Twenty years ago, there were limited options when choosing home electronics. Nowadays, we have more options and, more importantly, we have eco-friendly ones.
For instance, there are televisions which have manual and automatic energy saving features, power saving modes and options to reduce brightness. They can help you reduce energy consumption. And this is just one example. Imagine replacing all your electronics with eco-friendly ones.
Note: Instead of throwing away the old electronics, recycle them. Look for local companies that deal with this. Some even offer coupons (for different stores) you can use for your shopping sessions.
Not everything green is actually eco-friendly
Generally, when we hear green product, we think of environmentally friendly items. Well, not necessarily. Sometimes, green refers just to the color of the product.
This is a confusion which appears in the case of green olive oil. The word simply describes the color of the product. What’s more, high-quality olive oil does not have to be green. Its color can vary from green to yellow depending on several factors (olive type, cultivation, harvesting).
The best olive oil is the extra virgin cold pressed one. This procedure gives the oil its unique flavors and helps it maintain its healthy nutrients and vitamins.
Your old windows may be as good as new ones
Making your house efficient is another way of going green. This can involve isolation, changing doors or windows. Let’s stick with the last one.
Windows are an important part of your home. They are one of the elements responsible with keeping it warm or cool. You may think replacing old windows with new ones can help you greatly reduce energy consumption. Not necessarily. It may make some changes, but not significant ones. It’s been seen that this is more an aesthetic change rather than an eco-friendly one.
Making your roof eco-friendly can be the solution
Generally, when we speak of roofs, we refer to those living at houses (but we don’t exclude apartment buildings). There are different options for making your roof green.
Solar panels and solar roofs are the first that come into our minds. We’re quite accustomed to the first ones. Those large panels installed on roofs which use solar power to heat your home and give you hot water. Solar roofs do exactly the same things, but the panels have been put in the tiles. Basically, they are the combination between efficiency, environmentally friendly and aesthetics.
Green roofs are another aspect worth discussing. These are usually found on buildings and it means that the roof is covered partially or totally with vegetation (plants, flowers, mini-gardens) over a waterproofing surface. They are great for conserving energy, can retain a large amount of storm water, improve air quality and reduce air pollution.
Buying natural products from the right sources can have a great impact
There is a great debate in what concerns what products we should buy: green, organic or natural. We’ve explained earlier what green means.
Organic refers to products which are grown and manufactured using organic procedures authorized by a certified body. The term is mostly used in the USA. In Europe, we may encounter bio or biological more often.
Natural refers to products which are not modified, altered during their growth and manufacturing process. Think of how people of the countryside grow their food: without insecticides and additional additives.
So what should we choose? We incline more on the natural side. Those products are let to grow on their own and develop naturally. Also, they are rich in vitamins, nutrients and a delicious taste. They are ideal for a healthy diet and a balanced lifestyle.
Pay attention from whom and where you are buying from. Local producers are your safest option. Instead of going to the supermarket all the times, make a visit to your local market. You can find exactly what you need there. Also, you will support the local economy and production.
These 5 green products facts show how important it is to pay attention to our actions and behavior. Even the simplest gesture can make a difference between a harming and green lifestyle.