So how much of a do you actually give about the whole 'green' thing?

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The discussion centers on the value of environmental consciousness and the effectiveness of individual actions in promoting sustainability. Participants express varying degrees of commitment to "green" practices, with some emphasizing personal financial benefits over environmental concerns. The conversation critiques initiatives like a green task registry, with some finding it trivial and others seeing it as a necessary reminder for responsible behavior. There is a mix of humor and skepticism about common eco-friendly practices, such as using energy-efficient light bulbs and optimizing dishwasher cycles. The debate also touches on broader themes of corporate influence, generational responsibility, and the perceived futility of individual efforts against larger environmental issues like global warming. While some participants advocate for personal responsibility and small changes, others question the effectiveness of these actions in the face of systemic environmental challenges. Overall, the thread reflects a complex interplay of personal values, economic incentives, and societal expectations regarding environmental stewardship.
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  • #32
We've done some engineering projects that start out wanting to go green, until they get the cost. We had one in particular that was an environmental center. They started out wanting to go green, with geothermal heat pumps and composting toilets. They got the costs and went with A/C units with electric resistance heat and flush toilets with a sewage ejector pump!

As for me, I always look for energy efficient methods. I came up with one experimental method on one project that saves the facility more than 20 tons of equivalent cooling energy every hour at peak load.
 
  • #33
Our household waste has dropped off dramatically since the dawn of recycling. Some weeks there's little point to putting out the garbage bin.

Now, the recycling bin on the other hand... We have two industrial-sized bins, and we still over-fill em...
 
  • #34
any final thoughts?
 
  • #35
questura said:
any final thoughts?
Why, is this thread going to self-destruct? :-p

My two-penneth...

I like to be green. I recycle, turn lights off, don't drive anymore but cycle...

On the other hand, I have made two flights to NA, one to Asia and a number of flights within Europe this year...

So, on the whole, my carbon footprint's not looking too good.

However, I'd never not go green if I had the choice.

I even wouldn't mind jacking in the whole technology thing and going to live on a self-sufficient farm [\hippy]
 
  • #36
questura said:
any final thoughts?

you first
 
  • #37
Global Warming is not Decided. Heck the guy who owns the Weather Channel even thinks it's not real and he's a meteorologist. We should be wanting to conserve or go green because of cost and efficiency. If we could just learn to be frugal and efficient they wouldn't be building McMansions or selling Hummers, or trying to sell us 3 Patty Hamburgers. We as a nation need to learn to be more frugal and responsible. We all want to leave it to next guy and we all just got to "keep up with the Jones". What you own is not who you are. We should have a show like"MTV Cribs" that focuses on people with efficient housing! To heck with CF lighting where are the LED's! they use way less energy than CF. Why don't they sell Anaerobic Digesters as the Homecenters so we can all start heating our water with methane. Why don't we have wind turbines or Solar Cells at the homecenters they have Big Screen Tvs there.
 
  • #38
rjbig2000 said:
Global Warming is not Decided. Heck the guy who owns the Weather Channel even thinks it's not real and he's a meteorologist..

It is the consensus opinion that global warming is real beyond any reasonable doubt. The confidence that it is caused to a significant degree by human activity is 90%. This, according to the international panel of experts who are tasked with making this determination - the IPCC.

Owning a TV channel is not a credential here.
 
  • #39
rjbig2000 said:
Global Warming

Please don't start that here. There are already several threads dealing with that subject.
 
  • #40
And the next time I hear someone called 'liberal' as a slander for being socially responsible, I think I may punch someone.