How Green is too Green?

I am going to say it: “green is sexy.” And, I am not talking about money (unless going green is helping you save it). I am talking about saving and conserving gas and other natural resources, reducing emissions, eliminating unnecessary waste, supporting green companies, farmers and manufacturers, and small things like turning off “all those lights” like granddaddy used to say!

But, how green is too green? A few months back, I read a New York Times article called “The Year Without Toilet Paper.” The article described time spent with Colin Beavan, Michelle Conlin and their daughter, Isabella, age 2. They live without toilet paper. They are taking part in a one-year experiment called No Impact. The gist of No Impact is “attempting to live without making any net impact on the environment. In other words, no trash, no carbon emissions, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no plastics, no air conditioning, no TV, no toilets…” (see Colin’s blog at No Impact Man Project). As part of the experiment they forgo the use of toilet paper, dishwashers, microwaves, planes, trains, and automobiles; they use organic cotton diapers, purchase milk in reusable glass bottles, bake their own bread, use homemade lipstick, moisturizers and toothpaste, and refuse paper cups with straws at restaurants (among other waste-producing items). The article notes, “only in strictness comes the conversion.”

It is a drastic and dramatic way to live, inspired and encouraged at least on Michelle’s part by Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. She says she felt like everything she did in her life was contributing to a system that was really problematic and that “if I was a student, I would march against myself.”

But, for the average YBP I imagine this is a seemingly impracticable way to live. It sounds time and labor intensive, smelly, limiting and . . . inconvenient. But, what struck me was the sense of hope embedded in their efforts. A former Pastor was the first I heard say “the spirit of hope is knowing we can’t do everything, but we can do something.” Like dieting, you may not be able to lose 40 pounds, but it’s still worth it to lose 10. So, what can we start doing today? Maybe use canvas bags at the grocery store. Walk to the store, work or gym if possible. Use cloth wash rags and leave them in a light bleach solution between uses instead of paper towels or sponges. Use cloth napkins, or at least recycled ones, with meals. We can do it YBPs. These people are going to try and go a YEAR without toilet paper. Surely we can change to CFLs (light bulbs)…

… that’s the spirit