I read so much these days about green homes and I see enough on television about how people are building green homes and making the right choice for the environment. I also do my fair share of projects with families and developers that are trying to "hop on the bandwagon" and get their piece of the eco-pie.

I wonder though if the popularity and "trendiness" of green homes hasn't sent this movement down a path of mediocrity. At what level do we set the bar for a home to be green? If a home is built with 25% recycled materials, is it green? Of the home meets the standards for LEED for Homes certification is it green or must it meet a higher standard within the system?

I had a homeowner ask me to install solar panels so that his house would be green. I did, but not without trying to help him understand that green isn't just about electricity. He said he couldn't afford to do all that and his solar panels were his contribution to being sustainable and that should be enough.

I hope someday that we will come to the point as a species where we can see the longview and understand that unless we change in a drastic fashion, and that means each and everyone of us, that we may lose this existence we value so much.

Obviously purchasing green items is something that is important to our livelihood. A lot of people can have different opinions about being green. In my case, I think that if someone invests into something green, it should have a benifit attached to it. For expample, having installed solar panels will reduce your electricity bill and will eventually pay itself off and more down the line.

My 2 cents

Ecomat, if a payback is the only reason to invest in green products, then I don't think the whole picture is being addressed. Some things need to be done for the greater good. An example would be using canvas bags when shopping. For my knowledge, the payback is negligible if any in most areas, but the payback to the environment could be huge.

I certainly understand the need to invest wisely and make sure that you aren't "wasting" money, but certain behaviors like recycling have little payback in the pocket book. How do we address those issues from a perspective that you need to have a financial payback?

I think the initial question is hard to answer. Doing little things here and there is better than doing nothing, but I see the point that we have to strive to do more and to attain loftier goals. How do you get people to do that though? I think incremental change is the way to go. I think the little changes people make now may be followed by more changes later.

Those who are actively seeking to improve the world through sustainable living need to remain active and vocal about the necessity of reaching a sustainable balance with the planet.

I was merely expresing my opinion on building materials for a housing project. The majority of the green alternatives are usually more expensive. Homeowners and builders should always look at the alternatives but most importantly it needs to fit with the homeowners budget.

As for a general thinking of green items/alternatives, everything and anything that people can do for the greater good of the planet should be done, but it has to fit in with their budgets.

As for the canvas bags, grocery stores where I live started charging for the use of plastic or paper bags. That being said, you do eventually same some money with a canvas bag.

Ecomat,

I am with you on this one. It is so hard to convince people to spend those extra dollars though, to take a more altruistic viewpoint, to see past the individual to see the impact on the world as a whole.

I understand completely the need to fit green choices into one's financial construct, but at some point, we as a species have to step beyond the concerns of the one and look at the concerns of the many.

If everything has to be incentive based and requires financial reward, then when does the change actually happen. Its just more of the same. People only doing good because it is good for them. I am not trying to say that you are wrong, but just that it would be more beneficial if we started teaching people, children specifically, that its better to do the right thing for the greater good of the community, the country, the planet, than it is to put your own needs and concerns over those of any one else.

This new push for being as green as possible, if it stays a part of the larger mainstream consumer consciousness, it could be a catalyst to bolster our economy. I am all for even the smallest greenie to make his/her difference. Of course I think everyone should aspire to a sustainable lifestyle both for themselves and for the environments as a whole, but every little bit counts.