I would argue that while there is a cost to "going green" and many people are not willing to foot the bill to create greener homes or even live greener lives, the monetary cost is negligible compared to the environmental costs or even the monetary expense that we will suffer later due to the lack of action.

It may cost someone $5000 now to install a solar PV system now, but more people do it and we begin to reduce the pull of energy from fossil fuels, we could save the environment and much much more money.

The money is the easy scapegoat. People are resistant to change and blaming their inaction on money is the easy route.

I couldn't agree more. Too many people look at the cost of going green and only see the upfront cost and not the long term benefits of greening one's life.

There are of course some measures that have no financial payback and it will be hard to ever get everyone on board. Take for example the use of canvas grocery bags. I do it religiously because that is how I feel. I don't see why I should waste a plastic bag when I can just bring my own bags and reuse them year after year. I don't make any money back (yet) and I paid a good amount for the bags to get the sturdy ones made in the USA with organic cotton (I know I am a bit of an extremist).

A paradigm shift eventually will happen, the question is how bad will everything get before that happens?

I don't mean to be a naysayer here, but the cost is the sticking point for many many people. Also important to take into account is the fact that most people are resistant to change. When people build behavior patterns that include environmentally unfriendly acts, it is very hard to change those without complete dedication.

A third point here is the political spin hovering over the green movement. It has become a leftist position, when saving the environment should be bipartisan and sought by every living creature.

I think the cost is a bit higher than it will be in the future, but we have to start changing the mindset now by spending the money and encouraging the green economy.

If people never bought the early IBM monster machines for their personal and company use, would be have little laptops today that are getting cheaper and cheaper with more and faster technologies.

The money has to be spent at some point to fund the future and now is the right time, as the media, manufacturing and political powers that be are all looking toward the economy and environment simultaneously.

I completely agree with you phil aster. Take the example of solar panels. They are energy conserving devices(Sun Fusion). But how many have actually installed one. The initial cost is high but the long-term benefits are numerous.