Why Some People Go Green—and Others Don't

Reader Comments
Back to article

We switched to CFL's many years ago, way before they became mainstream. We did it to save energy and lower replacement cost, boy do they save energy and last for a long long time; We also drive cars with small engines for the purpose of saving on fuel, we have always try to avoid waste. We appreciate the Al Gore movement, if it's for the purpose of protecting the environment, preserve the planet for new and future generations to enjoy. However we have not and most likely will not buy a hybrid car at least not till they become financially feasible, the money you save in fuel on a hybrid you already paid in price premium also replacement of major components is prohibitive in all aspects. We do our part by holding on to our cars for many years.

Wain of CA 2:25PM January 21, 2010

Lower your Toxic emissions by 30% or more. 100% envirnomentally friendly product. Works in all internal combustion engines. Check us out at www.forceteamgreen.com

Force Team Green of KY 2:23PM December 23, 2009

A person has to be motivated by something other than good sense to buy those compact flourescent bulbs. I have tried them three times in three applications. They are less bright than the bulbs they are advertized to replace, they aren't supposed to be used in enclosed fixtures or outside, they hum, the "dimmable" ones don't dim, you have to wait minutes for them to come to full illuminating power when you turn them on, "flood" light versions have wierd light patterns, they will wreck a digital timer if used on a timed circuit, they have to be disposed of specially since they contain mercury, and the one that goes in the track light system in our house cost $10 each.

Dan Allen of CA 7:15PM November 30, 2009

We went green years ago! We save our money and invest it wisely! Let the masses spin their wheels on the green economy.
Global Warming is a farce!
1 Government funded scientist support Global warming! Whats wrong with that picture?
2 Global warming does not take into account solar sun spots.
3 Volcanic eruptions spew more carbon in the atmosphere than scientist can predict!
4 Vague attempt of liberals trying to control the world and saddle the masses with fradulent taxes to fund fictional probems.

Stanley Leibowitz of KY 7:18PM November 25, 2009

I just bought a used CNG Civic, not because it is nice to the environment but for the 93 cents a gallon fill up.

Rick of UT 12:40PM November 23, 2009

It is the height of hypocrisy for any self-proclaimed environmentalist to smoke!
Smokers pollute the air, the ground, increase fire risks for others around them & cause everyone's health insurance rates (not to mention medicaid/medicare rates) to go up.
Be Green & quit smoking!

No Smoking Around Me of CA 11:48PM November 20, 2009

A great Green tip:
Clover lawns.
http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/beneficial-clover-in-lawns/index.html
Requires less water to maintain, bunnies love it (keeps 'em busy so they eat your vegetable garden a tad more slowly), and...well, there's that looming water crisis issue again. Clover requires less water to maintain.
See, if Gore put a more positive and upbeat spin on what otherwise comes across as paranoia, he'd get a lot more traction behind the whole Green issue.
Most sane Americans aren't into pollution and smog, so of course they're going to pay some attention to the issue if framed in a less negative manner.
Environmentalists should play up how to have a positive impact on the environment, promote free market environmentalism (who can create stuff that's not toxic for the best price in a free market?), and so forth.
So yeah, start with more positive approaches, first, before the rantings about the coming (supposed) eco-Armageddon.
People will respond to bunnies nibbling on clover lawns, but are not yet ready to ditch the car to walk to the garden and home supply center. Just won't happen.
Moderation.

Angie Koutrotsios of IL 8:18PM November 20, 2009

Think about it.
Many people work and live in urban centers where there's a lot less open space full of greenery, and a lot more...well...hang out downtown in any major city, and you'll see wall-to-wall mega-stores with enticing merchandise in the display windows. On the other hand, head out to the less densely populated 'burbs, and there's wildlife at every turn, as well as lots of greenery.
Even just observing the local wildlife can make one begin to think more "Green." Example: If one enjoys watching the wild bunnies playfully engaging in a game of chase and tag with each other, one starts to think about not putting harmful chemicals on the lawn, which would be detrimental to the health of such cute wildlife critters. That, in turn, can morph into concern for the composition of rock salt that's sprinkled on drives and sidewalks in the winter months (where there's snowfall). Will someone's lovable little pup fall ill by being exposed to the chemicals? That then causes a serious look at "pet safe" salt that can be found at the local home and garden store.
Having once been a bit of a skeptic (OK, actually I still don't believe Al Gore's paranoia that an eco-Armageddon is close at hand), the skepticism has turned into concern that there's no pet unfriendly rock salt sprinkled about in the winter, nor is there anything full of noxious chemicals on the summer lawn.
Just get outdoors and really enjoy how fresh the still mostly clean air is. Who wants to lose that? No one, obviously.
Schools in the cities should take the kids on regular field trips to the nearby botanical gardens and arboretums, as well as to any wildlife sanctuary that might be within bus ride distance away. Bet that would help a lot.
And Gore is still a tad overly paranoid, though. Please be aware that, despite human contribution to global warming, we are also still coming out of an ice age! Factor all variables in, please, rather than just blaming all the humans for existing.
Moderation is best on the environmental issue.

Angie Koutrotsios of IL 7:23PM November 20, 2009

Fact: I replaced all of our light bulbs with CFLB (Compact Flourescent) light bulbs for the energy/cost savings, not to be 'green'. When the CFLB's quit working, into the trash they go, mercury or not. I'm not putting them into a special container, etc to get rid of them and I suspect most people just toss them into the trash also. So out landfills will eventually have all the CFLB mercury in them.

Jack Thompson of OH 1:06PM November 20, 2009

Even if they twist the truth. The movie 2012 is wonderfull fiction. Hollywood took the Mayan ideals and ran with them. Nowhere does the Mayan Calender say the world will end. The Mayan Calender resets on 12-21-2012. If people would take the time and Look into the Subject rather than taking one fact, and running the way that sells more tickets. Then we wouldnt have this issue.

Species of ID 9:05PM November 19, 2009