Tips for Green Living

Green living commonly refers to consumer lifestyle choices made with consideration to environmental issues.

This brief green living overview highlights both indoor and outdoor environmental issues common to residents of the one hundred million plus U.S. households.

Topics range from the almost always popular light bulb discussions to the less than popular discussions regarding lawn dandelions.

Changes in household lighting technology and regulations mean light bulbs, be they the traditional incandescent, the compact fluorescent (CFL) or the LED, will remain a spirited topic of conversation for the next few years.

In fact, a revolution in lighting, led by the commercial development of LED lighting, provides opportunities for the average household consumer to rethink his/her approach to home gardening and house plant care.

Second to lighting technology changes, changes in household electronics technology continue to provide consumers with appliance choices much more energy efficient than their predecessors.

Energy efficient labels on most appliances provide electricity cost estimations, allowing consumers to compare total cost of appliance use over time.

Recent statistics (2009 RECS Survey Data) from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) also show that of the total 113.6 million US households, almost all (113.4 million) contained some type of refrigeration unit.

Starting with refrigeration, Americans add kitchen appliances as well as the latest household communication, education and entertainment appliances according to their personal preferences.

The articles in the box on the right address multiple household environment topics. Collectively, they tell a story of changing consumer lifestyles.

Green living concepts extend beyond the household indoor environment, to the household outdoor environment, none more important than the lawn. While green lawn care practices such as changing consumer preferences for more environmentally friendly mowers and trimmers continues to increase, the traditional heavily fertilized, gas mowed, green lawn continue to set the American standard.

Local nursery and garden retailers continue to promote environmentally friendly, season related, lawn care products. Landscape experts continue to expand their visions of back yards as created or natural environments.

The consumer's working acquaintance with these products offers the most promising path to a newly defined all-American lawn. As a starting point, reduced pesticide use continues to matter to many families concerned with the health and safety of their children and pets while creating a backyard environment hospitable to local wildlife.

Yard waste also continues to matter. According to aggregate statistics, in 1985 Americans recycled zero percent (0%) of their yard trimmings. By 2009, American's recycled 59.9% of their yard trimmings.

The articles listed in the box on the right provide extended discussions covering the outdoor household environment. Most of the articles focus on basic lawn and tree care issues. The organic gardening link points to a separate one hundred page garden guide.

At any given time and place, at least one American community celebrates one natural issue or another, from the semiannual whale migrations along the coasts to the annual celebration of nature and all thinks costume better known as Halloween.

Population surveys that document coastal America tell us it's home to over fifty per cent of the population. Many of the remaining population consider coastal areas as seasonal destinations, suited for summer vacation.

Winter outdoor activities such as skiing also attract attention with respect to industry environment and sustainability standards.

Human activity, from the coast lines to the mountains, provide recreational activities and economic benefits to millions. The articles examine environmental issues associated with human outdoor and seasonal activity.

© 2001-2012 Patricia A. Michaels