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On News Years Eve 2007 a reporter stated that the ball in Times Square had gone Green! The ball had been rebuilt using electricity saving LED lights.
When I think of the environment, when I hear “Green”, or when I think of the Earth, the last thing I think of is Times Square in New York. Did anyone else notice all of the electricity being wasted around this energy efficient LED dropping ball? It is so hypercritical to call something green when it is:
- Not needed. Do we really need to see this stupid ball drop? I guess that in other cities like Los Angles or Boston they don’t know when its midnight on New Years Eve since they don’t have the ball.
- When the entire area of Time Square around the ball uses enough energy to light up a small country for a year, it makes us look ridicules to refer to something as green. Someone living off the land in Montana must have wanted to punch the reporter in the nose.
This is when I realized that we are totally off track about being green. It has turned into another media catch phrase that will fade away (remember organic and bistro).
Going Green is not about replacing light bulbs. It is not about buying energy star appliances, nor is it about political affiliations. It is about conservation. It is about our personal choices to save not just the environment (green plants) but money also (the other green).
Instead of buying a new energy star rated clothes dryer because the Media said you could save so much on your electric bill, try buying a clothes line instead! Replacing a clothes dryer creates land fill, it is costly just to save $20 on your electric bill. By hanging your laundry out to dry you don’t use any electricity! People have been using this for years. Your clothes will smell better and last longer too. Totally zero carbon emissions. Some people might say “well my jeans are a little stiff when I hang them out.” If your concern about the environment is that shallow due to stiff jeans, there is nothing anyone can say to help you. If you don’t have the room for a clothes line, get one of those folding clothes lines that take up a small space or the indoor wooden version.
Before replacing or buying a new dish washer, try something that people have been doing throughout history; do the dishes by hand! Once again this is a zero carbon emission product. Not only are you not using any electricity, you might get the kids to help you. This in turn gets the kids away from the Play Station and TV. More Carbon Emission freedom! Who knows, we might actually talk to our kids while doing the dishes.
Try reading instead of watching TV. Try playing a board game with the kids. Go for a walk with the kids. Catching up on the latest episode of “Friends” not only adds the pounds, it adds to the electricity bill.
It doesn’t take extremes to help the environment. We don’t all have to buy fuel cells, spend thousands of dollars on light bulbs, or walk to work. Every little bit does help, so let’s start with the basics instead of saying Times Square is green.
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