Comments on: What I mean by green http://greenereverydayconsulting.com/what-i-mean-by-green Helping People Turn Over a Green Leaf Wed, 16 May 2012 02:26:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eric Olson http://greenereverydayconsulting.com/what-i-mean-by-green/comment-page-1#comment-9 Eric Olson Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:24:54 +0000 http://greenereverydayconsulting.com/?p=689#comment-9 Hi Rachel! Congratulations on the launch of Greener Every Day! The design of the site reflects a lot of care and thought, exactly what living greener is all about. May you have great success with it. The journey towards more sustainable living can be challenging, for as you have found there is so much to learn. I recently received an email from a friend touting the benefits of running more of our economy on natural gas because, he said, "it does not emit any carbon dioxide". This guy is not uneducated, he runs a business here in Newton and he has a great family, his wife is a medical doctor. But he is just plain wrong about natural gas, of course burning it emits CO2, its a fossil fuel albeit certainly cleaner than coal or oil. (So switching your home from fuel oil to natural gas for heating can cut CO2 emissions by over 30%, its a good way to make a big difference.) This is not an isolated instance, and these moments remind me just how much we are asking when we aim to have more of our community, our entire nation, "go green". It takes a gentle touch to offer guidance to our friends when they get the science wrong, but also humility about one's own fragmented knowledge, and an openness to learn. I know your writings on this site and your one-on-one meetings with people in their homes will bring exactly this approach. It is certainly needed, even here in well-educated Newton. Onwards now, and best of luck! Eric Olson Hi Rachel! Congratulations on the launch of Greener Every Day! The design of the site reflects a lot of care and thought, exactly what living greener is all about. May you have great success with it.

The journey towards more sustainable living can be challenging, for as you have found there is so much to learn. I recently received an email from a friend touting the benefits of running more of our economy on natural gas because, he said, “it does not emit any carbon dioxide”. This guy is not uneducated, he runs a business here in Newton and he has a great family, his wife is a medical doctor. But he is just plain wrong about natural gas, of course burning it emits CO2, its a fossil fuel albeit certainly cleaner than coal or oil. (So switching your home from fuel oil to natural gas for heating can cut CO2 emissions by over 30%, its a good way to make a big difference.) This is not an isolated instance, and these moments remind me just how much we are asking when we aim to have more of our community, our entire nation, “go green”. It takes a gentle touch to offer guidance to our friends when they get the science wrong, but also humility about one’s own fragmented knowledge, and an openness to learn. I know your writings on this site and your one-on-one meetings with people in their homes will bring exactly this approach. It is certainly needed, even here in well-educated Newton.

Onwards now, and best of luck!

Eric Olson

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