Gen Y: Think back to the basics, choose your own brand of sustainability

There’s a ‘fog of war’ surrounding all things green. We don’t know what green really means, are confused about how it affects us on a personal level, and it leads to literal competition: who’s greener than who. That’s enough to make any ‘green’ and climate-change skeptic drool; but doesn’t mean that we should give up hope. Some initial problems with green environmentalism are:

One: green has become expensive and elite, and those pushing it know how to collect its cash flow.

When green is about technology and living sustainably, it comes down to trends and spending. There’s nothing wrong with that in theory, but it certainly takes a certain brand of sustainability away from our generation. I like the thought of sustainable-living developments, but don’t have $350,000 for a self-sustaining bachelor condo.

Two: green definitely has its heart in publicity, which has its perks but is not eco-focused.

Besides the slight chance of pollination, things like green roofs will never connect themselves to other ecosystems, a key element driving ecosystem health. But, they do provide a cooling effect vs. the city’s concrete, and at least some benefit to air quality. I’m never against such initiative, but the benefits are only slightly more than peace of mind.

So, for now, forget green and get back to the basics:

1. Ecosystems

The first thing I’d like to reflect is that our cities don’t actually separate us from nature. It may appear that way because of the infrastructure or the way we live day-to-day, but we are very much in there. In fact when you look at our input, output, and the energy it takes to maintain urban economies – we are very much an ecosystem in ourselves. A big dirty one.

Simple advice? Think of your (that’s right, your) environment as a system of climate, land and water. Along with ‘green’, the ‘environment’ picked up some bland meaning so that recycling and going easy on gas mileage was becoming enough. It takes the input-output mindset, and ecological awareness to realize how we affect our surroundings.

Also, Zen-up your office work space by buying some plants. Not only is green a relaxing colour, but having plants can demonstrate the care needed to sustain life.

2. Keep doing what you’re doing

Don’t stop now, because your habits are improving and you’re doing great, I know you are. Your new-found travel habits are soft on your bank account, and that’s critical in your saving years. The fact that you are recycling shows you just how much you’re consuming (because taking it out back is a bitch), forcing you to consume less packaging.

Take the opportunity to compost too, so that ever-important organic matter doesn’t go to waste. Even if you live in an apartment. (<< I love how they mention that the worms eat through your compost “and junk mail“, that’s productive recycling!)

3. Basic, and Early Education is Key

Start educating yourself and kids now. Many Gen-Yers complain that right now, in this stage of their life, ’saving the planet’ comes after family and career. Fair enough. But what if every child grows up to pass on that same mindset? What a disaster our world would be, seriously. We could all use some time outside, where nature counts, to show us what our grandchildren need to survive.

Young parents, have a look at this site promoting early education in fun and eco-friendly ways.

Take some time: At the bottom of this recent post are some links to get your curiosities flowing.

And finally, don’t get caught up in ‘buying green’. Your actions are still more important than which green movement you’re supporting. Customize a sustainable life to fit your priorities, because every bit counts.

On Surviving Greenwash Through Participation

I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think that the age of Greenwash – a word which has been around since 1986 (I’ll have you know) – is coming to an end. What is pulling Green back from the depths of hell is the advent of actual participation. Organizations too, are finding that it can increase profit retention and create work opportunities.

It’s like when the people you least expect start to talk about certain “investment opportunities” at work, daily. Or when your grandmother calls you to tell you that, “Gold looks like a good buy right now”. The same way parents can ruin a buzz-word, or signal its decline, reverting to greenwash-speak is no longer the way to go.

In which case, I no longer accept your “that’s just greenwashing”, (or similar) rebuttals or arguments. Technology has finally reached a usable point, and especially where technology is needing to be replaced (see in cities later in the post), green tech is the next big buy. One corporate example is the emergence of energy-based server systems (which Q9 Networks out of Toronto offers), rather than a square-footage based price models. Saving money makes it easier – and hardly a tough decision – to choose the energy efficient service.

Peter Wolchack, Editor at BC’s Backbone Magazine, says that this time (acknowledging that there are failures in the past) there is a greater sense of urgency, coupled with a greater emphasis on practical solutions. Mr. Zwick, at Schulich School of Business stresses that successful green products and services are ones that will be mainstream and cost-effective, “…because at the bottom line, there are still only a [handful] of consumers who will pay a premium for environmentally sound products.” In other words, the initiatives which work are those that deliver a benefit without requiring us to dramatically change our lifestyle.

When corporations are finding it finally profitable and marketable to be green (as it begins now), and cities join the initiative and practically force citizens to use the greener services, we all become green through participation.

**And I mean more effective participation than facebook applications and applications on blogs (which are neat nonetheless). Sometimes is takes a personal effort. Again, are we that lethargic?

In Cities: Just some examples from more than a dozen which have proposals to remove highways from downtowns.

• An ageing expressway in Oklahoma – an elevated 4.5-mile stretch of Interstate 40 – will be demolished in 2012. This will be followed by an old-fashioned boulevard and a mile-long park taking its place.
• Buffalo wants to get rid of its Skyway, an elevated highway that blocks access to Lake Erie.
• Nashville wants to replace 8 miles of interstate – parts of I-65, I-40 and I-24 – with parks and neighborhood streets.
• Washington has considered demolishing the Whitehurst Freeway, an elevated road that runs along the Potomac River in the tony Georgetown neighborhood. (the plan is on hold)
• Akron, Ohio, launched a $2 million study on tearing down its 2.2 mile Innerbelt that leads downtown from I-76/I-77.

Read the source article.

This is the greening of cities, and it is part of what I meant by practical, forced participation. Furthermore, there is no doubt that citizen participation will be encouraged and sought for the parks’ creation and handiwork; green technologies and services will be paramount in the marketing of contractors, and (therefore) the infrastructure work itself will be pushed to that end. To an environmentally beneficial extent, it has become about not being left behind: a sign of an uptrend taking its course.

So as you see your city’s infrastructure change, and your employer’s or you home life green-up, can you survive a greenwash? Can you make a practical effort to survive the fake?