In previous articles, I have intended to help the homeowner understand some basic energy principles and to provide specific solutions that people can use. The topic of this article is different in that it is more general and philosophical in hopes of conveying the importance of “being green” and helping to promote the Green Expo. You probably have heard about the Green Expo being held Friday evening, November 14th, and Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at the Nock Middle School in Newburyport, MA.
I just finished reading a new book by Thomas Friedman titled Hot, Flat, and, Crowded, (published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux). In it, Friedman describes the history of how we got to our current state of affairs and how we are seemingly stuck in our petroleum-based economy. He links the effects of global warming, loss of bio-diversity, population growth, geopolitics, and the Internet’s role in the broadening of economic opportunity. He describes the extent to which countries in the developing world are following the petroleum-based growth model and the devastating consequences that will occur if they (and we) don’t change. The book makes it clear that being green is no longer just a fad, no longer for a small slice of the population we call “earthy,” nor is it only for those whom we might deem “well-off,” who can more easily afford organic produce and remodeling their homes with often higher-priced green products. Rather, going green has become a necessity in which we all must participate.
The central thesis of the book drives the point home that America is uniquely positioned to lead the way in going green by–to put it very simply–reviving good old American ingenuity. Some of the initiatives may seem rather boring such as more effective regulation and energy conservation, while other areas of going green can be exciting such as developing improved renewable energy technologies. Regardless of where and how individuals contribute, it is important that we do contribute, not only because it is good for the economy among many other benefits, but also because the world’s future generations absolutely will depend on what we do now and in the foreseeable future. See you at the Green Expo.
© 2008 Tim Gould. All rights reserved.