PegLeg

In my opinion, 90% of this 'Going Green' business is a fad. I really do hope that the developed world can create a more sustainable and less wasteful culture, but I am pretty pessimistic about the current state of things.

Personally, I have two 50 gallon plastic barrels (themselves gotten from a Pepsi bottler's trash heap) that I use to collect rainwater from my downspouts. I then use the collected rainwater to water my garden. The garden in turn provides maybe 5% of the veggies that I eat in the summer.

Is this an heroic effort? No. Do I still have to rely on tap water when the barrels run dry? Yes. Yet I feel like these efforts at least reflect a certain mindset that, if it could be exercised on a larger scale, might be quite useful.

I used to take the bus to the university. It was nice, because I could read on my way there. But the bus was late a lot of the time or too crowded to even stop. Of course, if ridership increased overall, the bus system in my city would have to be improved and if it were improved, then I would the ride the bus...

I guess the point I am making is that the general attitude toward sustainability needs to change before we worry about buying the right kind of lightbulbs and floors.