Until not so long ago, a normal eco-friendly citizen of this planet just had to sort garbage into the right bins and recycle. The goal posts have now shifted a long way from that, what with people having to face the inconvenient truth and doomsday forecasts about global warming, climate change, rising seas, abnormal and extreme weather conditions, and natural resource depletion. The upshot of all this is that eco awareness is now effectively being equated with a carbon neutral lifestyle.
It's a simple but strikingly brilliant concept. If every entity, be it an individual, business or organization, learns to take responsibility for curbing their own carbon emissions, there isn't anything more that needs to be done. It doesn't work that way in reality because people have other priorities that take precedence over leading a green lifestyle.
The biggest problem, however, is that most people still don't know how important this is. That's why most governments and non-profit organizations focus more on raising awareness than on passing laws or forcing people to make choices that are less harmful to the planet. The events held worldwide on Earth Day and Earth Hour are not just to save energy, but to engage millions of people and let them know how they can take responsibility for their own energy consumption and why it's important.
But for argument's sake, let's say a person wants to be eco-aware and lead a green lifestyle. There are two ways to go about it, and both are likely to be needed. One way is to reduce emissions, and the other way is to offset it by purchasing carbon credits.
Reducing emissions is done by looking at every single aspect of a person's life and activities, and finding ways to make it less harmful to the environment. For example, those who want to eliminate the impact of their vehicle usage can buy electric vehicles and install a solar power generation system to charge the car battery using clean power. It's not easy or cheap to make this transition, but it ends up providing a zero-carbon and free mode of transportation that doesn't need gas.
Usage of energy and other resources within the home can likewise be reduced a lot. A full energy retrofit will cut down the electricity needed and the utility bills. It gets even better in an LEED certified property. For instance, dual-flush tanks in the toilets and artificial grass replacing a lawn will save a lot of water.
Companies can likewise make the workplace eco-friendly by implementing green practices and using natural materials to reduce pollution associated with their products. Paperless offices will contribute in the fight against deforestation, and factories powered by clean energy from rooftop solar arrays can claim to be green. Recycling of industrial waste instead of sending it to landfills or dumping it into drains that ultimately end up in the rivers and oceans is another way that companies can be responsible.
Despite all these and other such efforts, it's not really possible to lead a completely zero-carbon life. This is where the second part kicks in, with carbon credits available for purchase to offset whatever is still left over. The buyer pays for credits, and the seller has done or will do something such as planting trees or generating clean power that balances the buyer's emissions.
It's a simple but strikingly brilliant concept. If every entity, be it an individual, business or organization, learns to take responsibility for curbing their own carbon emissions, there isn't anything more that needs to be done. It doesn't work that way in reality because people have other priorities that take precedence over leading a green lifestyle.
The biggest problem, however, is that most people still don't know how important this is. That's why most governments and non-profit organizations focus more on raising awareness than on passing laws or forcing people to make choices that are less harmful to the planet. The events held worldwide on Earth Day and Earth Hour are not just to save energy, but to engage millions of people and let them know how they can take responsibility for their own energy consumption and why it's important.
But for argument's sake, let's say a person wants to be eco-aware and lead a green lifestyle. There are two ways to go about it, and both are likely to be needed. One way is to reduce emissions, and the other way is to offset it by purchasing carbon credits.
Reducing emissions is done by looking at every single aspect of a person's life and activities, and finding ways to make it less harmful to the environment. For example, those who want to eliminate the impact of their vehicle usage can buy electric vehicles and install a solar power generation system to charge the car battery using clean power. It's not easy or cheap to make this transition, but it ends up providing a zero-carbon and free mode of transportation that doesn't need gas.
Usage of energy and other resources within the home can likewise be reduced a lot. A full energy retrofit will cut down the electricity needed and the utility bills. It gets even better in an LEED certified property. For instance, dual-flush tanks in the toilets and artificial grass replacing a lawn will save a lot of water.
Companies can likewise make the workplace eco-friendly by implementing green practices and using natural materials to reduce pollution associated with their products. Paperless offices will contribute in the fight against deforestation, and factories powered by clean energy from rooftop solar arrays can claim to be green. Recycling of industrial waste instead of sending it to landfills or dumping it into drains that ultimately end up in the rivers and oceans is another way that companies can be responsible.
Despite all these and other such efforts, it's not really possible to lead a completely zero-carbon life. This is where the second part kicks in, with carbon credits available for purchase to offset whatever is still left over. The buyer pays for credits, and the seller has done or will do something such as planting trees or generating clean power that balances the buyer's emissions.
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