#1. Going green is expensive.
WRONG! Some new green technology is more expensive than lesser or non-green options, but much of this technology is becoming cheaper and will be affordable in the future. In the meantime, for just about everything we want to be greener, there are many great options. Growing your own organic food is definitely cheaper than buying it. Green cleaning products for home and work have always been around, and despite what many people think, are usually more effective than chemical alternatives. Buying a good water filter and safe plastic water bottle are the best options instead of buying bottled water. Going green has always been a cheaper option, and these day, is even more so.
Did you know …?
Australians throw away over 1.5 million plastic water bottles every day.
#2. I can never be ‘truly’ green because I can’t afford a hybrid or electric car.
WRONG! A few small habit changes in your home and workplace can have a much greater positive impact on the planet than buying a hybrid or electric car ever could. Cutting back on meat, for example, and saving power, water and waste each day is much better than driving an eco-car for a whole year. Think small steps. It’s the small, everyday steps that make the biggest impact in reducing GHG emissions.
Did you know …?
WRONG! It takes the same energy to produce a single hamburger as it does to drive a small car around 40 km. By buying local as much as possible, you can cut ‘food miles’ out of your shopping – most of our food is shipped and transported hundreds or thousands of km to reach us, producing way too many GHG emissions.
#3. We need more power plants.
WRONG! By becoming more energy-efficient, we can eventually produce all the power we need, with a lot of excess to spare. Simply switching to energy-efficient light bulbs saves billions of dollars in power and has resulted in the need for fewer power plants. Many other sectors could also see these changes.
#4. Compact fluorescent lights contain mercury and that’s a big problem.
WELL … Yes, today’s CFLs do contain a tiny amount of mercury (about 4mg each), which is actually less than the amount in a watch battery. A mercury thermometer has around 500mg of mercury, and older home thermostats have up to 3,000mg.
The reality is … CFLs don’t burn and release mercury, which causes poisoning, like coal and gas-burning power plants which release mercury into the air to make electricity. CFLs use two thirds less electricity than older style bulbs.
#5. Solar panels are too expensive and unaffordable.
WRONG! I’m not sure about other countries, but in Australia, solar is now amazing affordable, with most power companies offering generous rebates and credit payoff schemes. In Brisbane, for example, you can get solar power or solar hot water for around $300 upfront payment, and then small payments each month over 2 years. There are no longer any excuses not to have solar power. And if you have the right system, you can actually produce excess power, which goes back into the grid, resulting in you receiving a credit from your power company for your excess power. How about that? Imagine receiving a bill with a credit, with nothing to pay when each bill comes!
#6. Changing lights is doable, but replacing and changing other eco things will take too long to pay it all off.
WRONG! Every green investment you make will save you money and resources in the long term, because you’ll be using less of everything. Almost every item you replace will pay for itself within 2-3 years.
Did you know …?
US company, Adobe Systems Inc, spent $1.4 million retrofitting three of their buildings with energy and water-efficient technologies. In the first year after spending that money, they saved $1 million on energy and water costs. Those building also increased in market value by $10 million. Savings are available to every home and business when we make such eco-friendly changes.
#7. Small changes don’t really make a difference.
WRONG! One person making small changes makes a small difference. Millions of people making small changes makes a massive, world-changing difference to the planet. Every step you take to be greener, however small, makes a difference to your health and the Earth!
Did you know …?
If every Australian opted to buy one packet of 100% recycled napkins, that single act would save almost 1 million trees.
#8. Keeping older appliances is better than buying new ones.
WRONG! Changing to energy-efficient appliances will always save you money on bills and consumption. It is true that most new eco-friendly appliances may cost you more to purchase, but they will pay for themselves in the long term. One downside to replacing appliances is that there is an initial manufacturing cost, which can be high, to mine certain metals and other resources, or even to recycle some older products. Then there is the cost and carbon footprint to transport them from place of production to place of sales, most often from one country to others.
Did you know …?
Most new energy-efficient appliances, especially fridges, can save 50-80% on energy compared to older 70s, 80s and even some 90s models. 2-3 years later and the energy savings have paid for the appliance, known as EROEI (energy returned on energy invested). It is even cheaper if you access rebates offered.
#9. It’s better to leave computers on, as turning them on and off wears them out faster.
WRONG! In the past, this was true of older computers, but technology has changed. You now save energy, money and the impact on the environment when turn computers and monitors off when not using them. That includes turning them off at the wall when not in use or overnight.
Did you know …?
Grab yourself a Smart Power or WattStopper power board. These will automatically shut off all your peripherals, like printers, faxes, etc, when it senses that you’ve turned off your computer. Getting into the habit of turning off everything at the wall anyway is a great idea also to save energy and money. This prevents ‘leaky’ appliances using power, especially appliances on ‘stand by’.
#10. There’s nothing wrong with plastic. It’s all recycled these days anyway.
WRONG! Very few plastic types get recycled into practical, safe items. Most plastic leach chemicals and heavy metals into landfill and the environment, and release dioxins into the air. (Dioxins are one of the most harmful chemicals in existence.)
It’s best to … avoid most plastics, especially #3 and V (PVC) plastics – these are used to make shower curtains, plastic boots, raincoats and plumbing pipes, to name just a few. If you must dispose of these items, please take them to a hazardous waste facility. Please don’t dispose of them in normal or recycling bins. These are bad news in landfills or the environment.
