| The new Obama administration has indicated a | | | | expect to see greater utilization of these natural |
| strong focus on developing America's renewable | | | | resources in the future. Solar technology is |
| energy resources. So whether you believe global | | | | developing very quickly and becoming more |
| warming is man-made, or purely a result of the | | | | usable and cost effective. Solar lighting and water |
| earth's natural cycles of warming and cooling, now | | | | features are now very efficient and an attractive, |
| is a perfect time to adopt an individual green | | | | clean addition to any garden landscaping. While |
| lifestyle that will conserve energy, save water | | | | solar leasing programs are making solar power |
| and result in a cleaner, sustainable environment. | | | | more available for individual homes. Wind power is |
| The availability of eco-friendly products and | | | | a very hot topic right now with the Pickens Plan |
| services is becoming a great green wave that will | | | | receiving a great deal of publicity. If we are able |
| make it easier for everybody to become more | | | | to capture the tremendous wind energy |
| environmentally friendly. And it doesn't take a | | | | resources in the US, and then develop an |
| major change in lifestyle to contribute to a cleaner | | | | environmentally friendly means of distributing it |
| and greener world. | | | | around the country, it could make a significant |
| Historically there has been a high cost barrier to | | | | contribution to the greening of America. |
| moving to green products, but that is becoming | | | | Along with the growth in the availability of green |
| much less of a hurdle as more companies | | | | products has come the problem of identifying |
| compete to offer better, greener products. While | | | | what is truly green and "how green is it?" As with |
| certain high-end goods remain out of reach of all | | | | any product for sale, the claims of the best and |
| but the most well off, the energy saving benefits | | | | the greenest can often be somewhat |
| of many green products quickly offset any higher | | | | exaggerated. However, this need not be too big a |
| up-front cost. Green cleaning products are often | | | | distraction. It is not necessary to choose the |
| more concentrated than the regular chemical | | | | most energy efficient, or the most natural |
| products and therefore offer good cost | | | | cleaner, to contribute to a greener world. A higher |
| comparison for their total use. | | | | efficiency rating in a replacement appliance, or a |
| In most areas of the country recycling programs | | | | natural cleaning product that gives the best |
| are the first introduction to helping protect the | | | | results, enhances the green footprint but should |
| environment we live in. Unfortunately, the | | | | also fit in to the personal choices of a modern |
| incredible variety of different collection programs | | | | lifestyle. |
| leaves much to be desired and there is much to | | | | The decision to go green can be as dramatic or |
| be done in the future to improve the | | | | as gradual as each individual or family wish to |
| effectiveness of this process. Maybe this is one | | | | make it. Once the "green light" goes on however, |
| area where sensible State or Federal regulation | | | | it does appear to take on a life of its own. Each |
| could create common recycling procedures and | | | | green choice, small or large, contributes to the |
| improve the efficiency of collection and re-use. | | | | growing movement towards a more eco-friendly |
| Back yard composting can reduce the disposal of | | | | world. |
| yard and food waste which is estimated to make | | | | If the choices are there and the barriers to their |
| up around 30% of the waste stream going to | | | | use are coming down, who wouldn't want to |
| landfills. | | | | reduce their use of the earth's finite resources |
| With the increasing pressure on energy costs | | | | and convert to a cleaner, less polluting, healthier, |
| around the world and the improving technology | | | | green lifestyle. |
| developments in solar and wind power, we can | | | | |