Being "Green" Was Previously Described as "Waste Not-Want Not"
So, since we have sort of gone ahead of you, and you are following in our footsteps, we are pleased to be able to help you. You will be able to avoid some of the more common pitfalls if you take the time to learn. Much depends on your situation, and that may cause you to remember some things as being undesirable and to be avoided.
You have been around long enough to realize there will be small things that crop up here and there, and that is why you are here - to learn how to manage them.
Several years ago, one common statement that was usually said was 'waste not, want not' which was a way of saying to be green. Living an environmentally friendly life is in essence not wasting any of our resources. Several years ago, the saying referred to not wasting food while today's reference is about not using up energy but the basic message is the same. 50 years ago there just weren't nearly as many people, or nearly as many gadgets. Because of the boom in the population and a world that is basically wealthy, the demand for fuel and electricity is at a record high. Expect our energy supplies to dry up in just a few years.
Technology is continuing to move forward even as we look for alternative forms of energy; having said that, we cannot continue to waste our existing resources. If individuals who drive their vehicles switched to cars with low emissions or stop driving completely they can help minimize the pollution. Any difficulty that is causing the pollution could be fixed by simply not creating it. For instance, if everyone flipped off the light when they leave a room, the amount of electrical power saved would be tremendous.
Many of the things that we do because of convenience are having an impact on our planet. Lots of the paper wrappers, cups and plastics from fast food restaurants are causing the landfills to fill up fast. Many of us don't stop and think about recycling the product packaging, we just eat then dump the trash and go on. This is happening in just about every single major city throughout the world. Think of just how much energy is used to produce things that are used one-time and promptly discarded.
At times conservation doesn't happen, such as with fuel for our cars and trucks, until the price gets so high that we're forced to conserve. How many individuals never even consider saving on energy, until their energy bill gets so high that they are note able to afford it. You may believe that working to conserve energy could well be done in vain. Things will change for the better if everybody worked jointly on this. To be most effective, you'll want to modify your day-to-day routine like not drive frequently, start recycling periodicals and cans and shop for only products made of recyclable material.
It doesn't require you to make drastic changes to help prevent wasting energy. It is not necessary for you to drive for no specific reason. You will find ways to consume less water and electrical energy without affecting your life. All you gotta do is slow down and ease your life slightly.
Additional Links:
In The Past, Being Green Was "Waste Not - Want Not"
Waste Not - Want Not: The Old Way Of Saying To Be Green