What Does it Mean to be “Green?”

Today, the word green is much more than just a color. These days, green is used to describe lots of things, like kids and grown-ups who buy things that are made in a way that is kind to the Earth. Many “green” people believe that what we buy and how we use what we buy can have a real impact on the environment.

For example, green people often look for clothes made from natural fibers like organic cotton, as opposed to synthetic materials like polyester, which is made from petroleum products. Green people may also eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, grains, and soy products because they believe that growing their food is less harmful to our land and water than raising beef and pork, which require a lot of water and a lot of space.
Green people try to drive fuel efficient cars. Hybrid cars run on a combination of gasoline and electricity, so they produce less air pollution. Green people have discovered that diesel cars can run on a combination of diesel oil and “bio-diesel.” Bio-diesel is less polluting than regular diesel. Some cars can even run on ethanol, a fuel made from corn and other crops, which are nowhere near as polluting as gasoline and diesel fuel.
Green people also try like to travel by bicycle or to walk to school or work. They know that driving less means that they are helping to conserve resources and reduce air pollution. They also like to use public transportation like subways and trains because it is so much less polluting than traveling in a single vehicle that can carry only a few people.

Green people usually like to get involved in “green” activities. In some cases, it can be as simple as caring for a plant or a garden. In others cases, it can be as big as joining a group that protects a river or a park.

Basically, most green people make an effort to pay attention to the environment. They think that the choices that they make in terms of time (biking vs. driving) or convenience (natural products vs. synthetic products) are small prices to pay when compared to the positive impact their choices have on the planet.

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