How do Brits like to be green, and what green behaviors do they still avoid?

That’s what a new survey by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), and the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is showing us by examining the environmental actions and preferences of 100,000 British people from 40,000 households.

The findings presented below are the first from a new annual household survey in Britain named Understanding Society. The environmental topics are one subset of the whole survey, which also examines the “working lives, relationships, health, finances, neighbourhoods, education, transport and more” of Brits.

What are the main findings thus far?

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I can identify three main ones, but they seem to be getting addressed more and more by a wide variety of parties — public, private and non-governmental. So, what is left?

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BUT, what does it mean to be a “global citizen”?

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From a humble sprout, a fragile orchid grows.  Not all of the seeds of its parent plant were pollinated.  Not all were strewn, and not all began to grow.  Some did.  Of those that did, one blossomed.  The orchid blossomed, a realized vision of the parent orchid’s design.

Not all efforts toward organizing ourselves for a better future have blossomed.  Communism fell to the stresses of maintaining an absolutist ideology among many individuals.  At this moment in our very own country, capitalism is finally beginning to buckle beneath its own design oversights (infinite growth within a finite planet).  If one examines the human political legacy, it seems that there never will be a final, best solution to our social woes.

But there may be an evolution.

Totalitarianism is better than a monarchy.  Representative democracy is an improvement over a totalitarian society.  Direct democracy is probably even better than representative democracy.  Having civil rights, women’s rights and gay rights satisfied feels much better than widespread injustice.  The only exception here may be class stratification in the U.S., which is apparently justified by the fundamental theory of our economic system.

But maybe capitalism is on its way out too.  New Scientist magazine features in its October 18 2008 issue a section of a half-dozen contributors, entitled “The Folly of Growth: How to stop the economy killing the planet“–which contains a thorough picture of the frankly unpalatable situation we’re in, and yet how appealing alternatives to U.S. capitalism seem.  Tim Jackson’s article “Why Politicians Dare Not Limit Economic Growth” speculates about the social worth of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into floundering corporations when social trends and urgent environmental trends indicate that the money would be best spent otherwise–such as on the sincere development of green jobs or industry standards and incentives to proactively bring our greenhouse gas emissions within manageable levels (the famous “350″ movement).  According to a chart in Bill McKibben’s article “The Most Important Number on Earth” (Mother Jones, November 2008), it would take just $33 billion to update our major energy providers, reducing our carbon emissions by almost 20% annually.  “Just $33 billion” is not a phrase I would have imagined myself saying, prior to the Wall Street bailout. 

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At Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, there exists a unique culture distinct from that of mainstream society. Of course, this is to be expected: every group develops its own culture over time. (Think of something as ordinary as a college dorm or office: these places too have their own special microcultures.) Although it would be hard to define Dancing Rabbit’s culture and exactly what makes it what it is, there are certain shared values that certainly help to shape it.

Ecological sustainability is the core value of Dancing Rabbit’s culture. Beyond that, cooperation and a sense of community are highly esteemed values, too, and these are achieved in many ways.

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The poll — for which The Nature Conservancy provided input and advice — found that 53% of those surveyed have taken steps to green their lives.

But it also found a substantial lack of knowledge about how to go green — and skepticism about whether greening one’s life makes a difference to the environment:

• 34% of those surveyed said they hadn’t changed their lifestyle because they “did not know what to do.”
• 29% of respondents believe that greening their lifestyle won’t make any significant difference on the environment.

“This poll shows that green living is certainly at the forefront of our minds,” says Stephanie Meeks, the Conservancy’s acting president and CEO.

“Yet people are getting lost in the maze of information on how to lessen our environmental impact. The bottom line is that even the smallest lifestyle change can have significant impact in the long run.”

Recycling and Paying Bills Online, But Not Changing Light Bulbs

While recycling is widespread in the United States and 73% of those polled are paying their bills online to save paper, other often-recommended ways to green your life are going largely ignored:

• 5% are driving less by combining errands, walking more, etc.
• 4% have reduced their utility use.
• 3% have purchased hybrid cars.
• 3% have changed out incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent ones.

Yet if every American home switched out just one incandescent light bulb for a compact fluorescent one, the United States would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for an entire year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

“Making small changes to help save the planet can help your pocketbook as well,” adds Meeks. “In the case of compact fluorescent light bulbs, you’re paying more on the front end, but the cost savings in the long run will beat out the incandescent bulbs, hands down.”

Other poll results:

• 49% are trying to buy locally-produced food and/or goods.
• 47% are buying green household products.
• 39% are bringing their own reusable bags to stores instead of using paper or plastic.
• 16% are carpooling.

Optimism on Environmental Issues

The poll also found noticeable optimism on environmental issues among the American public. Seventy-two% of the poll’s 2,605 respondents believe their personal actions are significant to the health of the environment.

And although only 42% of U.S. adults were initially familiar with the phrase “environmental sustainability,” two-thirds believe that it is possible to live in an environmentally sustainable way.

The phrase “environmental sustainability” was more familiar to younger poll respondents than older ones. More than 45% of those age 18-43 understood the term’s meaning, while only 30% of those aged 63 and older knew the term.

The Nature Conservancy Helps You Go Green

To help cut through all the noise, The Nature Conservancy offers easy ways to make science-based green changes in your life:

• Check out our Everyday Environmentalist home page to find a list of innovative and easy changes you can make to help save the planet.
• Use the Conservancy’s carbon footprint calculator to determine your carbon footprint — and find simple ways to reduce it.
• Consider offsetting your carbon emissions by participating in The Conservancy’s voluntary carbon offset program.

Cutting the Cost for Solar Technology

Addressing the cost, another recent news report showed that there are huge government rebates for solar technology across the US right now. These are the biggest rebates ever seen in the US and sure proof that if you want to switch over to solar, governments are willing to help you.

According to Global Solar Center, in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Colorado, both homes and businesses can get all of their money back from solar installations wthin 3 years. Incentives in Pennsylvania, the rising star for solar rebates, now cover 60% of installation costs. Within one year, you can get your money back from investments in solar hot water in Florida and southern Texas.

There is also the solar tax credit at the national level, providing support from the federal government for residents anywhere in the US.

In addition to tax credits, organizations like 1BOG (One Block Off the Grid) are popping up to help people get discounts for buying solar technology in combination with their neighbors. If 92% of the population thinks solar power is important and 70% think they will install solar within the next five years, there’s a good chance that your neighbors will buy solar if it is cheaper. 1BOG helps neighbors or groups to connect with each other and organizes a deal with solar providers. It wouldn’t be surprising if other organizations like this start popping up to help fill in this gap as well.

Of course, research and development of solar technology is a high priority since that will also make solar cheaper and cheaper in the coming years. Clean tech is now leading the world as the top venture capital investment category and solar is the leading sector within the clean tech category. So, there is plenty of money going into making solar more efficient and more affordable as well.

Nonetheless, just with the government rebates available today and the discounts you can get through organizations like 1BOG, getting solar now might save you money before you even have time to show off your new solar roof to your friends.

The Information Gap is Getting Filled

People may want solar but knowing little about the technology and not having it on the shelf of their local Wal-Mart or Target is a major obstacle for many people.

However, there are organizations filling this gap left and right by acting as a middle-man and helping people to get a good solar product and installer. Organizations like 1BOG, Global Solar Center, Solar Power Rocks, and Find Solar are acting as third party consultants in between the customers and suppliers to ensure that customers get good products, good installers, and don’t have to do too much work on their own.

Additionally, although the rebates are available, many people don’t know much about how to get them and are turned off by the idea of having to go through the bureaucracy of it all. Einstein said: “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” Government bureaucracy shouldn’t scare people away anymore, though. Organizations like those mentioned above (Global Solar Center, Solar Power Rocks, 1BOG and Find Solar) and comprehensive but easy-to-navigate websites like Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency are helping to fill those gaps as well.

One Piece Left?

People can stop dreaming and step into the solar age. The information and cost gaps are shrinking. Now, the most needed component is the personal effort to make the switch. That shouldn’t be the hardest thing, but inertia is inertia and change can be difficult even when it is wanted. Perhaps, more mainstream public activism, more effective marketing solutions, or some new creative gap-filler is necessary to get more people to make the switch. The atmosphere is set. The information is here. The costs are dropping left and right. People just need to make the move and make it happen. Hopefully, this won’t take too long.

Desire for solar: 92%. Solar power in the US: 1%. One more puzzle piece to connect the two sides?

Related Articles:
1) Solar Energy Blowing Up, & in Surprising Places!
2) Survey Says!.. 92% of Americans Want Solar Power

Image Credit 1: royal19 via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: Kıvanç Niş via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: notsogoodphotography via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: laurez via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something… green? It’s really not as out of the ordinary as it sounds—last year, Brides.com estimated that approximately 33% of future brides and grooms in the U.S. are planning an eco-friendly wedding.

Today, The Nature Conservancy is issuing tips for planning a greener wedding or commitment ceremony, with ideas from invitations through the honeymoon to help reduce your celebration’s impact on the planet—and maybe even reduce the impact on your wallet as well.

“There’s no need to sacrifice your dream wedding for a green wedding,” said Sanjayan, lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy. “Just imagine the power of one simple change—be it as small as reducing wedding travel or serving organic food at the reception—multiplied by the thousands of couples who plan to marry this year. The littlest changes really add up, and can leave a positive impact on the Earth for generations to come.”

Invitations: Sending invitations electronically or on recycled paper stock will save money and trees. Bonus for going the electronic route: You’ll save on the fuel used to deliver the cards.

Gift registry: Register for gifts that you actually need and will definitely use, and if possible, are healthy for the planet. Many of your favorite stores probably carry organic and environmentally sound products already, and with a little research, you can ensure that your new ice cream maker has a minimal carbon footprint.

Reducing consumption can have more of an impact than simply buying recycled/recyclable products. If you don’t need anything, ask your guests to donate to your favorite charity.

Flowers: Organic flowers are one option, but tastefully arranged dried or silk flowers can make as big a statement as fresh floral arrangements.

If you’re set on fresh flowers, try decorating with potted plants native to your area. What’s fresher than still-living flora? You can even plant them when the ceremony is over—wedding décor and landscaping in one fell swoop!

Fashion: The Condé Nast Bridal Group estimates that most brides spend about $900 on just their gowns—and that’s not including the many accessories most brides need to polish their look. An environmentally and cost-friendly solution is to wear a vintage or hand-me-down dress. A female relative or friend’s gown has likely (hopefully!) only been worn once, and you do need something borrowed, right?

If you’d prefer a new dress, look for one that’s made of certified organic cotton, since polyester is petroleum-based, and most other cotton is grown with harsh pesticides. Grooms and ushers can get on the all-natural natural-fiber bandwagon as well by wearing a dress shirt made of hemp or organic cotton.

Do your bridesmaids a favor and forgo the puffy sleeves and universally unflattering fits, and select a gown that your girls would gladly wear again. If you’re stuck with a frock reminiscent of an ‘80s-era prom nightmare, forgo dumping that hideous gown in the garbage, and check out HGTV’s suggestions for turning sequins and taffeta into stylish home accents.

The Rings: The production of one tiny band of gold results in 20 tons of mine waste, according to Earthworks, an organization that works to protect the environment from the impact of mineral development. Show your commitment to your brand new spouse with a recycled or heirloom ring, or start a new trend by sporting silver bands, since the mining of silver is a bit gentler on the environment.

The Location: Holding your festivities in a central location will cut down on travel for your guests, which will make both them and Mother Nature even happier to be a part of your joyous day. Another thing to consider when choosing a wedding locale: “Believe it or not,” said Sanjayan, “big cities might be better than country locations because cities, for the most part, have less energy use in terms of per capita carbon.”

It’s possible to keep the travel to a minimum once your guests have arrived, too. When Evan Parker, The Nature Conservancy’s manager of digital membership, got married last October, he and his bride-to-be chose a church and reception site within walking distance. Post-ceremony, the bride traded in her formal shoes for sneakers, and the couple and their guests walked to the reception, held at a restaurant just blocks from the church.

Food: Feeding your guests unpronounceable pesticides is no way to show your appreciation for their attendance, so consider serving organic food and wine at the reception. Local produce is also a great, low-impact option, and your menu will be fresher for guests and easier on nature.

Favors: The Bridal Association of America estimates that the average couple spends over $400 on favors for their guests, which seems like a lot for a couple pounds of after-dinner mints. A greener option? Donate the amount set aside in your budget to a favorite charity.

The Nature Conservancy offers a number of favor options with a minimal carbon footprint. Help reforest Brazil’s Atlantic Forest by contributing to the Plant a Billion Trees campaign, or adopt a few acres of Costa Rican rainforest in honor of your guests.

If you absolutely must give your guests a sweet treat, try organic, local goodies like chocolate or wine. Really, does anyone need yet another tiny lace pouch of Jordan almonds?

The Honeymoon: The party might be over, but the honeymoon fun’s just begun—and it’s easy to maintain a green theme throughout your romantic getaway. One way to lessen your trip’s environmental impact is to forgo a far-flung destination. (And as the cost of fuel continues to rise, keeping it local will also save you a bundle in travel costs.) If you’d prefer to spend your first few days as husband and wife in a more exotic locale, remember that many travel companies offer eco-trips or environmentally friendly excursions. You could even go on a Nature Conservancy Conservation Journey!

No matter how you decide to spend your honeymoon, you can buy energy offset credits to offset the toll your travel has on the environment.

…And Baby Makes Three?: If there’s a baby on the way, or you’re planning to start a family soon, have eight trees planted on your child’s behalf, said Sanjayan. “Eight trees will offset the amount of carbon a person releases by simply breathing during an average lifetime.” While you’re at it, why not plant a few for yourself as well?

For more information on going green, learn how you can become an everyday environmentalist.

Cutting the Cost for Solar Technology

Addressing the cost, another recent news report showed that there are huge government rebates for solar technology across the US right now. These are the biggest rebates ever seen in the US and sure proof that if you want to switch over to solar, governments are willing to help you.

According to Global Solar Center, in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Colorado, both homes and businesses can get all of their money back from solar installations wthin 3 years. Incentives in Pennsylvania, the rising star for solar rebates, now cover 60% of installation costs. Within one year, you can get your money back from investments in solar hot water in Florida and southern Texas.

There is also the solar tax credit at the national level, providing support from the federal government for residents anywhere in the US.

In addition to tax credits, organizations like 1BOG (One Block Off the Grid) are popping up to help people get discounts for buying solar technology in combination with their neighbors. If 92% of the population thinks solar power is important and 70% think they will install solar within the next five years, there’s a good chance that your neighbors will buy solar if it is cheaper. 1BOG helps neighbors or groups to connect with each other and organizes a deal with solar providers. It wouldn’t be surprising if other organizations like this start popping up to help fill in this gap as well.

Of course, research and development of solar technology is a high priority since that will also make solar cheaper and cheaper in the coming years. Clean tech is now leading the world as the top venture capital investment category and solar is the leading sector within the clean tech category. So, there is plenty of money going into making solar more efficient and more affordable as well.

Nonetheless, just with the government rebates available today and the discounts you can get through organizations like 1BOG, getting solar now might save you money before you even have time to show off your new solar roof to your friends.

The Information Gap is Getting Filled

People may want solar but knowing little about the technology and not having it on the shelf of their local Wal-Mart or Target is a major obstacle for many people.

However, there are organizations filling this gap left and right by acting as a middle-man and helping people to get a good solar product and installer. Organizations like 1BOG, Global Solar Center, Solar Power Rocks, and Find Solar are acting as third party consultants in between the customers and suppliers to ensure that customers get good products, good installers, and don’t have to do too much work on their own.

Additionally, although the rebates are available, many people don’t know much about how to get them and are turned off by the idea of having to go through the bureaucracy of it all. Einstein said: “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” Government bureaucracy shouldn’t scare people away anymore, though. Organizations like those mentioned above (Global Solar Center, Solar Power Rocks, 1BOG and Find Solar) and comprehensive but easy-to-navigate websites like Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency are helping to fill those gaps as well.

One Piece Left?

People can stop dreaming and step into the solar age. The information and cost gaps are shrinking. Now, the most needed component is the personal effort to make the switch. That shouldn’t be the hardest thing, but inertia is inertia and change can be difficult even when it is wanted. Perhaps, more mainstream public activism, more effective marketing solutions, or some new creative gap-filler is necessary to get more people to make the switch. The atmosphere is set. The information is here. The costs are dropping left and right. People just need to make the move and make it happen. Hopefully, this won’t take too long.

Desire for solar: 92%. Solar power in the US: 1%. One more puzzle piece to connect the two sides?

Related Articles:
1) Solar Energy Blowing Up, & in Surprising Places!
2) Survey Says!.. 92% of Americans Want Solar Power

Image Credit 1: royal19 via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: Kıvanç Niş via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: notsogoodphotography via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: laurez via flickr under a Creative Commons license

So, we are tackling the problem of environmental fragility today. And how did we get to this place? How did we get to this situation?

Of course, there are a lot of scientific explanations, political explanations, systematic explanations, and so on.

But how did we get here, really?

By every action ever made — by us, by others, and by all of us combined.

By every thought.

By every feeling and every want or need in our hearts and expressed in our thoughts, our words, and our actions.

We can see that no matter how hard we try, we will fail to address the problems we face today if we don’t address our own personal sustainability and situation. What do I mean by personal sustainability?

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Let’s put an end to human suffering and racism by treating each other with respect and dignity. UBUNTU: I am because we are. No individualism. Let history be our teacher. When countries and leaders are fighting over natural resources, when they want to overpower another country, this has a huge effect on the ordinary people on the ground. There is a proverb that explains this very well. “When two bulls are fighting, what suffers the most is the grass.”

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As for India, it has been two years since I went back and whenever I go I tend to visit the same 2 or 3 places. I always go to New Delhi. I think based on Delhi alone I would say I have seen a strange dichotomy. On the one hand, Delhi has planted a lot of trees in recent years in an attempt to counteract the increasing air pollution.

In fact, a few years ago there were boards all over the city promoting “Keep Delhi Green.” They also have created a Metro rail system that runs within Delhi as well as to some outlying areas. From my experience traveling on it as well as accounts of friends and relatives who used it recently, it is fast, efficient, and clean. It’s hard to find anything that actually stays clean in Delhi!

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Here is something that might surprise you though: Singaporeans don’t recycle. Or if they do, it’s not as blatantly apparent as in the United States. Occasionally, you’ll see a receptacle on the street that is divvied up into plastics/metals, paper and waste, but for the most part, everything gets tossed into one big trash can. Trash shoots aren’t sorted into blue recyclables and black everything-else-goes here. I remember once during the summer, I was sorting trash while at work when my boss came up to me and asked what I was doing. Apparently it’s all just trash over there — nothing specific about it.

Lately, however, there has been a growing concern in the country, due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. Over recent months, the government has been giving the country a massive developmental face lift, introducing towering high-rise apartments and chicly designed shopping plazas to rival those of Paris, Tokyo and New York City. There are more plans to introduce casinos (”integrated resorts”) and a Formula One race track — all for the sake of drawing more tourists to Singapore and boosting the country’s economy.

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