There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that following environment friendly or green practices is a great way to lead your life and prevent damage done to the environment. Green living is a concept which focuses on following practices and using products which in no way deteriorate the nature and help to conserve natural resources.
But inspite of the popularity and importance of this concept, there are certain myths and misconceptions that are related to it. The following is a list of the top 7 myths associated with green living.
1. Wood Fires are Green
It is just a myth that wood fire is green. When wood burns out in the open or among the greens, then the co2 released is sucked in from the air by the trees but the same doesn’t hold true when you burn it on your fireplace. When you burn logs of wood at home, then the co2 thus released would not be termed as ‘green’ or ‘clean’ because there are no trees to absorb it.
2. Turning Off Lights Saves CO2
It is definitely a good idea to use less electricity as this helps to reduce emissions at power stations but this doesn’t necessarily mean that CO2 won’t be released into the air.
3. Going Veggie Cuts Down on Emissions
It is true that animal products tend to have higher carbon footprint than the food which plants produce for us but even turning vegetarian isn’t necessarily a very green practice. Dairy products are also carbon intensive and even more than some varieties of meat.
4. Reusable Nappies are Great for the Planet
Disposable nappies are surely creating a lot of litter on the planet and occupy a great deal of space on landfill sites but the overall global warming is infact slightly higher for reusable/washable nappies than for the disposable ones. Washable nappies may have a lower carbon footprint but only in the case when you have an energy efficient washing machine.
5. Buying Local Helps
Yes, transportation of goods and produce from one place to another may release fumes, burn diesel and waste some more natural resources and thus it makes sense to buy local but even doing so isn’t the safest or greenest practice. Transportation isn’t the only factor to consider afterall.
6. Using Eco Detergents is a Good Idea
Ecological detergents offer the benefit of plant based ingredients and biodegradable products but it is heating of the water that is a main concern when it comes to washing clothes and not the detergent itself. Hence the better idea is to avoid using hot water for washing clothes.
7. Using Energy Efficient Appliances Saves the Environment
When it comes to dishwashing and laundry, then choosing energy efficient appliances may help but even doing so can have a negative impact on the environment. It is a better idea thus to try to use these machines at the night time when the demand is lower at the power stations.
