Re: what is your point?

Most often... so called *green* products use much more energy to manufacture and raise other disturbing issues...

And then there is the terrible green washing in advertising... that makes someone believe they are doing good by purchasing their product, when they are not.

Electric cars or hybrids for instance have toxic waste in their batteries (batteries are a huge toxic problem), not to mention the toxic rare earth metals used in these batteries that are in high demand and short supply... most of them coming from huge open pit mines... etc.

A study I did back in the early 90's showed electric cars and hybrids as being more environmentally damaging over their lifetimes (battery replacements - power waste, especially in totally electric cars that need to be plugged in - how is the power generated?) than an equal sized gasoline car.

All power... whether sold as *green* technology or not comes with a rather high price. The most ecologically sound power generation is a home that is power self sufficient using construction that takes natural advantage of the sun and environment to do most of the work... and then perhaps the square footage on the roof for solar, wind, etc. power generation so as to not disturb the ground and soil life under these units, when they are located on the ground...

The only real answer is to STOP consuming so much... use the *stuff* you currently own until it is beyond reasonable repair before purchasing something to replace it - if absolutely needed - and then exercise due diligence with your purchase... for instance it is far and away better for the environment to save and then purchase a product that will last you a lifetime... or several lifetimes, than to purchase one that requires replacement every so often.

As an aside - recycling typically costs much more, and utilizes\wastes much more energy than manufacturing the same item from scratch.

While recycling may be a feel good practice to many... it is actually quite counter productive... and one is better off not purchasing the item to begin with.

If you want to recycle, have a garage sale... if you want to consume,,, shop garage sales... quit purchasing new. Quit going gaga over new consumer technologies and purchasing the latest and greatest. If you want to make a REAL difference... become self sufficient and use your *human power* to grow your own food and manage your homestead.

Consumption IS the problem... and Americans have been the largest consumers on this planet for a long time - and still seem to be though this is shifting... thus Americans have been, and are the largest polluters on this planet... pure and simple... and with so many people on this rock trying to now get theirs and be like *Americans*... China, Japan, South America, etc. there is no stopping it now.

grz-

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