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THE GREEN ECONOMY

By Leonard “EnviroBro” Robinson

Things will change, when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing – Nido Quebein

 

The Green Economy is not coming; the Green Economy is here! The Green Economy is an economy based on the belief: that our world is a closed system with finite resources and a limited capacity for self-regulation and self-renewal.  Culture and human dignity are precious resources that, like our natural resources, require responsible stewardship to avoid their depletion; that an authentic connection to place is the essential pre-condition to sustainability and justice. The Green Economy is a global aggregate of individual communities meeting the needs of its citizens through the responsible, local production and exchange of goods and services. Business will be conducted based on a triple bottom-line: economic; environmental and societal.

 

Insanity is doing the same thing; the same way; over and over again and expecting different results

It is this author’s position that the Green Economy is what’s going to ultimately pull us out the current economic slump.  It is ludicrous to think that the same measures that got us in this situation, will pull us out.  Climate Change policy will not only help the environment, it will create jobs as well.  I don’t know much about the polar bear on the shrinking ice float.  However, I do know the air pollution in the Inland Empire where we lived greatly affected my daughter’s asthma.  I don’t know much about the disappearing rain forests.  However, I do know it is ridiculous to continue to rely heavily on foreign oil for energy when we have sun; wind and geothermal possibilities for energy. I will let the scientists debate global warming and the causes and I will continue to preach the green gospel about green collar jobs and renewable energy.

 

Lead; follow or get out of the way!

To to fully appreciate the impact of the Green Economy, one must know the vernacular or vocabulary of the Green Economy. Here are a few of the terms:

 

Benign by Design – a green chemistry principle of designing product using non-toxic material

 

Biodegradable: A product which is made of natural, raw materials that will decompose or rot into the earth without having a negative affect on the environment

 

Biofuel: This refers to all variety of fuels, both gas and liquid, that are derived from biomass–and hence are renewable, as opposed to fossil fuels. The usual suspects are wood, ethanol (derived from corn), and the mouthwatering new one, french fry grease. Other biofuels come from sources that are somewhat less yummy: landfill gas, cow manure, sludge, and fish oil, for example

 

Biomass - a renewable energy source, is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms,^[1] such as wood, waste, and alcohol fuels. Biomass is commonly plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce heat.

 

Carbon Capture- A process to trap and hold carbon dioxide as it is being produced before it reaches the atmosphere, as a method to reduce damaging emissions.

 

Carbon Footprint – is “the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product

 

Carbon Neutral – is achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset.

 

Carbon Offset – is a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO₂e) and may represent six primary categories of greenhouse gases. One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases

 

Climate Change – is any long-term change in the statistics of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years

 

Cradle To Cradle – is a method used to minimize the environmental impact of products by employing sustainable production, operation, and disposal practices and aims to incorporate social responsibility into product development

 

DfE – Design for the Environment allows manufacturers to put the DfE label on household and commercial products, such as cleaners and detergents, that meet stringent criteria for human and environmental health. Using these products can protect your family’s health and the environment.

 

Environmental Justice – is the inequitable environmental burdens borne by groups such as racial minorities, women, residents of economically disadvantaged areas, or residents of developing nations. Environmental justice proponents generally view the environment as encompassing “where we live, work, and play” (sometimes “pray” and “learn” are also included) and seek to redress inequitable distributions of environmental burdens (pollution, industrial facilities, crime, etc.) and equitably distribute access to environmental goods such as nutritious food, clean air & water, parks, recreation, health care, education, transportation, safe jobs, etc.

 

Global Warming – is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation

 

Green – means the product or service is created through environmentally and socially conscious means

 

Green Chemistry – is the design, development, and implementation of chemical products and processes to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of substances hazardous to human health and the environment

 

Green Collar Jobs – work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute(s) substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality

 

Greenwashing – a pejorative, popular among eco-bloggers and pundits, targeted at corporations, government agencies, or other entities that are (allegedly) guilty of hypocritical environmental marketing or advertising. The “classic” example is of automotive companies that promote a hybrid (see definition) or a fuel-efficient vehicle as a flagship product while continuing to produce large, fuel-inefficient SUVs and trucks.

 

LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

 

Life Cycle Analysis / Life Cycle Design – to look at or design a product or material from the beginning to the end of its life to assess the environmental standards and the impact had on the environment. A typical lifecycle: raw material, manufacture, end product, use, reuse, recycling, disposal.

 

Nanotechnology – is the study of the control of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally nanotechnology deals with structures of the size 100 nanometers or smaller, and involves developing materials or devices within that size.

 

Photovoltaic – is the field of technology and research related to the application of solar cells for energy by converting solar energy (sunlight, including ultra violet radiation) directly into electricity

 

Renewable Energy – is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished

 

Smart Grid – delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers using digital technology to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability and transparency

 

Like a decade or so with the advent of personal computer, new words the Green Economy is bringing forth new words almost (i.e. eco-dating). Having a grasp on these terms will give an understanding to figure out the impact of the Green Economy on you; your family and your bottom line!

 

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Get More Info about the article’s author, Leonard “EnviroBro” Robinson at www.envirobro.com/