WHAT IS STOPPING YOU TO GO GREEN ???

Me: Dad…what are you doing?

Why are you not throwing that away?

DAD: We could use it for something else…

Me: DAAAAADDDD..!!! That’s rubbish,

Just throw THE WASTE away …!!

These are the common phrases of everyone’s language. “Throw the waste!”

What determined you to say that was waste? Have you ever thought where it goes to? Nothing is ever really thrown "away" -- it all has to go somewhere…somewhere inside the mother earth!

This is where Green comes in to action.

Go Green, Green Planet, Green Environment, Green products…What actually is Going Green? What is Recycling, Reducing and Reusing?

I believe everyone who is reading this article and who can see and hear is well aware what Going Green is.

Going green in simple words means understanding that the choices you make affect not just you, but everybody everywhere. Understanding that the choices you make affect not just today, but the future. Understanding that when we talk about "saving the planet" or "saving the environment," we are actually talking about saving ourselves!

One fine morning, I was crouched on the sofa in our living room, deep in thought

Dad: What happened…why are you upset?

Me: We don’t have a chandelier in our living. The room kind of looks empty. It would be beautiful with a

contemporary light in the center. Let’s check it out this weekend in Home center or maybe Ikea.

Dad: Why don’t we make one…?

Me: WHHATTT? Make one??…Are you gone crazy again? How??hHmm…. maybe we could…Yes. We can make it…!!

Ideas started flushing in my head and the project started…Creative ideas started flowing in from all directions and from all members of family. We collected stuff, designed, reviewed, modified and … Bingo there it was in a few days’ time….

Left out stickers, boards, strings, Christmas balls and old bulbs turned in to a beautiful contemporary spiral light source in the center of our living room. MAGIC!

Yes. That’s the word for it. Up cycling or Reuse is pure MAGIC!! You create something out of nothing or something that was nothing till then. What’s old is new Again!!

My Dad never threw anything away and always finds a way to reuse them. Maybe in a day or in weeks or in months or even an year…You could say that was my true Inspiration! Each time I saw my creations out of reused materials, I was proud of myself and it boosted my confidence.

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Image(top) :Wall Art piece created from old electrical cable trunking

Image (Bottom): Coffee table made out of old tires, rope, broken tabletop and pebbles. Used paint tin wrapped in rope and old bed cushion used as seating, Old yarn decorative balls painted in gold and silver, Plastic bottle cut and used as planter decorated with buttons and bottle cap, Old box repainted as tray, Wooden sticks cut out of tree varnished and stuck on an old glass bottle used as candle stand.

Image (right): Beautiful and shiny wall mirror up cycled out of waste spoons

Inspired??? Let’s go in depth about Going Green.

Green is everywhere these days. It seems like everybody knows you can help

the planet and save yourself some cash with the “3R” changes. You can see ample amount of awareness programs, campaigns, projects, recycling competitions, video clippings, banners, posters, inspirational talks, news, advantages, disadvantages, ideas, opportunities, green news, green politics, green technology to name few. It’s like a MANTRA now. The signs and boards are everywhere. At your offices, schools, neighborhoods, public places. That's all great, but with a million messages and ideas coming at us from all sides, are we still at the big zero?

Why are people so hesitant to go green? Don’t they like their kids living in a safe and beautiful planet or are they busy living their lives? It is such an important environmental issue but still not much has been done.

The "3 Rs" of being environmentally friendly that we grew up with has evolved into "5 Rs": Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and now, Repair and Rethink. Take all 5 Rs into consideration — especially the rethinking part.

“It’s so easy to do nothing. But it’s really good to do

something!” This is the philosophy of the wise. It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do little…do what you can! Even throwing cola cans in to the specifically labeled litter bins rather than throwing on the pavement or out of your car makes a huge difference. Possibilities are endless!

Have you ever seen a crowd at a sports stadium do "the wave"? It always starts off with one or two people, jumping up and down like crazy. In no time at all, the whole stadium-- thousands of people -- is joining in.

"Going green" is just like that. It starts with small,

simple actions. It can soon build into a wave that, with any luck, will transform the whole planet and lead us all to healthier, happier lives.

“No time for all this crap!!” If you said these words at least once in your lifetime when you have heard or seen the word going green or recycling or earth day or reuse; you need to change buddy…change big time!! Nature doesn’t need you but you and your kids need Mother Nature to survive!!

If you are one of those who are thinking Why Go green…I am asking you back Why Not??

Now let’s start thinking WHY Go Green??

"Green" is a new way of thinking about the world you live in and a way of living your life. It’s not that hard to go green once you know the reasons why we should go green

Want a better planet? Implementing green practices into your home or office can help reduce waste, conserve natural resources, improve both air and water quality, and protect ecosystems and biodiversity.

Want to save money? Green systems and materials reduce energy consumption, which in turn reduce your energy bills. They also increase asset value and profits and decrease marketing time; making your dollar go further for longer.

Want to live healthier? Green building isn't just good for the environment; it's also good for YOU. Sustainable design and green practices enhance a resident's overall quality of life by improving air, water and food quality.

Today green ideas and solutions are everywhere. It can be overwhelming and confuse people from where to start.

There are hundreds of ways to go green. Some of these ways range from the very easy to the very technical. Overall, no matter what your level of expertise is with the green living lifestyle, there are always ways to go green that will work for your lifestyle. It’s simple and easy to start making a positive impact.

Start Going Green at your home and you can make a difference. Recycling, reusing and adopting ecofriendly lifestyle doesn’t have to be scary – one small change at a time can make a difference! Even with one project per month, you will find its easy being green at your home, office and all over…

Now does the word project scare you? Here are some low- stress steps to take around the house and work to reduce your carbon footprint, create a healthier environment, and lower your monthly bills to boot.

Reduce Energy and Water consumption!

Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you're leaving any room for 15 minutes or more and utilize natural light when you can. Your computer may go to sleep, but it's still sucking up energy. Turn your computer off at the end of the day, especially when leaving work. Setting the computer to sleep mode when you are away for shorter periods of time makes good sense. And don’t use a screensaver-these use energy rather than saving it. Switch to a laptop or thin client laptops as these use less energy than desktop computers.

End the water torture. One drip per second from a leaky faucet or pipe can waste up to 5 gallons of water a day. While you won't notice much of an increase on your water bill, if an overlooked leak soaks through your kitchen

floor, you could wind up with a huge amount repair job—money that could have been saved by simply replacing a washer. Replace light bulbs with more energy efficient and non-heat producing LED bulbs and even CFL bulbs

Combining half-loads, choosing short cycles and using cold or warm rather than hot water in the clothes washer, racks up savings. Choose a product with an Energy Star label when it's time to replace a household appliance.

Unplug battery chargers and other chargers when the charging is complete, otherwise they are still consuming energy. Before Bed truly turn off electronic to prevent phantom electrical draw. Take the stairs instead of the elevator (great for the environment and your health).

Reduce, Reduce and Reduce!

At work, reduce printer use. Greener printer use can include trying not to print in color; increasing double sided printing, recycling ink and toner cartridges and many more. Reduce paper waste. Do you have to printout every email and handout? Reduce paper waste by deciding to go paperless whenever possible and use recycled paper and chlorine free ones. Grow your own veggies and fruit, whatever you can either in your balcony or in your kitchen garden.

Reuse and Recycle whenever possible!

Reuse paint tins, plastic bottles, yoghurt cans as planters, holders, vases etc. Conduct yard sales and visit one before buying new stuff. Throw waste in to proper labeled litter bins in public.

The list can go on and on. And most probably these are the same things you all have been hearing and reading but never practice!

Embracing a greener lifestyle isn't just about helping to preserve rain forests and polar bears, it can also mean improving your health, padding your bank account, and, ultimately, improving yours and your upcoming generations overall quality of life.

Get out there and try to help the world go green. Do it for yourself and remember your loved ones deserve a healthy and beautiful planet to live as well and there is only one earth. They do not have an alternative. They do not have Planet B!

Let us become role models for our kids so they continue the good act. Involve kids in the Green process so that going green becomes part of their lifestyle. Trust me; they can make a bigger change than us.

It’s time to Rethink and Repair! Time is ticking away. Let us all join hands and take the Green pledge for a safe and beautiful world.

GO GREEN world!