Conscious Consumerism

This innovative programme dedicated to positive environmental action is just one of the new products available on the market to consumers interested in balancing out their “carbon footprint”. Many of us recognize that we can’t completely negate our impact upon the environment, but there are small things that we can do to offset them.

For instance, my parents-in-law use an on-demand water heater and buy the majority of their vegetables at the farmer’s market, supporting local, organic farmers. And my husband and I use rechargeable batteries, a reusable bag for grocery shopping, and a timer on our hot water heater (it helped us significantly lower our electricity bill). I know others who ride electric scooters (which are emission-free) and have solar panels installed at their homes.

In our role as consumers we are all, for better or worse, a powerful lobby force for environmental change. Many studies suggest that people expect the government to step in and solve the environmental crisis affecting the Earth, but that it is consumers’ daily purchasing habits which actually have the most immediate impact. As an island-nation, our consumption habits are all the more obvious. If we purchase primarily energy-friendly products, then retailers will concentrate on importing more of these- it’s a simple market equation of supply and demand.

In response to market demand, many local grocery store managers have included organic aisles front and center in their stores. What was once a fringe demand has become a competitive product. Similarly, many retailers now carry extensive collections of energy efficient products, including Energy-Star qualified appliances (these products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy). It is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to exclaim that they can’t find “green” products on the shelves in Bermuda, and in many cases, the prices of these products are comparable.

What can you do to become a “green consumer” each and every day? The list is as easy as it is endless: BYOB (bring your own bag) when shopping or just carry a product home unpackaged; replace at least one incandescent lightbulb at home with a CFL (they use 75 percent less energy and last ten times as long); support local, organic farmers; rather than turning on a heater, throw on a sweater; avoid over-packaged products; avoid disposable products (including razors, batteries, cameras, cleaning products); explore alternative energy for your home (for instance, solar or wind turbine); use a low-flow showerhead; buy Energy Star-qualified appliances to lower your energy bill; recycle.

For more tips and a list of environmentally friendly products available in local stores, go to Greenrock’s website at www.greenrock.org. Or check out the National Geographic’s Green Guide, dubbed “the green living source for the conscious consumer” (www.thegreenguide.com).

Being an environmentally conscious consumer is making small changes that add up to big benefits, for our wallets, for our health, and for the environment. Make 2008 a year of conscious purchasing.