Dan's Papers - July 4, 2008 - Go Green, Live Large with David Bach

Green. I know you've heard of it. Environmentalists shout about it, and product labels have shed their traditional shades for this hue. But what is green beside an intimidating abstraction? David Bach, author of Go Green, Live Rich and five New York Times bestsellers, offers explanation and a few simple ways that you can go green, spend less money, live healthier and help save a little thing called the planet.

Bach, who is renting a house in Southampton this summer, has planned out a green lifestyle that every Hamptons native can lead. The first step is to begin in your home. If you adjust your thermostat up or down by just three degrees, not only will you save about $114 on a 1,500-square-foot home, but you will also prevent two-and-a-half tons of carbon dioxide emission from going into the atmosphere. Unplugging electrical devices is another simple way to save the planet and your wallet. Even while your electrical devices are switched off, they still use up energy. Switched off, plugged-in equipment accounts for more than 27 million tons of CO2 emissions in the United States every year. Now, that's a lot of energy spent on things you're not using. Along with unplugging your electrical appliances, buy a smart power strip. They cost about $35 at any hardware store.

Rather than giving yourself a gold star for your efforts, get a blue and white one. Look for the Energy Star label, Bach says, which the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy created to help consumers identify energy-efficient products.

Saving energy is crucial to saving our planet, explains Bach. In his book, he states, "As your existing bulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs. CFLs use 75 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer." Even though these bulbs are slightly more expensive than the traditional ones, their energy-saving and long-lasting qualities will save you from expensive electric bills and numerous trips to the hardware store.

We have taken our natural resources for granted. One of the most important resources is water. "As the Environmental Protection Agency points out, water is a finite resource. Even though 70 percent of the planet is covered by it, less than one percent is available for human use," says Bach. How does this hit close to home? Bach states that, "The U.S. government predicts water shortages in 36 states between now and 2013." Daily habits, like leaving the faucet running as you brush your teeth or keeping garden sprinklers on all day, contribute to our progressive water deficiency. Therefore, along with turning off the faucet when you brush, grow a green lawn. "Leave grass three to four inches long," Bach suggests in his book. "Water early in the morning, and leave some lawn clippings in place after mowing. These simple tasks will prevent evaporation and ensure that your lawn gets a long, healthy drink.

If you are thinking about or are in the process of building a house in the Hamptons, build green! Buy environmentally friendly paint. Bach recommends "low-VOC paint, which cuts down on volatile organic compounds, ingredients that can cause health problems, including cancer." Going green is not only healthy for the planet, but it is healthier for your family, as well.

Bach personally experienced the green health phenomenon after moving into a green apartment in Manhattan. After spending a few weeks in the new Solaire apartment, Bach's persistent allergies disappeared. Even his son's asthma vanished. Along with the building's built-in green hardware (eco-friendly paint, flooring, insulation, etc.), Bach decided to green his life. He changed to green cleaning products and started to use a green dry cleaner. Bach even got rid of his car and bought a hybrid Toyota Prius.

After his experience with the beneficial green lifestyle, Bach investigated the various pros of an eco-friendly diet. One way to save the planet and lower your cholesterol is to eat less meat. "Methane from captive livestock accounts for nearly a fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans," Bach explains. Switching from the average American diet to a vegetarian one actually helps reduce global warming more than replacing your truck with a hybrid car.

Along with eating green, cleaning green promotes a healthier lifestyle. Bach's book explains that cleaning chemicals possess toxins that are more harmful than most of the bacteria in your home. These toxins can cause cancer and asthma. Bach suggests that you clean your house with non-toxic, inexpensive ingredients like baking soda, club soda, vinegar and salt.

Now that you have the tools to live greener, you might be wondering why green is so important. Bach's book states that, earlier this year, the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that the "greenhouse gas emissions from human activity rose by 70 percent from 1970 to 2004" and is continuing to rise at a frightening pace. What will the increase in this greenhouse gas do to our planet? It will cause extreme weather events and decrease the availability of fresh water. We can also look forward to intense heat waves and serious food-supply shortages.

Global warming is a serious issue that only we can fix. "Ask yourself, what I am doing today that could be greener?" Bach suggests. Don't wait. Live green, now.