Green Jersey

Recession should power green changes

Star-Ledger writer Kathleen O’Brien asked yesterday whether the recession will send the green movement packing. She writes that experts predict people will resume thinking of the environment when the economy improves.

We’re not sure why they would stop, since some of the simplest green actions are money-savers.

Sure, some environmental moves cost money. Many of them, like solar panels, require an initial investment with the promise of future savings. But some of the biggest actions we can take save cash without costing anything.

– Use less. Analyze your home’s energy use and cut back. Turn off lights. Unplug. Trade an hour with your flat-screen for a book.

– Buy less. Look for things used, or borrow. Trade for what you want. You could buy new, chic, efficient stuff, but you could also buy nothing.

– Drive less. Walking and biking provide the added advantage of exercise. Be that edgy New Jerseyan who carpools.

– Eat less meat. Tofu, nuts and vegetables are cheaper than steak and contribute less to global warming.

– Reuse more. Some packages/objects/wine bottles seem to almost beg to be used again and in different ways.

I’d be lucky to follow more of these suggestions myself — I live in an old, inefficient apartment and, among my recent transgressions, ate my fair share of meat at a Korean barbecue place last night.

But I’m trying, partly because I want to save cash.

Big actions from the automakers, Corzine administration and Obama administration will come. In the meantime, the rest of us can continue to make green changes, save money and demand that they do.

More: For green consumers, it’s the fiscal blues (Star-Ledger)