difference between a normal and a green person

The term “green” is often used in different situations to describe things that relate to an eco-friendly environment. For example, “green” energy is described as an environmentally friendly, typically non-polluting source of energy. Then what meaning does it have when we describe a person to be “green” in this case? Does it mean that the person is green in colour? Or is he/she a greenhorn at work? No. In this case, we refer to a “green person” as an environmentally-friendly, eco-friendly or nature-friendly person. One will be able to identify a “green” person and a “normal” person when they are placed together as a “green” person’s attitude towards consumption is different to that of a “normal” person. Some these differences are, attitude towards recycling, utilizing of eco-friendly products in their environment and their love for greenery.

A “green” person and a “normal” person display different attitudes towards recycling; we can see this by the way they treat their disposable items, goods or materials. For example, a plastic bottle, a “normal” person would usually finish the contents of a plastic bottle and throw it away in a normal trash bin. A “green” person, however, would recycle the bottle by reusing it as a container or a water bottle until it degenerates than dispose it in the recycle bin for plastics (Elizabeth & Thomas, 2007). This shows that compared to a “normal” person, a “green” person will always try to reuse and recycle whatever he uses.

A “green” person will try to utilize more eco-friendly products than a “normal” person. For example, a “green” person would prefer to use gas grills when having BBQs to cut down on the amount of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds¹) generated by the grills whereas, a “normal” person would just use any grill as long as it is convenient for him/her. The reason why a “green” person would prefer gas grills over other types of grills is because the gas grill produces much less CO2 than other types of grills.

Another difference that can be found between a “green” person and a “normal” person is the enthusiasm for planting and greenery a “green” person has. While a “normal” person may know planting as a from of leisure, a “green” person on will know that planting trees and more greenery helps to purify the air and combat the greenhouse effect as it was stated in TreePeople (n.d.): “Trees absorb carbon dioxide, removing and storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into the air”. Therefore, one should be able to find more greenery and plants in a “green” person house than that of a “normal” person’s house.

Therefore, when we compare a “green” person and a “normal” person, we will notice that a “normal” person is likely to produce more waste that’s harmful to the environment, whereas a “green” person is one who is eco-friendly and environmentally conscious of themselves and the place they live in.

^NOTE

¹Volatile Organic Compounds ^- Volatile organic compounds are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. “U.S. Geological Survey” (n.d.)

Reference

Elizabeth, R. and Thomas, M.K. (2007) The green book: The everyday guide to saving the planet one simple step at a time. New York: Three Rivers Press

TreePeople (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2008, from http://www.treepeople.org/vfp.dll?OakTree~getPage~&PNPK=59

U.S Geological Survey (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2008 from

http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/vocs.html