What’s really green?

Have you heard all of the talk about “Going Green” recently. If you are at all like me, you may tend to be a little skeptical about the genuineness of anything being promoted by the media.

At the same time, I do care about nature. I do care about the earth, my environment, our water, our forests, our natural resources. I love to camp, fish, canoe, hike, and otherwise enjoy the beauty that surrounds me, especially here in the Shenandoah valley.

I don’t want to be perceived as some sort of flighty, granola munching, tree hugging extremist. And yet, I do feel a responsibility to live in a manner that is respectful to people, animals, and the earth.

Do you like the fresh and local vegetables at the farmers market? Do you try to re-use, recycle, and maybe even consume less? Do you enjoy walking to the park, to the store, or even to visit your neighbors and friends? Perhaps you are greener than you thought.

I am not impressed with an “eco-shic” persona that utilizes some sort of perceived global awareness as a status symbol. But I am challenged by the example of my wife’s late grandmother who cleaned and re-used her zip-loc bags, or who used the water from her boiled potatoes to water her garden vegetable. I am impressed by my wife who will quietly gather plastic silverware at a church gathering to make sure that it gets recycled. Small steps that make a difference.

This is why I have chosen to pursue GREEN as a designation as a REALTOR. I want to work with builders and buyers who want to build and own homes that are more energy efficient, that utilize earth friendly materials, and are built in places and in ways that promote the best for our community. I like networking with such people, people who are real, people who care, people who are concerned for the future.