Green: Good or Gold?

The question is at the center of all energy conservation policies, actions, and discussions. Is "being green" a matter of "being good" or of "minting gold"?

In an ideal world, this would be not be an "either/or" situation. Conservation, responsible energy use, and turning to renewable sources would be good individual behavior and sensible public policy. Plus these individual acts and policy actions would save or make money. We would mint gold while being good.

In reality, this is not so -- at least not yet, as of 2006.

Some people are green because they think it is the right thing to do. Others are green because it saves them lots of money or, better yet, makes them lots of money. Of course, there are few examples of the former, and fewer still of the latter.

But what about those in power? Those who hold levers of government power can promote responsible and lucrative green behaviors.

Given the nexus of political interests that influence government policies, however, very few governments are able to promote green behaviors. In some cases, they are able to curb some un-green behaviors -- of people and corporations. In most cases, governments just end up doing nothing -- either hiding under some silly notion of "the market" taking care of problems or wringing their hands in helplessness in the face of conflicting interests.

It would be wonderful if we, the netizens, begin to create an impressive catalog of actions that are green, good for the soul and the planet, and increase the gold nuggets in our pockets or in national or philanthropic coffers.

It may turn out that creativity, rather than coercion, is a more powerful tool for sensible energy and environment oriented behaviors and policies.

Nik Dholakia
Rhode Island, USA