What thing would you never give up to go green?

Posted on by Xpress staff

Jon Elliston: My Mountain Xpress

"It's true that we recycle all of our leftover papers each week, and that the paper is printed with soy-based ink on 72 percent recycled materiel, of which 26 percent is post-consumer recycled paper. But there's no denying that our publishing and distribution operations have a sizable carbon footprint — a price I'm willing to pay to get my newspaper."

Brian Postelle: Long, hot showers

"Yes it's a triple whammy: long showers use more water, more gas to heat and more energy to pipe water in. All of which take a toll on our resources, as well as my utility bills, and none of which I can even begin to comprehend until I have spent a good bit of the morning beneath a hot, steamy shower."

Margaret Williams: Coffee

"It doesn't grow here. It gets shipped thousands of miles. Most of the world's coffee is not grown in sustainable or organic ways. And what is, still doesn't manage to pay the small growers and workers particularly well — even fair-trade coffee. So even when I'm sipping organic, fair-trade, rain-forest, locally roasted coffee … I feel guilty. And I keep drinkin'."

David Forbes: Steak

"Yes, the meat industry's carbon footprint and environmental damage are considerable. Yet often lost in this city's brawls over animal flesh is that the 'industry' part is more a problem than meat itself. The conscientious omnivore will buy local whenever possible, eating smaller portions and healthier cuts. It's still delicious."

Jason Shope: Recreational driving

"Checking out the Blue Ridge Parkway on my motorcycle or taking a long road trip probably isn't the best for the environment, but it would be hard to give up."

Patty Levesque: CDs

"CDs are made of plastic and packaged in plastic. I know I'm buying plastic, but I love my CDs, just like I loved my records. They would be hard to give up."

Scott Lessing: Technology

"Technology is so integrated in my life that it would be near impossible to give up. Maybe they can make them more efficient, because I'm sure it's a drain."

Rick Goldstein: TV sports

"I'm a sports fanatic and I watch television every night, all night. Using all that electricity can't be good, but I can't give that up. I like to watch my sports on TV."

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

5 thoughts on “What thing would you never give up to go green?”

  1. Ken Hanke

    I must be a horrible human being because the only one of the things listed I’d be inclined to give up is TV sports.

  3. firelady

    Hot showers and coffee would be difficult to give up. I recently read a story about a family who decided they were going to go “completely green”- they gave up toilet paper. Nope. Not going to do it.

  4. Asheville Dweller

    Nothing, Going green is just another money scam that being fed as trendy.

  5. Betty Cloer Wallace

    My old cast-iron Fisher wood stove (it has none of those fancy efficiency fans or air-pollution filters, but it cooks wonderful pots of winter comfort food and keeps the house warm)

    Meat (all kinds, every day—well, almost all kinds, almost every day)

    Books (printed on paper)

    Shoes (leather German ones, please, from Josef Seibel)

    Sevin dust (for those dreadful big green tomato worms and those awful bag worms that hatch out in late summer and can shred a tree in one day)

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.