After reading janeAnne's post yesterday about the 'Green is red hot' contest, I thought to myself how fitting her words for a title depicting a contest about what is happening in the world today.
Not specifically THE world, but more specifically the developed world.
Then on further thought, I realized those words could be shifted
to read 'NOT Green is RED HOT', meaning the longer we neglect shifting more and more over to green power and green practices in our daily lives, the hotter and hotter the earth will become.
Ironically, we're having one of the snowiest winters on record here in Southern Ontario. Does this mean global warming is hoopla (as I've recently seen some mis-informed people stating, even right here in the RAIN)?
Of course NOT! Global warming is real.
If you've read the predictions, part of what is happening with global warming will cause the northern half of north america to become something that looks akin to another ice age.
The gulf stream, that which keeps us warm here in the north, is shifting and with it comes "always winter and never Christmas" just like in Narnia, that imaginary land of C.S. Lewis fame.
Just how imaginary is yet to be discovered and the closer we come to living in a true life 'Narnia', the more effort it takes to bury your head in denial.
I'm a relentless Pollyanna and I admit it's gotten me into plenty of trouble over the years. I always look at the bright side and am generally a very happy, bubbly sort of person.
Am I fooling myself? Not really.
The way I look at it, we're here, we might as well make the best of it and along with making the best of it, we have an obligation to make the best of it for those around us and those coming after us.
Yesterday I wrote a post called MORE MORE MORE.
It seems this post brought some un-comfortableness to a few readers, and when I thought about it, I realized that when we write with passion about things that matter, this is our ultimate goal; to inspire feeling in our readers.
It's not always pleasant feelings that are inspired, particularly when the subject matter is not pleasant.
Someone else found the title and the picture amusing and
got a chuckle out of it. When they told me, I ended up laughing at their rendition too. I guess we all have our own perceptions of things.
MORE MORE MORE is a disease that has eaten away at this planet for the better part of the past 200 years and it's causing us all to come up with LESS LESS LESS.
- less fresh water
- less food
- less resources
- less species variety
- less peace
- less time
- less health
- and ultimately, less happiness.
What are we each doing in our daily lives to stop the MORE MORE MORE disease from spreading or to cure ourselves?
This is a question we need to be asking ourselves daily; if we care about the quality of life that our offspring will lead, if we care about the future of mankind and all other sentient species on this fragile green planet, if we have empathy and heart and soul. IF WE HAVE A CONSCIENCE.
The green revolution has been spreading in a viral like manner in recent years, and this time it's not a fad. This time, it's a matter of life and death and more and more people are realizing it. Heck, even our governments are finally starting to catch on.
Albeit a little too late, but hey, they're listening to the voice of the people, which ultimately leads to the vote of the people.
There is no longer any excuse not to be leading a greener life. Each and every community MUST take measures and do them now to start to take better care of their little corner of the world and each government MUST join forces in a co-operative manner to see to it that the energy we do have is not being squandered and that alternative energy sources, clean and low cost s
ources, are researched and begun to be used in a massive way.
This all takes time. Time we may not have. Many amongst us say that they're not worried. They believe that mankind in all of his ingenuity always rises to the task and saves the day in the end. If this is the case then tell me:
- Why are our world food stores at their lowest level since 1980?
- Why have the majority of our fresh water stores around the globe been depleted and the remaining ones so badly polluted that they have to be heavily treated in order to be somewhat safely (if you can call drinking a glass of carcinogenic chemicals safe)consumed by humans?
- Why are we currently losing plant and animal species at a rate 1000-10,000 times higher than the natural background rate and said to be in a time of 'mass extinction' ?
- Why are levels of diseases in mankind and in the animal world increasing exponentially?
I could go on with WHYS infinitum, but what would be the point?
How many WHYS does a person need before they finally GET IT?
What can you, as a person in the housing industry do?
Get certified now.
Take the courses on energy efficiency and green building practices that will lead you to a designation in NAGAB or as an ECOBROKER/AGENT.
Don't just take the courses, USE them!
Help and guide homeowners to bring their homes to Greenrealestate™ standards and show them that homes with this designation get significantly higher sale prices(usually selling over list price) and sell significantly faster. Buyers want these homes!
People today are educated and green savvy and want to do their part. The majority of people are willing to pay more for a home that is 'green' and energy efficient at the point of purchase.
Not only is there a significant cost savings to them in ensuing years with reduced energy costs, but these homes also leave them with a better feeling knowing that they are doing all they can to help the energy crisis we are now undergoing.
Green can spread and you as an agent/broker/person in the housing industry can be the agent for change.
Take the courses!
Right now in Canada, Royal Lepage is offering the Home Energy Efficiency course put out by NAGAB FREE to all of it's sales representatives and brokers and along with the course comes a year's membership in NAGAB.
What's stopping you? This course also qualifies for continuing education credits which we all require on a regular basis.
What can you as a homeowner do?
As a homeowner you can begin by taking the initial steps to get your home certified as a Greenrealestate™ home. Consult your local NAGAB real estate sales representative and have them guide you through the process of having your home inspected and remedied for deficiencies in energy efficiency.
There are numerous federal government grants available in Canada to assist you in home energy efficiency and each province offers additional grants to help the homeowner .
Doing this now will bring you a more comfortable home to live in, save you money over the remaining years you live there AND net you a significantly higher amount at the point of sale when you you decide to sell.
It will also set your house apart and help it to sell quicker.
These programs are available throughout the USA as well and each state has it's own grants that assist homeowners. Consult your local green agent for assistance or guidance as to the steps you need to take to undergo the transition today.
There's no longer any room for excuses not to go green and believing that mankind will save the day in the nick of time can only be realistic if you put yourself into the equation. It all starts with YOU.
If not you, then who? If not now, then when?
©2008JoSmith
Jo-Anne Smith, B.Sc.
Sales Representative
Royal Lepage ProAlliance Realty, Brokerage
613-922-5978 Direct
613-966-6060 Office
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Jo-Anne, we can't continue to hide our heads in the sand as though this stuff does not matter. Non-choice or inattention is a choice. Like you state in your post, the choice is personal...it's taking individual as well as collective responsibility. While, I may not agree with everything...few people can reasonably state that there are not traumatic environmental changes occurring on our planet with increasing frequency.