Today's blog comes from Linda Bolstad, Central Library staff:

I went through a period a few years ago when I was quite obsessed with being green. My husband and I purchased a Smart car, installed solar hot-water heating and bought new energy-efficient appliances and low-flush toilets. We got an energy audit done on our home which led to a new efficient furnace and triple pane, low-e argon filled windows.

I refused to go on a holiday that involved air travel because that was one of the worst things you could do in terms of participating in the emission of greenhouse gasses. I tried to use public transit as much as possible and planned the use of my car so I could do many of my errands during the same trip. I stopped using my dryer and began hanging our laundry to dry. I continually hunted for ways to reduce my eco-footprint.

Well, lately, I’ve decided to lighten up. In the past months, I have used the dryer a few times. My mother is in a care facility where I drive to visit and take her out two or three times a week; so I often end up driving from there to work.

We’ve also come to realize that some of our sustainable choices are not as great as we thought they would be. Our solar hot-water system has not really saved us much as we don’t use a huge amount of hot water – mostly because our new energy efficient washing machine and dishwasher pre-heat the water! Those planes are still flying whether I’m in them or not.

Do I think it is still important to be green? Of course, but in what I would call a gentle, non-obsessive way.

Here are some books which may interest the eco-friendly crowd:

Green Interior Design by Lori Dennis

Green Decorating & Remodeling by Heather Paper

David Suzuki’s Green Guide by David Suzuki and David R. Boyd

Green Made Easy: the Everyday Guide for Transitioning to a Green Lifestyle by Chris Prelitz

- Linda