The Cost of Being Green – Part One

Before we delve into the arguments for and against the financial soundness of buying into the ‘green’ philosophy, I should point out that it is in my nature to be generally very sceptical of any scheme or idea being pushed by the mass media, giant corporations and local governments.

To me, the track record of these institutions suggests that there is money to be squeezed from the public somewhere along the line. The question is, can this cost to little Johnny Recycler be justifiably offset against his contribution towards saving the planet?

We’ll begin with the development of Hybrid cars. Hybrid cars use a combination of oil-based fuels and lithium batteries, therefore halving the alleged fossil fuel damage to planet Earth. A Honda Civic 1.4 petrol engine will cost you around £14,000. The Civic Hybrid gives a slightly more generous mpg figure (around 10-12 mpg more), but costs upwards of £17,000.

The average car owner keeps his/her car for approximately 7 years. Considering the escalating electricity costs involved in charging a lithium battery of such a capacity, it would be surprising if any money could be saved at all over this time. It appears that the Hybrid’s only saving grace financially is its exemption from the Congestion Charge in England’s capital. Of course any saving made here is entirely dependent on the frequency of your journeys into Central London, and around 400 trips through the concrete jungle would have to be made before you could begin to see a return on your investment.

For your average Joe, all the good intentions in the world would struggle to play on his mind when faced with a direct saving of thousands of pounds.

I received a letter from my bank the other day regarding a ‘Green Account’, whereby less paper would be used in relation to the administration of my account. This was apparently ‘greener’, as there would be less waste and fewer trees would be cut down. I found this very odd; it is my understanding that paper is grown on softwood, regenerative tree farms, and in fact paying for that paper puts food on the tables of farmers’ families across South America, without damaging the hardwood rainforest. After all, contained paper farming makes far more sense than donning some lumberjack getup, running around the rainforest with a chainsaw and hacking down hardwood unsustainable trees, before hauling them all back for processing. So I asked myself…does this really benefit the environment? Then it clicked. Does my bank save money by cutting down on paper, ink, and postage? Yes. Do I save money as a result? No.

So far, being green has cost our friend little Johnny Recycler (who lives outside Central London) £3000, and made his bank richer. It’s not an ideal situation for Johnny during the credit crunch, especially seeing as his contribution towards saving the environment can’t yet be measured.

Next time I’ll be shedding more light on energy saving in the home, its impact on the environment and hoping to answer any green questions that your good selves may forward my way. So please feel free to leave a comment and be sure to check back soon.

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Comments

[Ruffino]

I think the biggest problem with the green culture is the amount of pressure constantly being heaped on consumers by multinationals. It's very rare to see a major advertising campaign that at some point doesn't try and play the green card.

At the same time most of these companies are relocating as much of their business as possible to countries where labour is cheaper and restrictions less stringent.

Until there are regulations that are enforced on corporations worldwide it is hypocritical of most organisations to try and guilt consumers in the west into buying the, often more expensive, green option of their products.

This is something I don't believe will happen until governments get out of bed with big business.

[Sam S]

I agree that green issues are spun into money making schemes by Big Corporations who probably care nothing for the environment and would sell the last tree on earth if they could get a good price for it! Green issues are the issues of the middle classes who want to feel warm and fuzzy and are willing to pay for it. If Government/Big Corp etc actually wanted to be green they would make it the money saving alternative for us.

Let's face it though, your average Middle Class Jocasta Theselwhaite buys into Green because it's the posh issue to support - it's the M&S of social concerns. Whereas inner city poverty, rising teeneage pregnancy, gun and knife crime, social and sexual inequality are all the Tesco Value ones. Jocasta don't buy tesco value my friend. No she does not. Green is only a popular issue because it's a status issue. Supporting green issues makes you posh. As soon as we do something serious about it and make it a financially viable alternative, some other issue will come along for the media to popularise; an issue that will undoubtedly cost us money and be immediately taken up by the Yummy Mummy brigade.

[smith]

seems to me that the cost of being 'Green' won't be a worthwhile investment for the average person until its not so demanding on their income. while at the same time, unless more people start making the effort the cost will never decrease.

[ash]

It's funny the WI base their whole identity on being green and recycling etc... especially paper, i wonder if they have done any research?