When did going “Green” cost so much green?

I had the distinct pleasure of actually meeting Malcolm Gladwell the author of “The Tipping Point”. It’s an excellent book that profiles turning points in some current issues. We all see tipping points after they happen, but some sage people catch a ride on the wave. Unfortunately, the going “Green” tide has a bad undertow.

When did going “Green” start to cost so much? I feel like the whole environmental movement has split off into a dichotomy of the haves vs. the have nots. I’d peg myself as an over achieving have not. Yeah, that’s about right. But it seems that like any good idea someone has ends up wrestled to the ground and tag it with an outlandish price tag. The mere act of recycling uses previously extracted material and regenerates it into a new product? I mean that is one of the 3 main components of the recycling system (the trilogy being reuse, renew, recycle). So why does it cost a premium?

A little background. I was born and raised in one of the “greenest” states in the US. We had landmark legislation to to guard public lands from greedy over development. They just got a Starbucks! On a consumer level we knew that deposits on trash items such as cans and glass containers built in a natural incentive for everyone to return their bottles and such for their deposit back.  This led to reuse of the containers and well, a rockin’ way to curb trash in our community. We had a program that began at the heart of the recycle program—the future, the kids in our schools. Our program was instilled in kids at a young age that having a beautiful environment was a luxury that needed proper care, attention and protection. Yeah, you guessed it– I am a Vermonter. And I would like to add that although I had to move from there, that Yankee Environmental spirit beats loud and proud in my heart.

Here’s the rub. I recycle and do all I can, so when I went to remodel our well worn bathroom. I wanted to do the right thing. I say well worn because I have a pet peeve with people that rip out a perfectly functioning bathroom and throw all that nice bathroom out on a whim. Shame on you and the landfill you load up. At least find a recycling building store and turn that stuff around. Mine, well, I am the lowest rung on the bathroom ladder. Although a home in some third world country would probably squeal with delight at getting our original circa 1950’s mint bathroom. But stuff is starting to break and well, it’s time. I had only 3 criteria: it must fit into a 50’s house, it should be environmentally friendly and it has to come in at a reasonable cost. And we have a pension for a modern look that is very functional. Am I asking too much?

I took my kids with me as a lesson in taking care of Planet Earth. What I was astonished was that being green costs a lot of green! Who let the Donald Trumps of building supplies turn what should be frugal decision into a profit blasting business deal? I looked at these cool countertops that had a 50’s speckle in it—it cost more than granite! Then I considered a bamboo counter and they told me they had some problems with it splitting and it costs more. Oh please, let’s get that one!  Then the floor, more than a conventional floor at Home Depot. The tile was comparable to the most expensive tile at HD.

Here’s my point, the materials they are using are essentially free or low cost throw aways. Do I have to be one of those celebrities endorsing being green to be able to afford it? I guess for now, I am just going to be the recycling end of this equation. In the end, I tried to get a nice Formica fake—it cost the same as low end granite! I settled on a prefabricated Formica countertop from Ikea. I got the high end design for the right price. Thank goodness for Ikea.

Leave it to the US to take a great idea and make it cost ineffective. If you have any suggestions or comments, I’d love to hear them.

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