From prefabricated, worm-colony composters to organic hemp shower curtains, the green movement is introducing Americans to environmentally friendly alternatives for everyday use. However, some feel that reducing consumption is the only way to achieve environmental sustainability. City Weekly asked Save Our Canyons executive director Lisa Schmidt what the eco-minded citizen should do: replace products or reduce use?
We should absolutely look to reduce, because no matter how creative we are with alternatives, they will always have environmental costs. Commuting is the perfect example. We can drive hybrid cars, but we still have production and energy costs. If we take a moment to plan, we can live nearer to our work, walk or take bikes and eliminate our impact on the planet.