Local organic food is more expensive.

hybrid cars are (sometimes) more expensive.

energy saving light bulbs are more expensive.

organic clothing is more expensive.


seriously, if saving the planet is so important then why is it so damn expensive?

I'm actually honestly curious...is there something I am overlooking besides anything that might save you whole *gasp* $5 (:eek)...... eventually? :suspect

I always wondered that too!

It's why I don't really do anything to "save the planet" cause I can't afford it :(

Seriously! I completely agree. I buy organic milk and it runs $3.99 for a half gallon. I also like to buy clothing made from hemp and bamboo but also, run into the problem of expenses. Honestly, I think the cost is one main reason people are driven from buying organic produce, clothing, and energy saving items. Sad but true.

http://www.theorganicreport.com/pages/19_buying_organic.cfm

http://www.organicfoodee.com/sense/tooexpensive.html

http://www.kushtush.com/organiccost.htm

There are a few articles that explain things pretty well. It makes sense, but still sucks for those that can't afford the increased price.

Because pesticides and hormones are the easy way. To grow food without that takes more work (and more cows). But, if the demand gets high enough and the supply can keep up, prices should lower.

Its all about supply and demand. Not sure if many of you have noticed, but organic food are going down in price. Many supermarkets are even carrying their own brand of organic foods. However, the demand is still not high enough for them to have larger supplies. The more people buy these things, the more the price will go down. It is unfortunate but the way I see it, its all about priorities. Like its more important to me to buy natural foods and supplies, than say maybe buying other stuff. So its about what's important to you, and how you choose to spend your money ya know? I had this discussion with someone yesterday. It was mentioned how much money I spend on food. Well to me its justifiable, because I care very much what goes into my body and what I eat, so I don't mind spending the amount of money that I do. But I don't care so much about other stuff, like maybe going out to eat a lot, or going out to do other stuff. So I compromise some expenses to get the things that really matter to me.

A lot of it too (hybrids, CFL lightbulbs etc.) are the initial investment too. The light bulbs last 7 years as well and save you money on electricity. Reg. light bulbs last about 6 months depending on how often you use the light. There's also other things you can do, just reuse the plastic bags you already have, you don't have to buy canvas ones, and a lot of stores offer you a nickel or so per bag off your bill, I know, not a lot right away but it could add up, just like coupons each time. I dunno, to me it's worth it, every little bit helps.

because the only way they can get us to buy the "new more expensive" product is to scare us into it... Americans do not like change....

its more expensive because of what it takes to produce it :D

well, the light bulbs. I refuse to EVER buy those. I can handle about 5 minutes with one on before the migraines start.

The rest, I dont really worry about. I recycle my plastic bags, cardboard, plastic containers.

Well ok, but it leaves a whole lot of people, who would be willing to do those things, out because of the INITIAL cost. Sure it can be justified over a period of time, but watching $11 for 2 lights bulbs tacked onto my grocery bill instead of $3 for 4.....kwim?

I have the energy saving lights bulbs and I reuse plastic bags for various things, I recycle coke cans and any other aluminum I have. It's just that the INITIAL cost for these things hurt so bad most of the time, the "you save in the long run" factor loses its power.

I believe if it were made easier and cheaper to obtain these things and to do our part to be nicer to the planet, the "save the planet" movement would get better results.

JMO

well, the light bulbs. I refuse to EVER buy those. I can handle about 5 minutes with one on before the migraines start.

The rest, I dont really worry about. I recycle my plastic bags, cardboard, plastic containers.

:teehee

they ARE bright as hell aren't they.

I agree! When I was a vegetarian (for over 3 years) my diet was SO much more expensive...I felt HORRIBLE for my friends who chose to be vegans.
Lol. Sorry, little off topic, but sorta the same??? :hugs

I think some states are actually starting to ban the production of regular light bulbs. I know in CA a law has been passed that by 2018 all incandescent bulbs will be banned and people will be forced to purchase more energy efficient light bulbs.

I agree! When I was a vegetarian (for over 3 years) my diet was SO much more expensive...I felt HORRIBLE for my friends who chose to be vegans.
Lol. Sorry, little off topic, but sorta the same??? :hugs

Aww don't feel horrible for Vegans :), I dunno about your friends, but I feel 100% better now that I'm vegan than I EVER did as a meat eater.

Aww don't feel horrible for Vegans :), I dunno about your friends, but I feel 100% better now that I'm vegan than I EVER did as a meat eater.

Ha ha! Didn't even take notice that you were a vegan. I'm so blind sometimes. :P Yeah, I was a vegetarian for 3 years, but when I went to boot camp last spring...that ended. Meat was just a MUST for survival there...like, I'm not kidding. Pretty sad. Anyway. I can't go back now, because I'm so hooked on cheap ass meat (like cheeseburgers) from fast food that probably isn't even REAL. Lol. Okay. Shutting up now, total thread jack. SOWWWY!!!
p.s. and it's probably because I'm pregnant. lmao.

I think some states are actually starting to ban the production of regular light bulbs. I know in CA a law has been passed that by 2018 all incandescent bulbs will be banned and people will be forced to purchase more energy efficient light bulbs.

See that doesn't seem fair to me. FORCING people to buy MUCH more expensive means to light their houses?

Gosh, counting all the things that require light bulbs in my house right now....(based on $11 for 2 energy efficient bulbs)....I would spend $99 bucks in light bulbs. I understand it lasts longer....but again, the INITIAL cost is what I'm referring to.

I think it's a supply and demand kinda thing. I agree with you about the light bulbs Donna. I wish they would make blue bulbs instead of those horrible yellow ones. I got a pack of 6 of those bulbs for about $7 at Sam's Club, Devinn. I don't know where you are buying your bulbs but they are ripping you off. In the long run, those bulbs do save money though. They last 5 years before they burn out. We bought some a few years ago and have actually taken them with us when we moved. :lol

As for the cars, I don't think they are really that expensive. A Prius is about $20K. That isn't bad for a vehicle. We paid almost that much for our crappy little Hyundai 5 years ago.

See that doesn't seem fair to me. FORCING people to buy MUCH more expensive means to light their houses?

Gosh, counting all the things that require light bulbs in my house right now....(based on $11 for 2 energy efficient bulbs)....I would spend $99 bucks in light bulbs. I understand it lasts longer....but again, the INITIAL cost is what I'm referring to.

Where do you buy your lightbults?? LOL, I've bought them several times, and I get 4 Energy Efficient lightbulbs for $3-$4, I've never had to pay more than that. I've seen them at this price at lots of places, like farmers markets, walmart, target, etc.

Where do you buy your lightbults?? LOL, I've bought them several times, and I get 4 Energy Efficient lightbulbs for $3-$4, I've never had to pay more than that. I've seen them at this price at lots of places, like farmers markets, walmart, target, etc.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5684723

That's what I buy and that's more expensive than the $11 I said. I was really kinda averaging without ACTUALLY averaging :teehee

I agree that it is very expensive! But I also think there are other cheaper ways of being able to go green without going broke. For example, if you want organic foods, grow a garden. We are growing all our own herbs and some veggies (my radishes are FINALLY almost ready to be picked! YAY!) and some fruits (I just planted some strawberry seeds :yum). Having a garden is super duper easy and cheap IMO. I spent $1 and about 10 teeny tiny pots I got at Target in the dollar bin ($1 each) and 3 of them have flurished beautifully and are already producing veggies, flowers, and herbs, and the others have either been transplanted recently or have just been planted and are doing very very well! Also, if you want to use the energy saving lightbulbs, I say do it in two steps. First, try to minimize the use of unnecesary lights in the house, and then the ones that you notice you use more often, replace those bulbs with the energy savers. Then you can replace the others as you go. That is what we did :shrug And I think organic clothing is a little trickier, but I think it also depends on what you are looking for. The only organic clothing that we have is mainly for the baby, so we have cloth diapers, longies, shorties, hand knitted sweaters and things like that. But that was stuff either made by me or family and some things I purchased or recycled (like I used an old wool sweater my Gma never wore to make some longies). It is a bit harder, and it took me FOREVER to get the hang of knitting/crochetting and I am still not the best by far, but what I can make I am happy with, and it is much much cheaper! I think a giant bundle of yarn was under $5 and I made about 3 easy $10+ bottoms out of it. Its just something you have to commit to do I think. But it definitely helps in the end IMO!

I agree that it is very expensive! But I also think there are other cheaper ways of being able to go green without going broke. For example, if you want organic foods, grow a garden. We are growing all our own herbs and some veggies (my radishes are FINALLY almost ready to be picked! YAY!) and some fruits (I just planted some strawberry seeds :yum). Having a garden is super duper easy and cheap IMO. I spent $1 and about 10 teeny tiny pots I got at Target in the dollar bin ($1 each) and 3 of them have flurished beautifully and are already producing veggies, flowers, and herbs, and the others have either been transplanted recently or have just been planted and are doing very very well!--------- *snip*-----------

That would be a feasible idea if DF and I were in a position to OWN property for an extended period of time. Everywhere we live is rented and will probably remain that way until retirement. Even if we do purchase before that...transferring a garden during a PCS would be next to impossible :rofl

That would be a feasible idea if DF and I were in a position to OWN property for an extended period of time. Everywhere we live is rented and will probably remain that way until retirement. Even if we do purchase before that...transferring a garden during a PCS would be next to impossible :rofl

Yeah that is true. But for the time being, it would be nice. All of our plants are in pots and we just transplant them into bigger pots when they outgrow that one. I think its totally worth it! And think of how much money you save buying fruit and veggies and herbs when you got it all in your back yard! My favorite right now is the blood red oranges :yum My Gma has a small tree of them that grew soooo many this year!! We have a huge over flowing bowl of them on the counter and it keeps getting added to it lol. And my Gpa also has a small tree of Naval oranges, but there were only like 4 on it this time around, but they were very good!

I am hoping my strawberries to better this year then they did last year. They were soo tiny last year, but sooo insanely sweet! So I am trying something different with my potting situation and soils and things like that, and I am hoping they will grow bigger and more this time around. I cant wait to try my radishes though! Its almost time, but just not quite yet. I cant decide what I am going to make them with :thinking ha ha I love having a garden! I also have a daisy bush that is JUST starting to get some buds on it. I think I planted that one maybe 3-4 weeks ago. So they grow really really well, and its such a stress reliever! I have made a point to take Ellie out to the garden at least once a day and let her run around and play while i play with my plants :lol Its been nice, especially with this nice weather!

Wow that is expensive! I've purchased the exact same ones, a 4-pack, at Henry's market for $3. And the same ones at my Target store, a 4-pack for $4!

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5684723

That's what I buy and that's more expensive than the $11 I said. I was really kinda averaging without ACTUALLY averaging :teehee

Are you checking out the wattage? No wonder they're so bright, they are the equivalent of a 150 watt reg. bulb, that's BRIGHT!!! The lower the wattage the cheaper they are. I have the 14 watt bulbs in my living room which is i think the equivalent of a 60 watt reg. bulb and they are just right! That makes a big difference!

Are you checking out the wattage? No wonder they're so bright, they are the equivalent of a 150 watt reg. bulb, that's BRIGHT!!! The lower the wattage the cheaper they are. I have the 14 watt bulbs in my living room which is i think the equivalent of a 60 watt reg. bulb and they are just right! That makes a big difference!

SHIT! My bad....I'm showing the wrong damn ones....

I buy these normally http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5984219

6 pack for $20

STILL expensive compared to $3-$4 for a 4 pack of regular bulbs

ALSO, if (as I just noticed) the cheaper ones aren't labeled as "energy efficient"

I read today that the best thing you can do for the environment is not own a car and stop eating meat. As individuals we cannot make corporate America stop being the biggest polluters of all time. Not unless the government starts forcing them to comply with the laws we already have. Going green is more expensive because the powers that be don't want us to go green. Because the only way they continue making money is through polluting.

Yeah that is true. But for the time being, it would be nice. All of our plants are in pots and we just transplant them into bigger pots when they outgrow that one. I think its totally worth it! And think of how much money you save buying fruit and veggies and herbs when you got it all in your back yard! My favorite right now is the blood red oranges :yum My Gma has a small tree of them that grew soooo many this year!! We have a huge over flowing bowl of them on the counter and it keeps getting added to it lol. And my Gpa also has a small tree of Naval oranges, but there were only like 4 on it this time around, but they were very good!

I am hoping my strawberries to better this year then they did last year. They were soo tiny last year, but sooo insanely sweet! So I am trying something different with my potting situation and soils and things like that, and I am hoping they will grow bigger and more this time around. I cant wait to try my radishes though! Its almost time, but just not quite yet. I cant decide what I am going to make them with :thinking ha ha I love having a garden! I also have a daisy bush that is JUST starting to get some buds on it. I think I planted that one maybe 3-4 weeks ago. So they grow really really well, and its such a stress reliever! I have made a point to take Ellie out to the garden at least once a day and let her run around and play while i play with my plants :lol Its been nice, especially with this nice weather!

What we do is plant the entire garden in pots. The HUGH pots that hold about 3 bags of soil. Those big ones. We don't like store boughten tomatoes because they never taste the same as fresh. You can put one plant per pot. We get them good and yummy then. We also live in the north so our growing season is short. When we are done, there is a hailstorm coming, or it is cold that night...in the garage they go.

What we do is plant the entire garden in pots. The HUGH pots that hold about 3 bags of soil. Those big ones. We don't like store boughten tomatoes because they never taste the same as fresh. You can put one plant per pot. We get them good and yummy then. We also live in the north so our growing season is short. When we are done, there is a hailstorm coming, or it is cold that night...in the garage they go.

Yup, we plant in pots, and when we move, we dump the dirt into the holes the dogs will inevitably dig, and take the pots with us. Since the veggies don't come back every year, I don't worry about it.

For the lightbulbs - I buy the big packs from Sam's Club, and like someone else said, I take them with me when I move. :D That is a huge savings.

I noticed they are coming out with new shapes and styles for the energy efficient bulbs, so hopefully soon we'll have a better selection.

I think it's a supply and demand kinda thing. I agree with you about the light bulbs Donna. I wish they would make blue bulbs instead of those horrible yellow ones. I got a pack of 6 of those bulbs for about $7 at Sam's Club, Devinn. I don't know where you are buying your bulbs but they are ripping you off. In the long run, those bulbs do save money though. They last 5 years before they burn out. We bought some a few years ago and have actually taken them with us when we moved. :lol

As for the cars, I don't think they are really that expensive. A Prius is about $20K. That isn't bad for a vehicle. We paid almost that much for our crappy little Hyundai 5 years ago.

I agree! It can be more cost initially but worth it in the long run. You can only buy energy efficient bulbs here. I don't think it's that big of a deal... it's a good transition for everyone. I think once "green" becomes the norm it won't cost as much.

Sure the light bulbs are $$ but they never burn out LOL When we moved into here we replaced every single bulb.

Also the cost may be a bit more then the "regular" thing.. BUT we are saving the planet.

I know, it's sad. I was raised to save the planet, but I can't afford Organic anymore. I buy the Trader Joe's cheap tofu, and drink soy milk (I try to stalk up when 8th Continent goes on sale for $2.50), but that's about all I got anymore.

Also the cost may be a bit more then the "regular" thing.. BUT we are saving the planet.

:lol Great point! I'm taking ecology right now, and i think people would care more if they knew more about the effect we have on our ecosystem.

i buy safeway brand organic foods--a lot of the O organics brand stuff is cheaper than the regular stuff (not all but a lot) and taste just as good, we recycle. until they make a hybrid car that we like and isn't super expensive we will not drive a hybrid. we buy organic veggies and fruits when the quality is just as good or better than non organic and they aren't super expensive. i agree it is cheaper to be "mean" to the planet but we do what we cn

I love my hybrid. :D My husband gets mad at me because I only fill it up once every 3 weeks. The car was a gift, but IMO it would have been totally worth the extra money just to NOT have to buy the gas from those evil oil profiteers.

Also the cost may be a bit more then the "regular" thing.. BUT we are saving the planet.

exactly.......plus generally with some items the initial investment might be higher, but you will get your money's worth (ie the light bulbs, hybrids etc)

While you might not be able to do everything, every little bit helps.......for instance reusable plastic bags instead of constantly using the plastic ones over and over........