Count how many times during the rest of your day that you hear or see something about "going green."
During the past few years, the word "green" has become an ever-present term, and Americans are steadily bombarded with information about the newest eco-friendly trend and the battle against global warming.
A recent study done by Yale University and George Mason University showed that many Americans feel it's important to do suggested eco-friendly actions such as conserving water or recycling, but they aren't actually following through.
For example, 76 percent of participants thought it was important to buy locally-grown food, but only 26 percent actually did. Seventy-two percent of participants thought it was important to use public transportation or to carpool, but only 10 percent did.
Americans are less likely to embrace "green" attitudes, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. In 2010, 36 percent of U.S. adults said they were concerned about the planet they were leaving behind for future generations, compared to 43 percent in 2009.
What is causing this disconnect?
There are several reasons for this green fatigue. The main one is "greenwashing," which refers to misleading green marketing to promote the perception that a company's policies or products are environmentally friendly.
Another reason is the lack of an immediate return on a "green" investment, as is the case with many solar-powered buildings. This is especially difficult to rationalize in a challenging economy.
These reasons, combined with the overflow of "green" information, overwhelms and confuses many people to the point where simply doing a good thing for the Earth isn't worth the investigation and investment.
I love the idea of "going green," but like many others, I want it to benefit me. I want to know if spending a couple extra dollars on organic shampoo is worth it to my body. Or that switching to veganism will help the critters and me. Or that unplugging my electrical appliances is worth my efforts.
No matter what your "green" questions may be, this column will cover any and all aspects of the environment. I will include updates on "green" news, suggestions of "green" practices to try, product reviews, shocking information and much more.
The best part? If altruism isn't your thing, all of the information will be about you and whether it is really worth it to make some green, relatively easy changes to your everyday lifestyle.