There are many perspectives on the meaning of being green, which often depend on individual circumstances based on upbringing, personal experience, possession or lack of altruism and particular industry agendas. Being green certainly has a range of meanings so it's always important to have some healthy skepticism when learning about anyone or anything that claims to be green.
Here are some ideas from around the country and the world about what it means to be green.
See wecansolveit.org for a wealth of ideas about sustaining the earth by being green.
Nature, Democracy, Responsibility, Nonviolence, Community, Economy, Humanity, Diversity, Peace, Sustainability. Read about what it means to be green at the Sustainability Institute.
In the building industry, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Read about LEED
Is the hotel you're visiting claiming to know what it means to be green? Read about the five leading hotel certification programs for greenliness. Then read about Travel + Leisure's 20 favorite green hotels
Take a look at David Suzuki's Nature Challenge where they emphasize Green Living Made Easy. See how you can be green by making changes in the way you get around, the food you eat, the energy you use and the public action you take.
Many investors and businesspeople cringe at phrases like "going green" and "sustainable practices". Read about a business perspective about what it means to be green.