It seems that when there is talk of doing something in an efficient and ecologically friendly manner the primary argument behind it is usually to reduce carbon emissions. And while that in itself is not a bad reasoning, it has tends to lead to a great deal of confusion about why we should do things in efficient and ecological ways.

    Reducing overall carbon emissions is certainly important, in a educated guess sort of way. I mean the basic laboratory science of carbon emission induced climate change is well understood. And we have some very indicative real world observations about correlations between atmospheric carbon concentrations and global warming. So it is a pretty good bet that reducing our carbon emissions, even in small and personal ways, might help prevent some long term global warming, outside of the normal long term climate fluctuations that is. But is this really a good immediate impact sort of reasoning?

No.

    And there are much better reasons to live efficiently and in an ecologically sound manner. Take for instance the enormous trade deficit in the United States of America, every time you eat locally produced food you are not reducing your personal carbon emissions, you are increasing the value of your money by working against the trade deficit.

    Or what about riding a bicycle 7 miles to work instead of driving? Sure you are reducing your carbon emissions, but you are also fighting the trade deficit, and your improving your overall health which also helps to fights overall long term health care costs. Not to mention the mental benefits of prolonged exercise which will help to fight the stress of the modern professional life. Nothing like coming home to your family after a long day at work without bringing all the teeth chiseling stress of modern cubicle life.

    How about installing a solar array on your roof? Sure it reduces the carbon emissions of the general electric grid, but you are also personally adding a very quantitative amount to the yearly GDP by becoming a commodity producer in one relatively minor home investment. Again countering the long term trade imbalance in the country and contributing personally to a restrengthening of the dollar.

    The list of reasons other than carbon emission reduction just goes on and on. And I can't help but feel people in general might respond better to efficient and ecologically friendly trends if they were better informed about the other ways such trends help them and their countries.