GorillaOffTopic, Everything But Gorilla Trades

The Gorilla has been hearing a lot of talk about more and more celebs going “green” in Hollywood- and that’s a good thing! If Hollywood can be good for something other than spouting off their political views, (the Gorilla can do without celebrity opinions on politics), then why shouldn’t they use their clout to get others to be environmentally conscious?  So what exactly are celebrities doing to change their lifestyles and go “green”?  Well some are changing their own personal habits and some are creating products to help change the world. For example, Leonardo DeCaprio, has bought an apartment in Riverhouse, an eco-friendly building overlooking the Hudson River. The eco-friendly Prince Charles has just purchased and Aston Marin that runs on biodiesel made from wine! And the beautiful and environmentally active, Kate Hudson, is collaborating on a line of cruelty-free, good-for-the-Earth hair-care products that she hopes will eventually expand into a skin care and color cosmetics. Although these examples may be extreme and limited to those who are financially successful, the examples are being set to help us be aware of changes we call all make (even small ones) that can change our carbon footprints and make all of us greener.  So how can you make simple changes to your own daily life to be more “green?” Many people say they started small, but even small changes can be meaningful. Here are a few examples of things each of us can do in our daily lives to help us be gentler to our environment. Adjust your water heater: Did you know that if you lower your water heater’s temperature from 145 degrees to 120 degrees, not only are you saving energy, but you will save a little money too?   How bout’ riding a bike instead of driving? When the Gorilla only has to go a short distance, he tries to ride his bike or walk instead of using his car. With gas prices being ridiculous anyway, is this really a hard thing to do? You are killing 3 birds with one stone here: (Pardon the pun!) You are saving on gas, you are reducing carbon emissions, and you are getting exercise to boot!  Stop printing so much! Many people are using much less paper and toner by simply keeping their information stored in their computers, rather than printing it out. If at all possible, try to do this. Another option is to switch to a laser printer; it uses much less paper and toner. Use biodegradable or organic products: There are more and more products to choose from that are kind to the environment. These are products that in addition, are not tested on animals. They are better for the environment (less harsh chemicals), healthier, and animal friendly. They include everything from shampoo to food. Look for products with the “Green Seal.” Use Energy Star Products: With the help of ENERGY STAR, people saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars — all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills. The Gorilla doesn’t have to tell you how important it is to recycle, recycle, recycle!  That is the most basic of environmentally conscious efforts. And everyone can make a difference in this world. If you think your individual efforts alone are insignificant, consider this: Individually, all alone, as a single human being, you can decrease production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by thousands of pounds each year. So get out there and go green…everyone’s doing it!