Conservation and waste

It seems that every effort to be environmentally more responsible comes with trade offs. In fact, I think its the hardest part...measuring the pro's and cons. Time and money are two obvious ones but then you have to consider carbon, pollution, landfills, etc etc. Here is my stab at criteria for deciding in order of priority.

1. Harmful use. If something we do, buy or consume is considered harmful, we need to address it first. Pouring used motor oil in the sewer is harmful.
   
2. Second is waste. If the item serves no function, then it's waste. Wasting is bad economically and karmic-ly. Cutting out waste is usually immediate change, but its not to be confused with "use".
3. Charitable value. If your green efforts and actions can help those less fortunate or needy, it's a great opportunity.
4. When it's easily cheaper to do it the green way. Saving money is likely to make the action stick. Otherwise we only have our conscious to remind us...
5. Change what can make a difference today. Not using paper or plastic is today. Changing to CFLs is today. Immediate gratification is good to keep us going on to the harder things.
6. Long term payoffs are next. These items are usually larger, like a more energy efficient car or a solar hot water heater.
7. Actions that soothe one's conscious but aren't likely to make economic sense. It's something that bothers you, like buying a newer more efficient refrigerator rather than keeping the old inefficient one.
   
8. Reducing use is a tricky one. Not really waste but you could do with less of something, like a few degrees on your thermostat or turning off your security lights. If going green makes your life less enjoyable it's a bad idea. If you choose to drive up the street to get a Starbucks, go for it, if you choose the biggest car you have to do it, that's waste.
   
9. Trends and fads, i.e. keeping up with the Joneses' and their new Prius purchase is probably the least compelling reason to go green. That's how people ended up driving Hummers! It was a fad too!
   

Bottom Line - You can probably run many opportunities to go green through that list and better decide where to prioritize it...the first five are in my view, the must do's, and the last four are options for continuing to go green. Of course, if you get an item that covers multiple entries high on the list, jump on it!