It's Not Easy Being Green

When Maggie was a toddler she loved to watch Sesame Street. (Okay, so maybe I really liked to watch Sesame Street with her.) Perhaps that show was the impetus for her commitment to being green, which she does so well these days. You see, Kermit the Frog would sing "Bein' Green" and Maggie would watch with rapt attention.

It's not that easy being green
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold
Or something much more colorful like that

It's not easy being green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're
Not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky

But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean, or important
Like a mountain, or tall like a tree

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful
And I think it's what I want to be

When we began planning our new house we made a real commitment to "bein' green". But, like Kermit, I'm finding it not all that easy. Green options are often much more expensive and I have to push and push just to get green options on the table.

Here's some of the ways our new house will be eco-friendly:

• geothermal heating and cooling system
• insulated windows with low-e glass
• screens in all the windows and fans in all the rooms
• spray foam insulation in the walls, craw and as a cap in the ceiling
• rain barrels
• cork floors
• bamboo floors in the cottage
• non-toxic carpet pads
• Energy Star appliances
• hybrid water heater
• tankless water heater in the cottage
• CFL light bulbs in all the fixtures 

So it is my hope that with these measures and more,  
I am green and it'll do fine, 
it's beautiful 
And I think it's what I want to be.