I agree with you on the shipping subject, TwoMetal. I cannot see how it is cheaper for companies to ship things overseas to assemble, then ship back.. Maybe it is. But it seems ridiculous.. Maybe the fuel prices raised will make it less profitable to do so? The way I see "buying green" is this. I live in an area with wind power. Big old windmills supply us. This to me is greener than burning coal or other power sources. Now as for heating, we have a gas well on the property here where we rent. No shipping costs for fuel, save for them drilling the pipes into the ground, which had near-zero environmental impact on the land. My friends who live with propane tank delivery.. it is astounding to see how much their tanks travel to get from the supplier to their homes; much less before that!
Want to know my opinion on the best way to live greener? Don't have kids. I have chosen not to, and I figure that I have some wiggle room then. As I have not doubled, tripled, or more, my footprint on Earth. I am glad that my husband agrees with me on this one.. I mean No Offense on parents out there. I do things daily that contribute to the demise of the Earth; we all do, just by merely existing and living as humans in this century. Being online right now, on plastic computers, using electricity and bandwidth and satellites and whatnot.. none of us can claim to be fully organic and with nature, sadly. But this is just my lifestyle.