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Understanding the Difference Between “Green” and “Sustainable”

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Green vs. sustainable, learning the difference.

While many people use the terms green and sustainable interchangeably, they don’t actually mean the same things.  While both terms focus on protecting the Earth and its natural resources, they go about it in different ways.  Here is what you need to know about the difference between green and sustainable.

Green

According to Webster’s Dictionary, green is defined as “concerned with or supporting environmentalism.”  The key to this definition is its vagueness.  While being green means supporting the environmentally-friendly measures, there are no specific guidelines for what makes something green.  Recycling, conserving water, and being more energy efficient are all actions that can be considered green.

Sustainable

In contrast to the vagueness that characterizes the definition of green, the term sustainable is very specific.  Webster’s Dictionary defines sustainable as “of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.”  Essentially, for a product or action to be considered sustainable, it cannot use a resource so aggressively that it outpaces the rate at which it is replenished.  For instance, a company that uses bamboo in their products could not be considered sustainable if it cuts down bamboo faster than it can grow it back.

This is what differentiates the term green and sustainable.  Are you looking to buy or sell in the Hermosa Beach area?  If so, contact the experts at Brighton Escrow to get the top-tier escrow service you deserve. Serving the Hermosa Beach area, we are ready to make home buying and selling a breeze.