Quick 5 questions with Salene Madrid about going green

1 How did you become interested in the green movement?

My initial interest was piqued in the mid-’90s when I became aware of Socially Responsible Investing or SRI. The SRI movement looked at investments that steered clear of alcohol, tobacco and firearms. Over the years they began to spread to environmentally sustainable industries, energy alternatives, and proper resource management.

 

2 How has going green changed your life?

For the past 15 years my husband and I have chosen to "live small." We live in a small, energy-efficient home. We try to use resources conservatively. We recycle all that we can. We donate to environmental protection and sustainable agencies. We use the clothes line rather than the dryer whenever possible. We use green cleaning products. We buy locally grown produce and stay away from processed, packaged foods. We've made small changes and adjustments that aren't that noticeable in our day-to-day living but have an overall impact on our health and the health of our community.

 

3 Is enough being done locally to support the movement?

There is no single thing that can be done. It's going to take every individual, either in their personal or professional life, making small changes that will add up to big changes. Taking the time to educate oneself on ways to use less and conserve more will make all the differences we need. Whether you believe there's an environmental shift under way, such as global warming, or not, leaving the planet a better place for future generations should be motivating enough for us all.

 

4 The chamber has taken a leadership position on this movement by making green its theme for 2008. Why is it important for a business organization like the chamber to devote its attention to the subject?

There is a new economy being developed with the "green" movement. Independence is made up of small business. For these business to grow and for new business to develop we will all need to understand the necessity of going green; it's not a fad. This is the future of jobs in our community and our country. It's a new economy and jobs frontier; the first to respond will reap the greatest rewards.

 

5 What steps can chamber members take to make their businesses more green?

The chamber doesn't have to remake itself. It simply needs to do more of what it has already begun doing. Recycling materials, using environmentally-friendly cleaning products, printing with environmentally safe inks, using low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) chemicals whereever possible. These small things will make a difference not only to the chamber but to the community we all call home. Whether it's business or an individual it will be the cumulative effect of small changes that add up to a "greener", healthier community.