The success of going ‘green' depends on collective effort

Last week, Viet Nam News asked its readers what they thought of the green environmental movement and how it would affect their shopping behaviour. Here are some of the letters we have received. 

Lisa Surprenant, President of NRGmagnet, Ha Noi 

As Kermit the Frog once said, "It's not easy being green"… and yet, it is becoming easier these days with the advent of energy-saving appliances and equipment in Viet Nam.

I went "green" two decades ago when I practised architecture and became interested in energy-efficient buildings.

Over the years, I have specialised in green buildings, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. So naturally, I take the environmental impacts into consideration, whether it's a building or an appliance.

I use cradle-to-grave accounting so from manufacture to discard, the product I buy has the least environmental burden. Vietnamese products have begun to show labelling that seeks to make these impacts and effects, particularly in energy use, understandable to consumers.

However, the range of eco-friendly products on the market is not sufficient to provide a reasonable choice, particularly in energy efficiency. When faced with limited choices of products and uncertainty about how to "read" the labels, many consumers simply opt for the cheapest. They fail to realise how expensive the cheaper, but more power-consuming product, will be over time.

Ten years ago, my team did a survey of consumers in urban and rural areas in Viet Nam and found there was little knowledge about energy efficiency or climate change. Now, everyone seems to be talking about "green".

Again, we must beware of "green-washing", where a product or building claims to be "green" but in fact, uses the same energy and has the same environmental impact, as a "plain vanilla" building or product.

I believe Viet Nam is on the right path to becoming truly green.

Blue Summer, English, Australia 

I want to go "green" only if money is not a big deal. If I have to buy a hybrid car that costs too much, then I'd rather get a cheaper car that's not enviro-friendly. We usually sacrifice performance and cost when we buy green stuff, so it has to be worth it.

The information provided about environmental impacts has to be simple and concise otherwise no one will care. At present, I don't think there are many eco-friendly products on the market. Only large corporations like Honda's hybrid cars or Western Digital with their green hard-drives seem to make these products.

We're an efficiency-based society. That is, we make stuff for low cost and sell it at a high price to make a profit. We're also quite competitive so companies have to think about if it's viable to make a green computer and sell it at a reasonable price, while other makers are selling non-green, cheap-as-hell computers.

If something has to be done to help promote an energy-saving lifestyle, then everyone has to do it, there's no point if you can choose. For example, there's "Walk to work" day here in Australia but no one really joins in. And the same with the "Earth Hour" where everyone turned off their lights and computers for an hour. It did nothing.

If something has to be done, the Government has to do it. It may force people to cut down on their pollution and provide incentives for companies who make green products.

Huong Thieu Huyen, Vietnamese, Ha Noi 

The purchase of energy-efficient electrical goods is not only a matter of "going green" but also of budget saving. However, I usually pay attention to how much energy can be saved if I use a particular product.

The energy-information on products is useful to consumers, it re-assures them that they are playing their part to stop pollution. To be honest, the information sometimes is too technical or abstract for me. So, I usually compare products then ask for advice.

Sometimes, I'm sceptical about the information supplied, even from authorised agencies. That's why I trust the experiences of myself and other people. Whether or not my choices are wise or not, my monthly electricity bill will keep me informed.

To expand the use of energy-efficient goods, first show the average consumers how they can help our budget. I don't think I do much to harm the ozone or modify climate change, but I am willing to go for things, even small things, that can help my family to save money wisely. It's great if this is also good for the nation and for the Earth. 

Vu Dieu Huong, Vietnamese, Ha Noi 

As a youth, I am concerned about the environment. As far as I know, the globe is in serious danger due to the release of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases.

However, I hardly take the environmental impacts of a product into consideration when I want to buy something. First, there is not enough information about environmental features on most products. Second, the retailers know little about this feature. Finally, sometimes eco-friendly products are too expensive.

To help customers, manufacturers need to provide more detailed eco-friendly information on their products. To promote an energy-saving lifestyle, each citizen has to acknowledge the importance of protecting the environment.

Companies and manufacturers should offer more energy-saving products at a reasonable price to attract their customers.  

John MacDonald, Australian, Ha Noi 

Going green in Asia is much easier than people think. It's not some touchy-feely nonsense from the West, but a practice that also has its roots in ancient oriental customs.

For instance, only a few decades ago, 99 per cent of rubbish throughout the world was bio-degradable. This means that when it is thrown in a heap, it quickly rots down to make compost to enrich the soil.

In the so-called Old Days, everything was wrapped in either leaves or paper - and bottles and jars were so expensive, they were recycled to hold other foods, sauces or substances. Most cooking pots were earthenware, which is environmentally friendly and eventually decomposes. And iron, bronze and copper was so valuable, it was never thrown out but also sold for recycling.

Today, the world is full of plastic that stinks with a toxic smoke when burned and takes thousands of years to decompose. Rubbish tips are cesspools of a multitude of plastic items - from containers to flooring and lining of every description.

The unsorted mess in most Asian rubbish tips is today filled with toxic horrors that find their way into the water table - and eventually into crops and our meat and vegetables. Yuk!

Household waste should be pre-sorted at home into two or three different bags - one for vegetable and meat waste, another for paper - and a third for metal and glass. Only the Government can bring in this sweeping change in Vietnamese behaviour. Deeds, not words! — VNS