Environmental Science Degrees

Going green has become all the rage in recent years and tree-huggers have been at the forefront of the movement. The term tree-hugger was originally coined during an anti-logging movement in which the people in protest would link their arms around a tree in order to preserve it. In recent years, it has become less of a pejorative, as self proclaimed tree-huggers have adopted the term, and thus have used it in the names of their organizations and green businesses. If you go to great lengths to preserve our environment, exhibiting some of the 10 characteristics, behaviors and practices listed below, then you might be a tree-hugger.

1. You know the intricate details of every green issue
   There isn’t a single environmental issue or piece of environmental legislation that has escaped your grasp. You know a little more than just, say, global warming is bad. You can describe the process and affects of ozone depletion, and recall the average volume per decade that the ozone layer has shrunk. You can name the sponsor and provide a summary of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.
2. You’re an active member of environmental protection organizations
   If you’ve joined or contributed to organizations like Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, then you’re a tree-hugger. You take an active role in the environmental protection of your community and beyond by protesting the destruction of forest land, planting trees where they previously have been leveled and educating children about the perils of abusing the environment.
3. You’ve boycotted businesses that have harmed the environment
   You will never buy gas from BP again. You haven’t purchased a ConAgra Foods product since the 2006 CERES Report awarded the company just four points out of 100 for its poor environmental practices. If you live in an energy deregulated state, you thoroughly research the environmental record of each company before coming to a decision on which to choose. By taking these actions, you ensure that your daily behavior doesn’t encourage mistreatment of the environment.
4. You keep it natural when it comes to food and clothing
   When you open your pantry or refrigerator, a wide array of organic food products stare back at you. You may or may not consume large amounts of granola, which may or may not be a Kashi product. Many tree huggers also happen to be vegans, so you probably don’t possess any food or household items made from animals. You aren’t a stranger to hemp, and wear clothes made from the fiber.
5. Your home is entirely eco-friendly
   Your home is equipped with all kinds of eco-friendly upgrades, like Energy Star approved appliances and light bulbs, low-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and perhaps solar panels. You use your air conditioner and heater sparingly, and they’ve never been on full-blast. You ensure that your home doesn’t waste any energy, and its CO2 footprint is infant-sized.
6. Your trash can has never once held a glass, carbon, plastic or aluminum item
   You have four independent bins stationed in your kitchen, and each one holds nothing more than its designated material – glass, carbon, plastic or aluminum. You are 100 percent consistent when it comes to recycling items made from these materials, so absolutely no exceptions are made when guests are over. All of your friends know that when they’re in your home, they better put their waste in the appropriate bins- or else.
7. You recycle for other people
   You’ve encouraged your friends and family to recycle, and have even gone so far as to separate the trash in their trash cans and set up home recycling stations in their homes. When out and about, you stop to pick up recyclable materials in the street, and become incensed when people aren’t properly utilizing public recycling bins.
8. You own a hybrid vehicle (if you own a vehicle)
   If you own a vehicle, you own a hybrid vehicle. And it might be adorned with a variety of bumper stickers that advertise your tree-hugger-ish personal beliefs. The rear of your car tells people to “Think Green” and “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” It advertises your affiliation with the Green Party and the Sierra Club. In short, you fit the stereotype of hybrid drivers.
9. You shun energy hogs
   From SUV drivers to friends who run their air conditioners on full-blast, you can’t help but shun the energy hogs who seem to have little regard for the environment. Perhaps you’ve even lost friends or made enemies because of such lifestyle differences. You just can’t fathom their ignorance pertaining to such an important issue.
10. Earth Day is your favorite holiday
    You celebrate Earth Day to the fullest by spending the day planting trees – which reduces greenhouse gas emissions, of course – picking up litter, constructing birdhouses, teaching other people about the environment and possibly attending Earth Day fairs. It-s the perfect time to espouse your ideology, spreading the message of environmental responsibility and protection – things tree-huggers care about.