• Originally published July 7, 2008 at 9:23 a.m., updated July 7, 2008 at 9:23 a.m.

We were heartened to read Advocate reporter Allison Miles’ recent story about the growing number of area businesses “going green” by paying increased attention to their role in protecting our environment.

By recycling plastics, paper, cardboard, aluminum and so on, they are saving tons of raw materials from being used prematurely, not to mention the millions of BTUs and megawatts that it would take to manufacture those materials from scratch if they’re not recycled.

It seems to be a trend that is catching on with small businesses and corporate giants alike, and the more the merrier.

Here at the Advocate, we have practiced going green for many years.

Our newspaper is printed on recycled paper, which we’re told saves a lot of trees each year.

And we have experimented with eco-friendly inks to decrease pollutants.

Whenever possible, we use both sides of copy machine paper so that we are refilling the copiers half as often for some jobs.

Kudos to businesses all over the area who set up containers for recycling materials, such as aluminum cans, who are using reusable cups and saucers in their coffee rooms instead of Styrofoam, and who are finding hundreds of ways to lessen the burden on our beleaguered environment.

By the way, going green is not only good for the future of our planet, but saving on the materials with which we do business, and recycling what we can, are ways to reduce the cost of operations. And, the company and the employees both benefit from increased profits.

Kermit the Frog of the kids’ program Sesame Street sings a song that was originally intended to promote racial and religious tolerance by explaining that it can be difficult to be different — green, in his case.

But the song ends on an up note, and so will we, with a new meaning given to the words of that powerful little tune:

When green is all there is to be

it could make you wonder why;

But why wonder, why wonder?

I am green and it’ll do fine;

It’s beautiful!

And I think it’s what I want to be!

We should all make that our motto, at work and at home.

“I am green, and it’ll do fine.”

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