Setting a Good Example

My husband and I constructed our home following stringent environmental guidelines for everything from our plumbing to our solar panels. You can see our house at www.ecomanor.com.

Turning The Titanic

It’s frustrating knowing how irresponsible we’ve been and knowing what our children are going to have to deal with. We’ll never be able to pull off a complete reversal but there’s a lot we can do to mitigate the damage. Renewable energy exists but getting people to understand it and use it isn’t easy. Whatever carbon emissions we put in the air today will stay there from 150 to 500 years.

Canaries In A Coal Mine

Our children are going to pay a terrible price if we don’t change the way we live, and I look to women to do it. Women are the primary care givers. They think long term, happily falling into bed exhausted at the end of the day knowing they’ve taken care of their families. But many of these women are unknowingly feeding their children harmful chemicals such as bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastic bottles and food can liners that has been shown to effect brain development and reproduction in animals. Of course a mom is going to want to hear this. She needs to hear this information in a way that’s palatable, not preachy.

Paradigm Shift

Constantly telling people the earth is in trouble is going to turn them off. The challenge is to meet them where they are. Environmental issues are complicated but people do want to help if the information arrives in practical doses they can assimilate. Recycling is one simple thing that people still resist because it seems like a hassle. It’s not, it’s just different. You’ve got to take out the trash anyway.

Success Means Being Yourself

My parents and grandparents instilled an environmental ethic in me that I’m trying to pass on to my kids and my community. My work as a philanthropist, activist and educator is a way of life for me. I tried different careers but I’ve found and invested in my passion. My newly formed company Laura Seydel LLC is just an extension of who I am.

This Featured Lady was profiled by Ladies Who Launch Associate Editor Susie Lacey.

                                
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