It appears as though I’m feeling green in 2009 (maybe it is the Irishman in me or my intrigue with the green movement), and thus I will continue to write periodic posts on the green movement. I recently wrote a post about the “green electronics” theme at CES, and now I turn my focus to what was billed as the “greenest inauguration ever”. Although I did not experience the inauguration firsthand (I could claim I was doing my part to reduce the carbon footprint, but in all honesty I was saving some green), I do have an opinion or two.

How was this inauguration greener than the first inauguration in 1789? I don’t claim to be an environmentalist, but I still have my doubts. Is calling it the greenest ever a little too aggressive? I think so.

It was estimated by the Institute of Liberty that over 600 private jets would generate 260 million pounds of carbon dioxide during the inauguration. Even if this figure was exaggerated as some claim, I don’t think private jets and limos were an issue back in 1789, but I could be mistaken. Did Hollywood need to make the trek to DC or could they have done their part to save the Earth by watching the event streamed live via Silverlight?

Don’t get me wrong. I think it is great that steps were taken to make the event green – from valet bicycle parking by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association to invitations printed on recycled paper to hundreds of volunteers sweeping the parade area to collect trash and recyclables. It should not take an inauguration to make U.S. citizens think green, and let us not diminish the green movement by calling it the greenest inauguration ever. But in taking a few words from our new president, this effort could easily be called “ the inauguration with hope for a greener future”.

If our kids believe it was the greenest ever, how can we improve on making it even greener in the future? I challenge everyone to take a step back and ask yourself, what did you do to make TODAY a little greener? Let me know.