Green suburbs?

An article today in the New York Times points out how much of a challenge it can be to live green in the suburbs, since many environmentally damaging things are so ingrained in our lifestyle. We can do a lot to reduce our negative impact, but suburbanites may have to make more drastic changes:

But the problem with suburbs, many environmentalists say, is not an issue of light bulbs. In the end, the very things that make suburban life attractive — the lush lawns, spacious houses and three-car garages — also disproportionally contribute to global warming. Suburban life, these environmentalists argue, is simply not sustainable.

“The very essence of the post-Second World War America suburb militates against ‘greening,’ ” said Thomas J. Sugrue, a professor of history and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. “Given the almost complete dependency of suburbanites on the car, it’s an uphill battle.”

And a lot of even the little things can be a challenge to implement:

Alexander Lee, the 33-year-old founder of Project Laundry List, which tries to revive the use of clotheslines to save energy, has run into plenty of resistance from suburban community associations, many of which have regulations restricting them, he said.

“There are three complaints,” Mr. Lee said. “It will lower my property values. That’s what poor people do. Also, I don’t want anyone to see my underwear — what I call the ‘prudery’ objection.”

I think it will take a large-scale effort from everyone, but if we can build an interstate highway system, why can’t we build a public transportation system? Maybe it boils down to our unwillingness to give up the independence of our own cars?