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Who wears the green trousers in your house?

Anna Guyer | 26.03.10

Green jeans hanging on a clothesline Men may be from Mars and women from Venus, but whatever truth there is in that divide between the sexes may be biodegradable when it comes to who drives green living in a household - my own house being a case in point.

There seems to be a prevalent belief that women are the green advocates at home, from recycling to saving water to canceling EDF in favor of a green electricity supplier. That is so not the situation in our relationship, which leads me to wonder: is it just a myth that women are usually the domestic eco leaders, or are we an anomaly?

I have the feeling it's the former, though I'd be interested to know your experience.

Matthew, my smart and wonderful husband, is an my Eco Guardian, there are no two ways about it. He is the one who ensures that our family lives as environmentally-friendly as possible and he walks the walk, from raising the chickens to growing our veggies to teaching our children about the importance of protecting our planet.

His role brings enormous benefits and interesting challenges. I was not a natural. As much as I believe in green, I have to work at living it. Matthew would be happy with a wooden hut for a home. I would not. He doesn't enjoy or crave expensive consumer luxury items, taxis, dinners out, new clothes, hairdryers. And I, well, sometimes I struggle.

My biggest challenge in living with Mr. Green Jeans is that he suggested that we make a commitment not to fly. A single airline flight would so drastically reverse any progress we make to keep our carbon footprint low, that air travel is out of the question and off the agenda.

I understand it, but oh, is it difficult sometimes. I do still find myself yearning for a mini break in the sun or daydreaming of a luxurious holiday somewhere tropical with white sand and turqoise sea. But I know it is not to be.

I've built my career around advocating eco issues, and I feel it's vital that everyone do their part to protect the planet. I guess reversing years of non-eco conditioning from childhood has just taken me longer than others. Maybe that's one of the reasons I was led to meet and marry Matthew.

Rachel Halliwell wrote in the daily mail a couple of weeks ago that her husband is an "eco bore," which is what got me thinking about the green men I know. I wouldn't call Matthew an eco bore. I say he's a sort of eco guardian, and really, he's my eco conscience. He can rattle off facts and figures about the environmental impact of things, which in actual fact is a big help to me at home and at work. It helps me, and it is good for the children to grow up aware of the impact that we have on the planet.

His commitment to green living is monumental, highly ethical, admirable, and sometimes challenging... and I love him for it.

What's the story in your house? Who wears the green trousers? Would love to know.