The old joke goes that if you remember the 60s, you weren't really there.
Glenn Johnson, owner of the Exeter-based AutoBeGreen, a company specializing in unique green automotive and small engine products, remembers them well so well, in fact, that they continue to inspire his life, his family and his business even today.
Growing up in Wayland, Massachusetts, Johnson recalls vividly the examples of conservation and frugality imparted by his grandfather the near total eschewing of restaurants; the veritable basement hardware store of bolts and washers; and the steadfast refusal to waste even the most seemingly trivial wares.
My grandfather prided himself on being the cook of the family he never wanted to eat out, says Johnson. That's just how he was raised, and those values just became part of our household.
By 17, Johnson made a habit of visiting the town dump. Eventually, Glenn simply started setting up his own back porch recycling station, complete with clearly marked bins for aluminum, glass, paper, and compost.
Then there was the great New England outdoors that common inspirational impetus of many a New England environmentalist, from Emerson and Thoreau to Bill McKibben and countless in between.
I did a lot of camping and hiking and fishing as a kid, says Johnson. I'm still in awe every time I climb Mount Washington, and I've always thought to myself what I can do to help make sure it's here for the next generation and the generation after that.
Johnson eventually settled in rural Connecticut, where he and his family presided over a seven-acre former dairy farm and two-century old farmhouse. Even then, the spirit of community and conservation were on full display. It was the place all the neighborhood kids wanted to hang out, Johnson says. And I remember our kids telling their friends not to throw away or waste things.
After spending the better part of 30 years working in the automotive parts business, Johnson decided in 2008 to combine his passion for the environment with his deep automotive expertise. AutoBeGreen opened in March 2011. From lifetime air filters that never have to be thrown away, to biodegradable motor oils (in biodegradable bottles) and cleaners and eco-meters, AutoBeGreen's stock is proof that any business can take steps towards becoming more eco-friendly.
No matter how green you are whether you're composting or recycling or whatever everyone drives a car, says Johnson. So what we're trying to get people to realize is you can make these small changes, be a little greener, and it won't cost you any more than the stuff you're already buying.
Johnson acknowledges that convincing hardcore greenies and reluctant converts alike that his products are both better for the environment and just as effective as the big brands hasn't been without its challenges.
It can get frustrating, says Johnson. But that's why we're lucky to be located where we are, in an area that tends to be more receptive to these ideas.
What's been less of a challenge is the business-to-business side, where AutoBeGreen has staked out unique turf by partnering with high-visibility companies and institutions including L.L. Bean, Shawnee Peak, Reverb, Bowdoin College, Andover Academy, Smith College, Amherst College, Bell & Flynn, and dozens of others.
Last month, AutoBegreen joined Green Alliance, a Portsmouth organization that represents over 100 local, green-oriented businesses, becoming the first of its kind to do so. Today, Johnson and his family wife, Weezie; son, Kent, and daughters Heidi and Honey are focusing their efforts on getting more drivers to make the green switch.
All of the green alternatives we offer are practical ones, where even if you're driving a Chevy Suburban and have five kids, there are still practical and easy ways to do your part, says Johnson. And it's also affordable, which I think will be the deciding factor for people.
For more information on AutoBeGreen, visit www.autobegreen.com. Learn more about Green Alliance at www.greenalliance.biz.