I was raised in a middle class home by two loving parents. I was taught to turn out the lights when I left a room and to close the refrigerator door if I wasn't actively getting something out or putting something up. I was taught to only put on my plate what I wanted to eat - to not just throw out food. More specifically, to not waste food. Or electricity. Or anything else for that matter. Conserve was the name of the game. Save.

The message was "Use what's needed. Use ONLY what's needed. No...