Green in the Face

VOTE FOR JUSTIN!

2009-03-05T10:02:00.004-05:00

Please take a moment and vote for Justin Pergolini in the Zinch.com March Madness scholarship competition. Of all the people I know who deserve to go to college he takes the cake.

Here's his permalink: http://www.zinch.com/voting/Regionals2.aspx?GroupId=134#Justin-Pergolini

Pass this along to your friends and vote from multiple email accounts if you have them!

ZapRoot - Top 5 Green Dreams for the Obama Administration

2008-11-06T10:55:00.002-05:00

“Yes, we can change.” Obama wins the presidential election and here are our top 5 green dreams for 2009. Zero Pollutions Motors create the car of the future, and it runs on air. And, check out the latest in Green Gadgets.

Obama Victory Speech -- Electile Dysfunction

2008-11-05T12:02:00.006-05:00

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled — Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of red states and blue states; we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Sen. McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Gov. Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice-president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager, David Plouffe; my chief strategist, David Axelrod; and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics — you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to — it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington — it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election, and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek — it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. In this country, we rise or fall as one nation — as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House — a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends... Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." And, to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world — our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight, we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America — that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons — because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America — the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.

When there was despair in the Dust Bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes, we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves: If our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time — to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Image via HotNewsTurkey (seriously, best picture I could find)

Speech transcribed by National Public Radio here. McCain concession speech also available.

We Hope She/He Said Yes [Just Bc]

2008-10-30T14:31:00.007-04:00

Your fix of all things sappy for the day, and because I was in the spirit of Halloween.

Make Your House A Green Stop For Trick-Or-Treaters [Holiday Cheer]

2008-10-30T11:12:00.012-04:00

No one wants to be the healthy house on Halloween, but what if you could trick your treaters into thinking they're shoveling those high-fructose sugary snacks into their pillowcases, when they are really getting a fix of awesome organic candy made with real fruit extracts?!?!?

OK, so maybe it's not the most exciting news you have heard all day, but it's pretty essential on the ghoulish day of the year. I don't want to be the dentist's house handing out toothbrushes or the old woman's house handing out fruit, but I do want to offer alternatives to the incredibly processed Snickers, Milky Ways, Babe Ruth's, etc. Here's this years best selection of Halloween candy gone green! (Muahahaha)

First check out Yummy Earth. They are a lollipop company with 14 different organic and all natural flavors. Be sure to check out pomegranate pucker and mango tango.

Organic Candy Company has sour fruit hard candy in cherry, lemon, pineapple and orange. No one will ever know...

Switching it up a bit, Let's Do Organic! Classic has jelly and super sour vegan gummy bears. It's basically fruit. Also scope out Kettle Valley's Organic Fruit Snacks in strawberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, peach and berry blend.

For your chocolate fix, (my favorite): Endangered Species Chocolate Company's Belgian-chocolate Bug Bites are a real winner. Andddd... they come with educational trading cards. Every trick-or-treaters dream.

Betty Lou's Inc. makes organic Almond Patties, chocolate North Shore Patties and peanut butter Golden Smackers. Something about "peanut butter smackers" sounds so delicious.

And as long as they aren't opened, ain't nothin' wrong with a big awesome cookie for the road: Dancing Deer Baking Co.'s trans-fat-free Chocolate Chip, Triple Chocolate and Lemon Daisy shortbread cookies come in individually wrapped with two cookies in each pack.

Tomorrow is the day! I know you are all putting these purchases off until the last minute. And don't forget to save a little to the side for yourself ; )

Image via BBC News.

TreeHugger loves the GOP? [Thumbs Down]

2008-10-27T12:30:00.009-04:00

After a fellow Green in the Face writer forwarded me an article on TreeHugger about a Buddhist temple built out of beer bottles, I was compelled to forward this to my Buddhist father. This went according to plan, until I saw something I never in my life expected to see. Maybe I don't read TreeHugger enough to know where they stand on the presidential election, I thought I could make an educated assumption, but perhaps I was wrong. Below you will find the screen shots of the GOP ads running on TreeHugger right now!

Not only are they ads from the Republican National Committee, but they are the ads that without a doubt piss me off the most!

I'll give TH the benefit of the doubt that these ads are syndicated and they probably don't realize they are running, but they should! Green in the Face has been victim to unwanted ads as well. For example, the time when Fox News had a leaderboard ad on our lovely page. But, if Green in the Face were owned by Discovery Communications (as TH is), would we even needs ads? If we did, wouldn't we have enough control over the situation to actively pick which products, services, or POLITICAL PARTIES run on our site? You're damn right we would!

Here's the entire clip that you may be subject to while on TH:

Update 3:19pm - Forgot to mention that we did write to TH to bring this to their attention. We encourage others to do the same. Thanks gardenparty for the support!

Greenland, Corn Syrup, and the Man [ZapRoot]

2008-10-22T13:53:00.003-04:00

Cars/Cars on tracks in Ithaca/Ithaca College Sustainability Day [Links]

2008-10-21T21:19:00.010-04:00

It all comes full circle you see?

The folks at YahooGreen take a look at the leaked pictures of the 2010 Toyota Prius. I estimate everyone on the waiting list for the present day Prius will get their cars by around 2010.

My lovely mother (I shall call her madre because she's Mexican) sent this to me from the Huffington Post: Ithaca destined to be the first American Podcar city. According to the president of ConnectIthaca, producers of the Podcars, it's like an elevator that moves horizontally. Makes me think of Willy Wonka, and coincidentally, Ithaca is probably the only place where you'd be likely to run into such a character.

And finally, Ithaca College Sustainability Day is fast approaching. Oct. 22 Ithacans have the opportunity to take "Permaculture 101" or listen to the sweet sounds of a band named 5 Cents Sharp.

Image from Flickr user bandon1

Give the Gift of Life in Memory of Those Without It! [Business]

2008-10-20T15:49:00.015-04:00

We've all been there. There's no way to make that all too familiar yet awkward situation any better... UNTIL NOW! I present to you TreesInstead Memory Trees! Your go-to for memorial trees, sympathy, funeral, condolence, and bereavement gifts! TreesInstead gives you their word that "No sympathy or funeral gift is as uplifting & thoughtful"

This is for real people. If you know someone is about to "check out" or you have a pet that's "going to the ranch" it's something to think about. They've got 9 models to choose from ranging from the most popular Half an Acre in Memory for $60 to the more economical Pet Memorial for $25. They can plant your tree in any U.S. state, Israel or The Amazon. Sound good, no?

And if you get yourself into a real sticky situation, where you think there's absolutely nothing you can do to help, there's the always the much appreciated Miscarriage Gift. Give life to those who weren't able to.

But seriously, while on the surface this may seem like an oddball way to show your sympathy, it makes a lot more sense than rows and rows of big heavy rocks or cards that will get thrown in the trash. I, personally, would most likely only go the Pet Memorial route but still, a nice way to chipper up the kids if you actually tell them what "going to the ranch" means.

Image via Memory-Trees.com

Interior Design and the Gays [Boob Tube]

2008-10-18T10:08:00.014-04:00

Last week's episode of Top Design entitled Eco-Offices was a nice breath of stale air in my bedroom. Can't deny though, I won't turn down a Friday afternoon marathon.

Cue up to 1:10 to get a glance of one of the judges referring to Wisit's design logic as greenwashing, I, personally, would just call it lazy.

I admire Wisit for promoting minimalism as a method of green, but, I have to agree...his office sucked. Nathan should have won, and his curtain rod was genius (and green).

You know what's greenwashing? Using green design as a challenge subject on a interior design show! You want to be green in the office? Telecommute! I just read an interesting article in Wired about the many benefits of telecommuting.

As a member of the DC working world for the remainder of the semester, do you know how much time I waste and observe my coworkers wasting in the office? Do you know much energy we use on AC and heat in my office? Metro and parking costs not to mention gas use and emissions? In my dream of being a self-employed business owner in the future, my first move to go green and cut costs: eliminate the central office, hire trustworthy and self motivated employees (naive, I know), and let the work begin.

Last winter break I interned for a PR firm that had members all throughout the country. The graphic designer in Florida, the owner in New Jersey, the writer in California. One of my assignments was to get quotes from VoIP services and conference call services because their Verizon contract was too expensive. I bet they are counting their lucky stars right now to have saved so much money by leaving Verizon.

On a completely unrelated note other than that most of the men (and women, no basis for judgment yet) on Top Design would be severely affected by this, Californians, I ask you not to be douche bags and please vote no on Prop 8. Thanks.

Confclit of My Own Interests [Business]

2008-10-17T11:08:00.007-04:00

I am confused as NYC transit officials announce that they will soon be selling advertising space on the interior tunnels. So...basically soon enough (if it hasn't happened already) the world will look like it does in I,Robot or Bicentennial Man, where EVERY SINGLE FREE SPACE LEFT ON THIS EARTH WILL BE COVERED IN SHIT.

I am so conflicted over this. Whenever my friends get pissed about ads while we're watching things on the internet or Fly-in ads, I explain that these ads keep the things free. It's a weird balance, what I would call a circle of life on the web. But when I hear about the new innovative places we're putting ads, it just makes me feel more and more like a target and I'm studying to be the shooter!

Here's my beef. If the MTA and other transit authorities agree to sell more and more ad space in the deep dark intestines of their transit system, can we make fares cheaper?! Did you know the DC Metro costs $1.35 for one way during OFF-PEAK hours?

This is more up my alley when it comes to tunnel advertising. But we'll see. Commenters said they've been doing this on PATH tunnel from Jersey to NYC for years so...

Images via Canadian Marketing Association and Above All Advertising

F-R-E-E That Spells Free [Internets]

2008-10-17T10:44:00.007-04:00

Below you'll find one of the newest marketing campaigns in the form of a viral video. A contest to see who can do the best cover of the FreeCreditReport.com song. We all know it, it get's stuck in all our heads from time to time. We all wish we were eating fish and chips when we see the commercial.

It's funny, it's free, the product is free, the reward is $15,000. Without being good at math it seems like a win-win. And, in accordance with the recent trend of drawing attention to the general suckiness of the American economy, it references the $15,000 prize as YOUR personal bailout.

My favorites are the girls who are very obviously either working at or just visiting a tanning salon. Clearly they are budgeting very well.

YourCause.com: Blog Action Day Part 2 [Happenings]

2008-10-15T15:04:00.009-04:00

This summer I interned for a company called Fanscape. Great place, great people, loved working there, yada yada. One of the first campaigns I worked on as a Social Media intern was for YourCause.com. It's basically a social network for people who have a specific charity they want to attract donors to. It makes donating really simple and can get money to the right places without a bunch of middlemen when going from point A to B.

So in honor of Blog Action Day I thought I'd at least throw this out there. It's not necessarily only for charities having to do with poverty, but many of them do tackle that subject.

YourCause.com has really good partnerships but also, in my opinion, represents one of the groundbreaking ways to use social media for a variety of causes. Yes there is advertising on the site, and yes they use celebrities to garner a little interest but what's wrong with that? The social networking platform is king right now so rather than making a boring website with a "Donate Here" button, a community atmosphere is modern and relevant.

So, if you're in the mood to donate some spare change here's the rundown. While there's no specific "poverty" cause there is:

Housing

Employmet

Health

Human Services

and a bunch of others.

And because Green in the Faces is Green, theres also an environment section.

Images via YourCause.com

Blog Action Day: Day2Day with Poverty [Happenings]

2008-10-15T11:54:00.008-04:00

I think I messed up my registration for Blog Action Day so if no one ever sees this or if I'm not signed up right... I tried, seriously.

Anywho, my take on this year's topic Poverty is un-researched and probably naive, but I'll talk about it the only way I know how: based on my day to day interactions.

As a semester long resident in our Nation's Capital, Washington DC, I've had to interact with many more people living below the poverty line than ever before (only to be challenged by LA). It would make sense that the central location for all things American would have streets full of hungry, poor, uncared for individuals. It's a nice way to welcome visitors to this great nation. But what do we do?

I'm not below the poverty line, most people with an internet connection and computer who can blog regularly aren't. But I salute those participating in Blog Action Day, and I would encourage people to check out the list of participating sites and what they are saying because I'm sure it would put to shame my last second thoughts on this issue.

I'm just a student bracing to enter the working world during a global recession but here are a few things I do occasionally to try and help the people I see on the street everyday to and from my internship:

Keeping some food on me at all times. Even if it's just some fruit leather or granola bar that I've packed to eat for breakfast, I know I'll be able to find another one so I'll usually hand it off.
If what they're selling is of interest I'll usually buy it. Why not? I got most of my Obama buttons that way.
I'll try and keep some loose change in my pockets. I know a lot of times people would want to give a little money here and there, but when you're running to catch a train or late to work going through your bag and finding $$ can be annoying, but not as annoying as being impoverished. This an easy "on-the-go" method
Sometimes, I ask for the day-olds. On a recent trip to San Francisco, the Starbucks I was in was replenishing their coffee cake and bagel supply and they were more than willing to give me the old ones to do what I wished with them.
I always take my leftovers, realizing that I probably won't end up eating it at home so I'll try to give it away while it's fresh. This one is probably my favorite. This is an especially nice idea if you're on vacation. Most times while traveling people won't take leftovers because they don't have a fridge to keep it in, but fear not! There are always tummies to fill on your walk home.

Do these methods help? I don't know, I probably never will. Do I hope to take a more proactive and educated approach to helping with poverty in the future? Absolutely! If nothing else I would hope Blog Action Day can cause readers to think about this topic because for the most part it goes unnoticed and overlooked. It's definitely caused me to think about this a little more, and especially think about the next step: figuring out ways to help those in need that has been shown to be beneficial, not just things I assume will help. But, until then, I believed in a something is better than nothing approach.

When I grow up I want to be an...[Green in the Face]

2008-10-07T10:57:00.009-04:00

X-Ray technician!!! Well that's not true. I've never really thought about what it takes to be an X-Ray technician or even the schooling involved. I mean this with all honesty. I've never broken a bone so I've only ever interacted with these kind people during pneumonia scares, and episodes of hypochondria.

But when I get love I return the love SO I would like to thank X-RayTechnicianSchools.org for adding me to their list The Top 100 Environmentalist Blogs.

Congratulations to Green in the Face for coming in at an impressive #91 out of 100!!!

But seriously, anyone not sure what their future holds for them in this uncertain world, consider this career. Let's be honest, being a banker or stock broker hasn't turned out too well. But I dare say people will continue to break bones well into the future and you'll always have a job in this field!

Image via Saskatoon Medical Imaging/Saskatoon Women's Imaging

Leave it to NBC to beat YouTube by putting things up themselves! [Electile Dysfunction]

2008-10-05T10:49:00.005-04:00

Missed this last night even though I FINALLY got my television to work in my apartment. But thankfully here it is.

I thought it was beyond accurate. Who didn't fall in love with Joe Biden by the end? My only complaint is that they left out my most favoritest part of the real vp debate: Senator O'Biden.

Chutes and Ladders [Internets]

2008-08-04T12:27:00.004-04:00

I received an email today that one of my posts had been added to a Digg-like site centered around sustainability called Sustain NewsLadder. I'm not sure exactly the angle of this site considering it has sister sites such as a John McCain themed Digg-like site as well as various Support Our Troops sites. I'd be all for neutrality but I don't see an Obama themed site quit yet. But anywho, check it out, let me know what you think.

Image via Sustain NewsLadder

Socialize [Internets]

2008-06-26T23:06:00.007-04:00

I've been so busy, there's probably no one even reading this anymore... but if you are I wanted to show some love to a new social network devoted to fellow greenies that focuses on reducing one's carbon footprint. It's called Edenbee and I suggest checking it out. You can see my profile here.

Anyway things are good here in sunny Los Angeles. Lots of things to see such as the the first ever solar powered tanning salon right on Cahuenga. It may seem redundant to use the sun to produce fake sun, but I guess it could be worse. The only thing that makes it even better is the fact that it is owned by noneother than Nick Spano aka Donnie Stevens from Disney's Even Stevens. Beat that!

T-Shirts a Panda Would Eat [Spending Cash]

2008-05-05T10:34:00.009-04:00

Looking for t-shirts made from bamboo, hemp, or organic cotton? Check out Onno. Clicky below to check out their stuff. In preparation for my summer in LA I may invest in some of these breezy clothing items.

bamboo, hemp & organic clothing

Serj Tankian in Three DEE!! [Silly Shit]

2008-04-09T12:20:00.006-04:00

It would be a seems-t0-be-crazy musician, albeit with good intention, that would come with an idea like this. I think we might have to put this off until we can test fabric types before buying clothes online. Less touring = less gas = good. But doesn't this defeat the point of a concert?

Rocker eyes 'holographic touring' to help Earth

Image via 3PointID.

What's the opposite of green? [Thumbs Down]

2008-04-09T11:35:00.004-04:00

Red right? Red bike shorts maybe. I'm taking this from Grist via Carbon Conscious Consumer. Self explanatory as to why this is the opposite of green marketing.

Really Howard? Treehuggers already hate on Starbucks as it is... [Thumbs Down]

2008-04-08T22:56:00.006-04:00

I was browsing through Baristanet again today. One of today's posts linked to a CBS news article about a visit by Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, to The Early Show this morning. I'm not going to get into Starbucks and big corporations and why they are good or bad. I just wanted to leave you with the following quote that makes me want to actually throw a tantrum. This was said in the context of Schultz wanting Starbucks to serve the best coffee possible and not allowing baristas to serve coffee that is more than 30 minutes old.

"We'll be pouring out more coffee than most people serve"

Image via CBC.ca

Michigan, Ur Dooin it Rite [Props]

2008-04-06T10:16:00.015-04:00

Still working on making the site more aesthetically pleasing.

In the meantime I just listened to this really great piece from NPR about schools in rural Michigan that are using wind power and creating their own biodiesel. This helps them cut costs, but also, because school students are actually helping in the green process, it is preparing youngster to work all those green jobs we are expected to have in the future.

This brings up two interesting points facing many greening organizations. For instance, Ithaca College is building/has built LEED certified buildings and there is tons of literature about how these buildings are green, but on the larger scale of where IC gets power from, I know little. It could be there, I have to look. But when it comes to choosing a school, will people begin to question those things? This could also impact financial concerns. I would imagine there is a positive correlation between oil prices and tuition.

Point two, offering green job training. Should students value the opportunity to learn green job skills? The boy at the end of the NPR piece, who speaks with an awesome Midwest accent, talks about his great advantage of knowing about green skills. Maybe vocational schools should begin thinking about the importance of this trade.

These are such big topics to tackle. I'm not entirely sure where to begin. I do know that this school in Michigan has a lot to teach and brag about.

Listen to the NPR piece here.

Image via Aquila Energy Sources.

Rob'n'Big [Boob Tube]

2008-04-04T11:09:00.008-04:00

I never watch MTV except when Tila Tequila (season 2 comes back April 22!!!) was on and that was an entire house event. I do however enjoy catching the occasional Rob and Big episode, my personal favorite was the time they broke nearly 30 Guinness World Records. Anyway, I just read on Carbon Conscious Consumer that a recent episode included a conversion of Big's Pinto into an automobile that can run on vegetable oil. I think it is the third clip in. Enjoy.

C3 Post here.

GraphJam [Just Bc]

2008-04-01T13:23:00.006-04:00

Since I actually have a few readers (thank you!) I do like to spread the word about things going on unrelated to green marketing.

GraphJam may be old news to some, but if not you should really check it out. I'm in the planning stages of my first submission.

see more funny graphs

So how did you spend your sunday night? [Props]

2008-04-01T09:49:00.012-04:00

I'm interested to hear how anyone out there spent their earth hour. I spent it in the dark. . . doing a lot of nothing.

I did want to show a little bit of what Google did for the entire day of Earth Hour. Because our toolbars are so often equipped with a quick Google search, fewer people visit the traditional site these days. Fear not, I have some lovely screen shots.

I'm impressed with Google about 99.9999% of the time. I think they are super innovative, have really changed the business model for an internet company, and are very socially conscious. Not to mention, they have a sense of humor! Check out their three April Fool's jokes Virgle, Custom Time, and Wake Up Kit.

I think they used their clout to help a great cause and would imagine brought it to the attention of millions of people who had no idea Earth Hour even existed. I didn't go to Google hoping they had done something to celebrate Earth Hour but I was so shocked that the page was black I had to find out why. I'm hoping others did the same.

This is an example of a type of green marketing and synergy I believe will help companies stay afloat as we enter uncertain times. Based on my short time here on the planet, it appears that most of the troubles we have gotten in can be traced back to selfishness and a lack of foresight. This is exemplified in the statement on Seventh Generation products, another company that thinks of the greater good:

The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment and making the world a safer place for this and the next seven generations.

If we could view others as peers rather than competition it could go a long way. End of rant.

A regional blog from my hometown of Montclair, NJ, Baristanet, also recognized Earth Hour here. Check it out because it has a link to images from Sydney's Earth Hour which was one of the first to occur on the planet because of the time difference.

I've been kind of behind on my internet-ing due to school work but as soon as I read anything about the energy usage during Earth Hour I'll be sure to post it. Happy April Fool's Day. Play some good pranks, I'm still planning mine. I am, however, getting a tattoo today so I hope not everyone is in a joking mood.

Iger-lemur [Silly Shit]

2008-03-26T10:45:00.007-04:00

Appreciate wildlife. Click on the pic to make your own. I don't really look like this minus the feet and tail. My forehead isn't quite so big and my eyes aren't quite so small, but close enough.

Stuffed to the Gills [Business]

2008-03-24T17:23:00.005-04:00

Stuff is an interesting word. It doesn't really mean anything yet it can mean anything. But none the less. . .

Ever since I started GintheF I've been getting all sorts of "stuff" in my email about products and events and whatnot that people want to promote. At first I found it irritating. I'm trying hard enough to promote my own blog let alone other people's "stuff". But! I have changed my thinking and as a major in Ad/PR biznass, I feel that its only fair for everyone to get a little air time.

So from now on I'll post whatever "stuff" I get and do with it what you will. It's not like I get an inordinate amount anyway so don't fret, there won't be much clutter.

So for today we have an Earth Day sale from LetsGoGreen.biz. Buy some eco-friendly goods from them and tell me how they are.

6 Days and Counting [Happenings]

2008-03-23T17:36:00.014-04:00

Earth Hour is fast approaching. I just registered Green in the Face and myself as an individual. As part of Earth Hour I vow to turn off all my lights from 8pm to 9pm on Saturday March 29th.

Nearly 200,000 individuals and 11,000 businesses have promised to do the same. Last year they did this in Sydney and saw incredible results. Various reports on the event said that a 10 percent reduction in energy usage occurred for that hour in Sydney last year.

Now the movement is global so sign up! You can register as just your self, a company, an organization, and a school. It's really simple and only an hour. You could just take a nap and never know the difference. Sign up here!

Music to my ears [Business]

2008-03-23T13:24:00.006-04:00

I know I write about Greenpeace campaigns morning noon and night. It's just that recently they have been doing a lot in the arena of green marketing through their campaigns. This time by partnering with major guitar producers such as Gibson and Fender in the Music Wood campaign.

High quality guitars and instruments are often the fruit of clear cutting trees that take hundreds of years to grow and provide unparalleled amounts of oxygen to the world. On the other hand these trees also provide the best possibility for top notch tones from the instrument.

According to yesterday's Reuters article about the new campaign, musicians are more likely to be progressive and sympathetic towards environmental causes, except when it could impact the quality of their instrument.

This from Reuters:

"Greenpeace started Music Wood after it traced clear-cutting of Alaskan spruce to a variety of industries, particularly home construction in Japan. "Instrument-making is a very small percentage of the problem,' Greenpeace forest campaign director Scott Paul says. But the companies' leadership on the issue 'can have really significant implications on the ground,' since Music Wood supporters "are arguably the highest-end and highest-profile consumers of any (tree) species coming from this forest.'"

This is the kind of voluntary but monumental leadership decision that other companies *cough cough Nintendo* could learn from. Wood used for guitars only contributes to this problem by a fraction but taking action helps the environment and is a good business move.

The campaign also includes producers such as Yamaha, Taylor, and C.F. Martin & Co.

Check out the full article from Reuters here.

Images via absolutezero° and Causley Concepts.

Hiatus [Silly Shit]

2008-03-22T14:16:00.004-04:00

I did want to acknowledge the break in posting. It was spring break and as a college junior with two part time jobs taking five classes I needed a week off. Sorry.

Anywho. . . to try and redeem myself I have a few environmental jokes for you all. These come from a comedy set that was performed this past Wednesday at the ICES (Ithaca College Environmental Society) Open Mic night. The comedian's name is Kevin Harrington, if you like his jokes perhaps try and stalk him on Facebook to let him know.

I want to do my part to save the environment, so tonight, my jokes will be made of 100% recycled material.

I did have some solar power jokes, but I think it's a little too dark out...

I think the reason why we have these environmental problems is because we don't think about the repercussions that our actions will have. Basically, we lack foresight. Men especially lack foresight, but that's because the doctor snips it off when we're born.

My friends and I had paid particular attention to the fact that although is was an Open Mic, it was really nice when performers acknowledged the cause and who was actually putting on the event. So thanks again Kevin.

Don't be afraid to look at the scale [Business]

2008-03-19T18:23:00.014-04:00

. . . unless you're Nintendo. Yesterday, Greenpeace released the latest version of the Guide to Greener Electronics. Samsung and Toshiba tied for first place with a score of 7.7/10, while Nintendo dominated last place with a pathetic 0.3/10, yes less than a whole point. As you may recall, Nintendo did not fare too well when GintheF had reported on Greenpeace's Clash of the Consoles. Strike two.

What makes Samsung and Toshiba greener than the rest? Grading criteria is based on many many factors but some of the biggies include PVC and BFR phaseouts, product takeback, chemical management, and information given to customers.

What I didn't realize right away is that Greenpeace is claiming that despite a wide range of scores, none of these electronics companies are truely green yet. According to the scale, they are at best a vomit yellow, but I guess that's better than red.

Nintendo seems to be the chosen Greenpeace target as of now. Apple had once been the bullseye but after the Green My Apple campaign, Steve Jobs made a policy change and the company gained respect and the environment recieved a little less abuse. So from a business and marketing perspective, what is the toll of being under fire from Greenpeace? Apple could only go up from where they had previously stood and they did by making informed decisions and valuing what Greenpeace had to say as well as Apple customers.

To make a gross generalization, do Nintendo customers value the environment as much as Apple customers? Probably not, sorry but it's kind of true. If they did there should have been more of reaction after the Clash of the Consoles commenced. But if Nintendo wanted to make a decision to express corporate responsibility now would be the time.

I'm upset because I LOVE my Wii. It is fun and more active than other gaming systems but why does Nintendo have to be so irresponsible? A lot of sources are starting to catch on to this especially since there has been little to no improvement since Clash of the Consoles. Google "nintendo" and one of the first 10 things to come has to do with the recent rating in the Guide to Greener Electronics. So. . . in this case all press is not good press. I think its time for the Smash Bros to do some damage control.

Here is the actual Guide to Greener Electronics PDF and you can get to the press release here.

Images via Greenpeace and ABC News.

For when your mom does your laundry [Business]

2008-03-07T10:25:00.015-05:00

For the many of us entering the week of spring break, congratulations on making it through the first half of the semester. One of the great perks about going home (if you're not going to Cancun only to be seen later on MTV flashing the camera) is having your mom do your laundry. For a week you can get that authentic smell and fold that you can't quite accomplish since you've been on your own at college.

As you can imagine traditional laundry detergents are not so eco-friendly no matter how fresh and clean they make you feel. Grist has created a play by play of green detergents including products from Seventh Generation, Planet, and Biokleen. These cleaners were put to the test so check out the results.

While this is very interesting and good to know, when I was looking at this report from Grist I noticed a link to Greener Choices - Products for a Better Planet. I was intrigued so I clicked it, and lo and behold a green division of Consumer Reports! As with the regular division, categories include appliances, electronics, cars, food & beverage, and home and garden. Here is a little except from the GreenerChoices mission statement:

"GreenerChoices.org, launched on Earth Day 2005 by Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, is a Web-based initiative to inform, engage, and empower consumers about environmentally-friendly products and practices. GreenerChoices.org offers an accessible, reliable, and practical source of information on buying 'greener' products that have minimal environmental impact and meet personal needs."

So take that greenwashers! Are you nervous? This is what a typical green rating report looks like on GreenerChoices. This one is specifically for computers, just a little snapshot, the list is a lot longer.

I know that consumers reference Consumer Reports for the dependability and trust, and this green division could have a big impact on companies marketing green. As I said in a previous post, just saying a product is green isn't doing it anymore (thankfully) so reports with more depth through an established firm such as Consumer Reports are productive and helpful.

If you happen to have a product that you have experienced that you don't think is properly represented on GreenerChoices visit the website and voice it on the forums or commenting on the blogs. These days its all about sharing knowledge and collaborating so make sure to pitch in.

Images via PreGameLobby and GreenerChoices.

Life Lessons in Marketing? [Business]

2008-03-05T13:20:00.004-05:00

I just read this short piece about a family aiming to keep the kids untainted by marketing. It comes from Get Rich Slowly but was originally published in Polishing Stone, an eco-friendly magazine.

This isn't directly involved with green marketing but I think it shows the way in which people feel the need to be play defense when it comes to marketing. I never really thought about it but the author's words of, "marketers were subtly invading my home and impressing their values on my captivated and trusting children", struck a chord.

And luckily today is Wednesday. Stay strong IC students, only 2.5 more days until spring break.

Image via Comics Worth Reading.

Cows [Silly Shit]

2008-03-02T14:30:00.003-05:00

Paper or Plastic? [Thumbs Down]

2008-03-01T16:30:00.004-05:00

Sometimes when I go to the store and forget to bring my own bags, I just put my stuff back in my cart, bring it to my car, and bring the cart back. Yes, it's a hassle, but look at the alternative.

The small private firm still exists! [Business]

2008-02-29T19:35:00.012-05:00

I've been really in to reading Blogger's Blogs of Note and yesterday's I believe was Fake Plastic Fish, a blog devoted entirely to a woman's quest to reduce her plastic waste. I haven't read too much of it yet but it is a great concept and a nice read.

Anyway, one of today's posts discusses a business owned by a friend of the blogger named Good Green Graces. Founded and run by Janice Sitton, GGG is basically a consulting firm that helps other companies make operation more sustainable.
Here is a little list from GGG about some of the ways it can help green a business:

Sustainability & Waste Diversion Program Services
Evaluate business needs, current set up and services
Create reuse, recycling and composting programs
Coordinate program implementation
Provide training for employees, management and vendors to ensure program success
Design signage to increase program awareness
Manage program on ongoing basis
Calculate and procure carbon offsets

I'm not sure what kind of success GGG has had in the past, but I wish them well. If any businesses large or small are stumped about how to go green check it out. There are other firms that do this too, so at least check those out.

Here's the link to the post from Fake Plastic Fish.

Images via Good Green Graces.

However, if you do decide to green your business, wind turbines are awesome and productive . . . just not this one.

David Ogilvy on Billboards [Business]

2008-02-29T10:22:00.006-05:00

I just read this straight from TreeHugger. It's a quote from David Ogilvy, founder of Ogilvy and Mather. It says a lot when words like these came from a mogul in the Ad/PR world and this was way before green was the new black.

"I have a passion for landscape, and I have never seen one improved by a billboard. Where every prospect pleases, man is at his vilest when he erects a billboard. When I retire from Madison Avenue, I am going to start a secret society of masked vigilantes who will travel around the world on silent motor bikes, chopping down posters at the dark of the moon. How many juries will convict us when we are caught in these acts of beneficent citizenship?"

See the original here.

Image via about.com

Cleantech vs TimeWarner [LogoLove]

2008-02-28T15:17:00.005-05:00

On a somewhat related note, but more of just a rant, does anyone else agree that Cleantech's logo looks bizarrely similar to TimeWarner Cable's?

I used to really hate Wal-Mart. . . [Props]

2008-02-27T14:47:00.019-05:00

and for the most part I still do. BUT! I just read an article from the Environment section of the Los Angeles Times, and it sounds as though Wal-Mart is making a nice trip down the green aisle.

By teaming up with Cleantech Group, a small firm from Michigan, Wal-Mart is accepting ideas from thousands of inventors about how to green-up the company in order to save money, the planet, and give back to the community.

Here is one of the many innovative changes being suggested to Wal-Mart:

the reuse of vegetable fats from the retail giant's deli fryer
more efficient batteries for the company's thousands of forklifts
a system for donating bread and other food that is a day or two away from expiration, but still edible, to homeless shelters

Green deeds and good deeds all coming from a partnership between Wal-Mart and Cleantech. How Beautiful. According to the article, Wal-Mart has made good progress this area before by investing in solar panels and technologies to make its trucks more efficient.

Now when I brought this up to my fellow progressive friends they hadn't heard of this new endeavor or of the past progress. Neither had I. I read somewhere that the whole "we are green" thing isn't working like it used to. At this point there needs to be a little more depth. How are you going green? What element of this monstrous environmental problem are you helping with your greening, etc.

So Wal-Mart, I pose these questions to you. And if you have good answers I would image it would drive sales, so let people know about it. WOM and blogs are good, I mean, I get most of my information from them, but I would bet that the majority of Wal-Mart shoppers aren't reading the Environment section of LAT. Even doing something lame like NBC did when they made the peacock green for a week might be a good start.

But I don't know. I'm not sure I can completely trust a corporation that makes more money per year than the country of Belgium. Maybe that's just me.

Check out the full article from LAT here.

Images via BBC News and Cleantech.

Our Australian Code of Conduct [Business]

2008-02-24T12:34:00.028-05:00

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued the Green marketing and Trade Practices Act on February 8, 2008. The summary of the act available on the ACCC Web site is as follows:

"This guide is to educate businesses about their obligations regarding environmental claims under the Trade Practices Act 1974. It aims to assist manufacturers, suppliers, advertisers and others to assess the strength of any environmental claims they make and to improve the accuracy and usefulness to consumers of their labeling, packaging and advertising."

Because most of the selling points that green marketers aim to promote are complex and scientific in nature, this act will help simplify and operationalize green claims into basic terms that consumers can better understand.

ACCC acknowledges that green marketing is at an all time high, and in order to combat exaggerating to boost sales, they feel they must add a green clause to the marketing watchdog of Australia. I would hope that bodies such as the Federal Trade Commission of the U.S. or the Advertising Standards Authority of the UK would take similar measures soon.

Greenwashing will never completely die off, but at least for the time being it is still bringing attention to the green cause. However, in a few years, consumers will need to screen green promotions similar to the way we currently ignore diet pill and ab roller machine ads. At that point who will give the credibility? How will we create the difference between the green equivalent of the FDA approved Alli and informercialed Hydroxycut? We know how the Australians will be doing it, hopefully the U.S. can follow suit.

Here is the news release about the act from ACCC.

The specifics about the act is available here and you can download it from this site as well.

Images via Ads of the World and Nate Williams.

More on the Moon [Happenings]

2008-02-20T11:30:00.006-05:00

The last information I posted about the lunar eclipse going on tonight was kind of vague. This website is VERY detailed, not to pass judgment but they have a of time on their hands.

But anyway, the eclipse will start around 7:37 PM EST but the "Greatest Eclipse" will be at 10:26 PM EST. The show ends at 1:16 AM EST.

Green Thumbs Up to Staples [Props]

2008-02-19T13:13:00.019-05:00

Four times a week I report for work in one of Ithaca College's computer labs. We get hated on when things break, and we're expected to be tech-geniuses, but one thing we do know a lot about is paper. We try and save where we can by making all the computers default to double sided printing and putting up our policies about one final copy or multiple PowerPoint slides per page. But in the end it's no surprise that no one listens.

I have come to terms with the fact that every shift I've had to throw at least a ream of unclaimed print-outs into the recycling bin. Where is this rant going you may ask? Well here at IC we use Staples to provide our 20 lbs. boxes of paper and two weeks ago Staples discontinued doing business with Asian Pulp & Paper due to "environmental concerns." This comes after mountains evidence that APP has been doing environmental wrongs in Asia and disturbing the wildlife because of it. From Reuters:

"In 2004, international environmental group Greenpeace accused APP of illegal logging in remote Chinese forests. APP had also been previously accused of illegal logging in Indonesia, its main production center, but the company denied any wrong doing."

The type of paper we buy from Staples is the recycled blend, it comes in green wrapping, and is made from 30% recycled paper. Staples offers options for 50% and 100% recycled paper but of course, it costs nearly a dollar more per box. Regardless, as the largest office supply store in the U.S. I haven't seen much press about this burning of bridges between Staples and APP. My advice to them, play it up!

We've all seen the recent Green Works commercials from Clorox or similar ones. If a company isn't making something from post-consumer waste or produced with renewable, natural, eco-friendly, blah blah blah sources they are way behind in this game. But what Staples has right now that some other companies don't, is a real example of corporate responsibility. According to Reuters, APP supplied 5% of all Staples paper products. With 40,000 sheets of that paper behind me here in the lab, 2000 of it may have come from illegal logging and Staples wants nothing to do with it.

Although I don't have my own printer, and therefore rarely buy copy paper, I can say with confidence that when that day comes, I'll be heading to Staples to buy their 100% recycled copy paper, free of pulp from illegal logging in Asia. That was easy.

I couldn't help it.

The full article from Reuters is available here.

Images via Target Media and BBC News.

A Green Three-peat for NY [Props]

2008-02-19T10:27:00.008-05:00

Syracuse, Rochester, and "The City" (NYC) all made it on to PopSci's 50 Greenest Cities in America. Glad to see New York representing. And not to bash my homeland of New Jersey, but Elizabeth, NJ, also made the cut. I'm going to have to let out a little "double-you-tee-eff" on that one.

Check out the full list here. Portland reigns supreme.

Image via UNEP.

If you're bored on Wednesday [Happenings]

2008-02-18T19:56:00.008-05:00

This Wednesday from 7:01 to 7:51 pm E.S.T. there will be a lunar eclipse going on. Reserve your space on rooftops and in open fields ASAP. Well... probably not. Lunar eclipses don't get nearly the hype as solar ones, probably because there is no UV-rays-blinding-you risk factor, but none the less I thought it might perk up the ears of fellow earth lovers. The moon is predicted to be dark red during the eclipse.

Get the legit information about it here.

Image via StarrySkies.com

Global Warming to Cause Financial Meltdown [How Long Until the World Explodes?]

2008-02-17T09:23:00.004-05:00

The "Tokyo Declaration" was . . . declared this past Friday in Japan. Companies such as Sony, Nokia, Nike, HP and eight others vowed to improve their efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions.

One of the specific ways they hope to do this is to work with transportation companies that distribute the products and progress towards more efficient delivery methods. The 12 companies will be working on this initiative with The World Wildlife Fund.

The article from Reuters goes on to shed a little light as to why these companies are making these strides. I will preface this by saying that while there are bigger and more natural reasons to want to reduce the impact, this is still in the right direction.

"participants, unsurprisingly, were more preoccupied with the global financial meltdown than the meltdown of icebergs and glaciers."

This would be the inspiration to follow the suit of Al Gore convincing people collectively worth over $20 trillion to invest $10 billion over the next two years in emission-reducing technology. There is a lot to financially lose from the onset of global warming but companies investing in the right places and sacrificing in others have a great deal to gain as well.

The full article from Reuters is available here.

Images via The World Wildlife Fund and Cosmos Magazine.

This is Awesome! And it's Orange! [Spending Cash]

2008-02-16T21:31:00.013-05:00

Before I go in to details I want to show off this beautiful orange shoe (orange is my favorite color). Now considering I know nothing about basketball and my playing career never extended past being on the "B" team in middle school,this shoe is history in the making.

What is so special about this here shoe? It is the first performance shoe made entirely out of recycled material brought to us by Nike. From The Canadian Press:

"The shoe's top is constructed from leather and synthetic leather waste from the factory floor. The midsole uses scrap-ground foam from factory production, while the outer sole uses a type of environmentally-friendly rubber that reduces toxins."

Bravo Nike! This shoe also happens to be endorsed by MVP Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns . . . what a team. The other great barrier this shoe is crossing? Not driving up prices once the product goes green. The Nike Trash Talk is selling for a reasonable $100 and comes in a recycled cardboard box. The shoe will come in three colors, two Phoenix Suns themed, and will be available at The House of Hoops on April 22, 2008.

This all sounds too good to be true. If shoes that are used for performance can be made of 100% recycled material, imagine what they can do for shoes that are purely for fashion. We just hope it doesn't turn out that the production of the shoe makes it not worth it or some sort of news to rain on this parade. If this shoe takes off it is going to be a marketer's paradise and will open up an entire new demographic to the prospect of living a greener life on and off the court.

Check out articles on the shoe from Treehugger and The Canadian Press.

Images via Treehugger.com and Steve Nash City.

40 Days and 40 Nights of Carbon-Free Fun [Holiday Cheer]

2008-02-07T12:17:00.004-05:00

While Lent has always been a foreign and fascinating concept for my Jewish self, the Catholic Bishops over in the UK have some great ideas if you're still thinking of what to give up for the next 40 days. Give a listen to this spot from NPR and get inspired to give up carbon until Easter or beyond.

Wii Know How to Play Dirty [Business]

2008-02-07T11:24:00.005-05:00

Greenpeace has launched one of its latest battles, and this time the competition has guns, karts, and multiple lives. The Clash of the Consoles has begun and the folks at Greenpeace have dug up some shocking information about your favorite gaming devices.

The Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation 3, and Microsoft Xbox are the offenders of this recent campaign. This follows suit of the attacks on Apple for its non-green ways and Kleenex for its logging in the North American Boreal Forests.

Here's the very basic information from the GP website:

"The games consoles market is one of the fastest growing in consumer electronics with over 60 million sold and 14 percent growth last year. These consoles contain toxic chemicals and can contribute to the massive growth of electronic waste that's often dumped, causing widespread environmental pollution and health problems for unprotected workers."

I have to be honest that while buying greener computers, cars, home appliances and phones is discussed all the time, I never once thought beyond making sure to turn off my Wii at the end of a Guitar Hero fix.

Greenpeace gives the breakdown of what system uses the most energy, and the corporate position on toxic chemicals and recycling. On the site, concerned consumers can send letters to any of the three companies encouraging them to clean up its act. Because I can't trump my Guitar Hero addiction I've written letters to Sony and Nintendo and you should too. It's too late to get a greener version of my gaming consoles so I will make due with what I have.

But from a green marketing standpoint, these three companies have a lot to gain in the interim between holiday seasons. Because they have flown under the radar thus far, it is only up from here if they can make some changes. Hopefully if this coming election brings a President with more interest in climate change legislation (fingers crossed), gaming companies may legally have to reduce the use of toxic chemicals and engage in recycling programs.

So, big three, start while you're ahead. Greenpeace says that with proper research, an increase in selling price should not occur nor should long-term costs for the company, so why not? According to the Clash of the Consoles site, each company has already received over 1000 letters from consumers, and considering the campaign kicked off on January 29th, more are sure to come. We have about 10 months until another wave of nearly 3.6 million game consoles are sold for the holidays, so in the words of Mario, "Let's-a go!"

Get more detail on the Clash of the Consoles Greenpeace Campaign here.

Images via Clash of the Consoles and Smash Bros. DOJO!!.

How Much Energy Could a Bicycle Produce, if a Bicycle Could Produce Energy? [Props]

2008-02-05T13:44:00.005-05:00

The tongue twister of the enviro-conscious generation? Thankfully not, but for the 148.3 million of us who watched all or part of the Super Bowl (yes, the MOST watched Super Bowl and the second most watched television program in history), we caught a glimpse of a green marketing event for the ages, or at least I thought so.

If I remember correctly, at some point in the fourth quarter or in the post-game show, FOX Sports thanked the participants of the Amp Energy Event for churning their wheels for 12 hours a day over the course of 4 days, resulting in enough energy to power 30 minutes of the pre-game show. I sat back and thought that this was the first time in a while that I've seen a marketing stunt that was entertaining, logical, and productive. DL Byron at Bike Hugger reported on this event earlier on Sunday before the Big Game started, and going along with the rest of us, was impressed with this tactic. Coming from a biking enthusiast, it appears that this event also perked interest from people who don't regularly feel conected with the annual Super Bowl.

My parents were actually in Glendale, AZ, for the Super Bowl this weekend so next time I talk to them I'm going to try and get a sense of how this event was recieved by fans. I'll update with that whenever I can. But from the pictures at the Amp site, it looks like experienced cyclists put some muscle into the event as well as the average Joe. How inclusive.

So as green marketers, where can we take this from here? A commenter on Bike Hugger gave us a link to the reality of this at Pedal-A-Watt Staionary Bike Power Generator. This is the product used at the Amp tent and the website is sure to let you know that. Here is a great setup where everyone wins. Amp looks like a socially conscious company, reflecting on its Momma Mountain Dew and Grandmomma Pepsi, FOX Sports also looks good for having 30 minutes powered by renewable sources, and Pedal-A-Watt is about to get a big boost on interest in their product. On top of everything, you can bet that Amp was being chugged by the case to keep everyone biking. Well played by all.

This is not intended to be a naive "I told you so" kind of moment, but as a frequent visitor to the Ithaca College Fitness Center, I constantly wonder why human energy isn't harvested like this on a regular basis. Every day there are nearly 20 elliptical machines and 6 bikes that are used for at least 12 hours a day, probably more. I don't know the science, and I'm sure it's difficult, but with all those jokes about people on sustainable quests sitting in their closets on a bicycle trying to create renewable energy, why don't we actually try it?

I would imagine that most fitness establishments, after an initial investment in technology and a few hundred batteries, could vastly reduce energy costs. More so, what a claim to fame! Promoting the ability to not only get in shape but give a little back to nature? Treehugger had an article in 2006 about engineers wanting to harness the energy that is exhausted in public transportation hubs. Unfortunately it appears that the actual energy a person makes while exerting themselves is less than we had hoped for, but anything helps right? Unless, that is, they are powering the Super Bowl pre-game show, then they only get 30 minutes of power for every 48 hours of exercise.

Check out the full post from Bike Hugger here.

Images via Amp Energy and Amp Human Energy.

The Honest and Upright Olympics [Happenings]

2008-02-03T09:56:00.004-05:00

Here at Ithaca College we are ready and waiting for th 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Finding out that 11 of our own peers will be interning with NBC sports for the event is getting us P-U-M-P-E-D.

I actually have no idea if that is true. I can say with confidence that I love the Olympics. I love monitoring the medal count, choosing what team to root for is incredibly simple, and it basically dominates the media for those two weeks. But how does China feel about the approaching games? What sorts of pressures is it potentially feeling? Will it be taking any strides to combat its slide into first place for the heaviest polluting nation in the world?

The answer is yes. This is great. But a recent article by Reuters reporting in Beijing right now gives some insight as to WHY China is making some of these changes.

I encourage you to read this article, it is very short, but it basically expresses the fact that if China doesn't literally clean up its act it will be embarrassed. This is coming just a month after having one of the worst pollution weeks in recorded history and the main concern is embarrassment? How about the millions of visitors that will face health problems, athletes that shouldn't have to and definitely are not accustomed to competing in smog, and most importantly China's lack of environmental legislation that is destroying that side of the planet?

The Xinhua national news agency of China said:

"It is also our solemn responsibility and obligation towards international society. Uphold the guiding principle of holding an energy-saving, thrifty, honest and upright Olympics, soundly go about every work project,"

I'm not entirely sure what that means.

I want to clarify that my issue is not that China is trying to avoid embarrassment in its attempts to clean up the games. Progress is progress and following suit of the Emmys, Oscars, and the Super Bowl (among others) going green this year, it would make sense for the Olympics as well. My issue is that once the fear of embarrassment passes, for instance when the Olympic Games are over, will the efforts to clean up China depart as well?

If you are into this sort of thing, you recognize that detoxing the planet is going to take a long-long-very-long time, but it needs to start now. I think if China were to use the Olympics as a platform to market some new sustainable legislation or some governmental programs to help ease the country into better practices it would be a good move. Who knows, maybe the nation will be inspired by the clear skies the Olympic committee is hoping for by August 2008 and try to maintain them. All I can do is hope that some long term goals come out of what appears to be a short term shot of green juice to avoid shame on the country.

Check out the full article from Reuters here.

This may come as a surprise, but on this very special Sunday I am not in fact green. Call me a hypocrite or a liar. On this Sunday I am Blue. Go Giants!

Images via Beijing 2008, The Guardian, and Newsday.

Greenscrubbed [Business]

2008-01-27T18:12:00.003-05:00

On a recent post at Treehugger.com a new green approval rating system has popped up. This is not the first or last instance of this but just another to add to the list. I remember reading a different post on Treehugger about a tree logging auditing committee that was actually created by logging companies to give their deforestation the OK (I've been frivolously looking through my archives for this post, if I find it I'll post the link immediately because it was a great piece). On a slightly different scale, this recent instance is still disheartening.

I would safely bet that tapping into the green trend these days is a high priority for most companies. Now that the majority can agree that global warming exists and we are causing it, many people are bypassing the conservation aspect of sustainability and looking for products that are approved by whatever ominous group gives the OK on green purchases.

Recently SC Johnson© (makers of Windex®, Ziploc®, Glade®, and your favorite... Scrubbing Bubbles®) has added the Greenlist™ seal to their line of products. The Greenlist™ assigns a value to the raw materials put in to SC Johnson© products and allows the scientists at SC Johnson© to analyze the impact these products have based on its raw materials. You can get a more detailed explanation of the Greenlist™ here.

All of this sounds kosher until you recognize that SC Johnson© created the Greenlist™ seal and claims that as of now all their products have been Greenlist™ approved. I don't want to be a complete Debbie Downer and criticize their work. This is a Fantastik® thing to do and I applaud them, but when I hear people mocking companies and their "marketing ploys" I think of instances like these. Every company should reduce their use of raw materials containing harmful chemicals. Does that mean a new seal of green approval needs to be made each time? Should we even bring up the fact that water and vinegar is a proven substitute to household cleaners as a fraction of the cost? I would go out on a limb to say that this Greenlist™ seal is an attempt (although with good intention) to secure some more revenue.

While I don't believe this instance to be a prime example of Greenwashing, I do encourage consumers to stand their ground and avoid being blindsided by the sprouting green seals. Marketing is about promoting your selling points, I just wish that companies such as SC Johnson© would avoid making their own seals based on their own criteria. Third party auditing gives a lot more credibility. But as I sit in my cold living room with the thermostat turned down low to reduce my own impact, I know most consumers will sleep safely at night knowing they purchased the window cleaner with Greenlist™ approval.

Here is a link to the original post at Treehugger.com

Images via SC Johnson, and Stuff U Crave.