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Top Green Cars for 2008
With gas prices soaring through the roof, having a “green” automobile can save a lot more than just the environment.
There are plenty of vehicles to choose from to satisfy a variety of needs. But if you want a green car for your next big purchase, here are the top options: continue»
Get Connected - See Digitech on TV
Digitech was recently featured on the Get Connected television show (on BNN) during Episode 6, “Going Green.”
Lindsay Smith of the show visited the manufacturing plant to explore the environmental impact of printer cartridges and why it’s important to make the right choice.
Check it out for yourself:
Want to know more about the Get Connected show? Visit their website at GetConnectedTVShow.com.
To find out how you can order an environmentally friendly printer cartridge in the Greater Vancouver Area or Kelowna, visit DigitechLaser.com.
Image is Nothing, Earth is Everything
In 1996, Sprite changed their slogan from “I Like the Sprite in You” to “Image is Nothing, Thirst is Everything - Obey Your Thirst.” The change skyrocketed the brand’s success and within a matter of months sales increased by 9%. Since then, Sprite has become the fourth most popular soft drink on the market.
There are two strong ironies regarding this slogan.
- The advertising was focussed on image more than anything.
- While Sprite does quench thirst, like other soft drinks it can “act as dehydrating diuretic“. If you really wanted to obey your thirst, you’d drink water.
While Sprite has nothing to do with the environment (and this is an environmental blog), their marketing efforts are noteworthy because of how they parallel the advertising efforts by thousands of “green” businesses across North American today.
While Sprite promoted a thirst-quenching drink (which it wasn’t the best at doing), thousands of companies in 2008 are promoting green (when they aren’t doing all they could be).
Problem, Agitate, Solve
A very basic advertising formula is to find a problem that affects the target market, agitate it and make it seem bigger than it is, and then produce a solution - not only making the consumer feel better, but also putting some money in the pockets of the producer.
Ever since ozone depletion and global warming have become legitimate threats to our environments sustainability, companies have been searching for ways to offer solutions to the worried marketplace.
Green Marketing is one of the biggest trends of the last decade. Unfortunately, actually being green - or being completely honest about being green - isn’t so widely practiced. ESLPod.com recently stated that “American companies are trying to appeal (make more attractive) to consumers (people who buy products) by claiming that their products are “earth-friendly” or “eco-safe,” when it is not clear whether they are or not.”
It’s called Greenwashing: companies misleading consumers regarding their environmental practices or the environmental benefits of their products or services. continue»
Fore: Golf and the Environment
Walking on the golf course yesterday, I couldn’t help but feel one with nature. The birds around me, the green grass, the streaming water…paradise! Yet, in the back of my mind I was also wondering how it all came to be - and what the impact of this golf course had on the world around it.
On one side of the spectrum, golf courses provide natural areas for people and animals to enjoy in urbanized surroundings. On the other hand, absurdly large quantities of water, chemicals, and other resources are used to maintain this environment.
There’s a great paradox that exists with golfing today - it is based in nature and glorifies it, yet it also destroys it at the same time. continue»
Nalgene Says Goodbye to Bad Plastics
Nalgene, a popular water-bottle maker, has decided to change the materials in their hard plastic containers due to the health concerns that have been raised over the past few months.
The company, which offers an environmental alternative to buying bottled water, has traditionally used a chemical called bisphenol-a, or BPA, in their containers. However, recent animal studies have shown a negative effect to the hormonal system.
The National Toxicology Program in the United States recently released a draft reporting that some rats that were fed or injected with low doses of the chemical developed tumors, urinary tract problems, and reached puberty early. According to the New York Times, “the report said the animal tests provided ‘limited evidence,’ it also noted that the ‘possibility that bisphenol-a may alter human development cannot be dismissed.’” continue»
All About Water
Water coves 71% of the Earth’s surface, makes up 55-78% of your body, and is recycled every day through the natural process of precipitation. So why are environmentalists so worried about protecting it?
Because of the water crisis… Pollution of water sources is harming biodiversity and causing 1.1 billion people to have inadequate access to safe drinking water. Even more concern is raised by the fact that, according to the World Bank, “88% of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.”
Since 2006, the availability of drinking water per capita has been shrinking due to a growing population, astounding rates of consumption, and high levels of water population.
But it doesn’t have to be this way… you and I are wasting gallons of water every day without even knowing it! continue»
A Greener Office
The average working North American spends a quarter of their year in the office - 8 hours a day, five days a week. What better place to consider making green changes to help out the environment?
Here are 10 ways you can make your office more green: continue»
10 Ways You Can Save The Environment Without Leaving Your Seat
We rely on technology that has been developed within the last 100 years throughout every hour of our day: we wake up to our alarm clock, we flick on the lights, grab a quick shower, take the milk out of the fridge, get in our cars, drive to work while listening to the radio, sit down at the computer, type away all day - interrupted only by the phone, fax machine, or email - then drive back home while listening to the radio, flick the lights back on, pull some food out of the freezer, toss it in the oven or microwave, watch some television, and then settle back into our beds with the alarm clock nearby.
Technology is everywhere - we can not only use it to improve the quality of life we live, but to also help the environment we live in.
Here are 10 ways you can improve your world right now, without getting out of your chair or taking your eyes off the computer screen: continue»
