The latest research proves the need. In a wonderful article for Sustainable Life Media, “Measuring the Value of CSR Communications,” Perry Goldschein notes that “80% of consumers had no idea that sustainability leaders (e.g., HP, Intel, Cisco, Unilever) were participating in any sustainability practices at all.” If the sustainability efforts of these leading companies are [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Energy & Sustainability'
Why Do We Need Specifically GREEN Marketing?
September 2nd, 2010 · View Comments · Corporate Social Responsibility, Energy & Sustainability, Marketing Techniques and Philosophies
Dilbert’s Scott Adams Builds a Green Home #blogboost
August 23rd, 2010 · View Comments · Energy & Sustainability, Shel's Personal Life, Uncategorized
If you think we in the Green movement tend to take ourselves waaaay too seriously, here’s a bit of comic relief. Dilbert creator Scott Adams describes with excruciating humor all the missteps in building a Green home. I can relate. In my own Greener home adventures, we’ve discovered… Solar panels without hinges cost A LOT [...]
Tags: dilbert·geothermal heat·scott adams·solar hot water·solar photovoltaic PV
Why Set Up Public Transit to Fail? #blogboost
August 22nd, 2010 · View Comments · Demographics/Psychographics, Energy & Sustainability, Shel's Personal Life, travel
I’m a lifelong fan and USER of public transportation. Growing up in New York City, I was eight years old when I switched from the school bus to the public bus—and that was with a transfer. I’ll often take buses instead of driving to Boston or New York (and I’ve actually booked Amtrak for my next trip to Washington). When I travel out of my area, I rarely rent a car unless the destination city is the start of an extended driving trip. If I’m just staying locally, I use buses, trams and subways (and the occasional taxi.
There’s a local bus that runs past my house. But even though I’m a public transit guy, I’ve lived here 12 years and have never taken it. Why?
Tags: bus schedules·bus systems·buses·public transportaton·rapid transit·rural public transit
Can A Tomato Change the World?
August 14th, 2010 · View Comments · Abundance and Prosperity, Energy & Sustainability, Frugality/Frugal Fun, People Helping People, Shel's Personal Life, poverty
I feel very sorry for those people who’ve never had a REAL fresh tomato. Comparing it to a supermarket tomato is like comparing a perfectly aged French triple-cream gourmet cheese with Velveeta.
And I feel grateful not only to live in a place where we can have a garden, but in a time when consciousness of local organic and fresh foods is high, and where food is helping people know their neighbors and boost their nutrition.
Yes, a tomato can change the world.
Tags: fresh produce·local organic food·tomato sauce·tomatoes
Launching a trade association for Green marketers: Your chance to be involved
August 5th, 2010 · View Comments · Corporate Social Responsibility, Energy & Sustainability, International Association of Earth-Conscious Marketers
I’m organizing an international trade association for Green marketers–with the hope of not only raising our own visibility but providing the media and speaking venues with a pre-vetted bunch of articulate experts who can make the case for sustainability –and actually foster changes in society by increasing our own influence. Please take a couple of [...]
Tags: International Association of Earth-Conscious Marketers
Crucial Lessons from the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster
July 29th, 2010 · View Comments · Business Ethics, Energy & Sustainability, Uncategorized
All deep-sea offshore drilling needs to be shut down until the appropriate safety measures are in place so that Deepwater Horizon is not repeated. It’s a lot harder to put the genie back in the bottle than to keep it in to begin with.
Tags: bp·deep sea oil drilling·deepwater horizon·energy policy·fossil fuels·nuclear power
Banana Imperialism: A Company Town in Costa Rica
July 14th, 2010 · Comments Off · Business-general, Energy & Sustainability, Social and Economic Justice, poverty
Most of our trip around Costa Rica has involved protected wilderness areas, and we’ve seen what bananas look like in nature; they grow a few here and there amidst the astounding biodiversity of the rainforest. Thousands of trees in orderly rows would not be found in nature.
A nearby organic farmer told us that this kind of monoculture requires enormous amounts of pesticides and herbicides. Not so good for the planet in this country that prides itself on its eco-consciousness.
Tags: agribusiness·bananas·chiquita·costa rica·del monte·fair trade·organic agriculture·sustainable agriculture
URGENT: Tell your Rep TODAY! No nuclear loan guarantees
July 1st, 2010 · View Comments · Energy & Sustainability, Politics
This letter, except for the first paragraph (which I added), was just sent out by the Nuclear Information and Resource Center. You can also call your Rep at 202-224-3121. Note that this page is keyed to me. Scroll down about a half a screen and then click “if you are not Shel”–before you fill in [...]
Tags:
Do Inventions Come From Frustration or Innovation? #blogboost
August 21st, 2010 · View Comments · Energy & Sustainability, General Commentary, International Association of Earth-Conscious Marketers
You’ve all heard, “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” Well, perhaps that’s true. But another parent might be frustration: wanting to do something better, more easily, faster than you currently can. Yes, some products are developed to fill a need we haven’t known we had. Advances in portable technology, from the beach transistor radio and [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: amory lovins·innovation·International Association of Earth-Conscious Marketers·mother of invention·r. buckminster fuller