Austin, Texas: The other day, in an article in the Wall Street Journal, GM announced a possible recall of the Chevy Volt for safety reasons.

But what was surprising about the WSJ article was the fact that the Chevy Volt has failed to sell its initial run of just 10,000 cars, hoping to eke out around 8,000 vehicles this year.

Greenies, if we do not support green products, businesses will fail to cater to our needs and wishes.

8,000 Chevy Volts in the entire US– that’s just 160 cars sold per state!   Ridiculously low!

Come on!  We have got to do a better job of going out of our way to purchase green products or their will not be a green industry much longer.

Is the green movement comprised of a vocal minority, demanding greener products, but who fail to follow through and purchase them?  I hope not.

Are you searching the store shelves for greener products on every occasion?  Every occasion–really?

Are you walking the walk — or just talking the talk?

Talk is cheap.

The marketplace is listening.

We need to make an effort to support green businesses, green products, if we are going to achieve economies of scale and drive down prices.

Let’ start increasing our green expenditures…starting today.

Who is with me?
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Austin, Texas: Noted author Seth Godin wrote a blog post today talking about how a movement actually happens one person at a time.

He says, “Products and services succeed one person at a time, as the word slowly spreads. Customers defect one person at a time, as hearts are broken and people are disappointed. Doors open, sure, but not all at once. One at a time.”

Too many people view the green movement as a whole, as an entity, without thinking about how people come to join the movement — one at a time. Or how they leave a movement.

The key to a greener planet is education and outreach.

As young children are taught more about the hazards of climate change and understand how decisions they make can impact their carbon footprint, they will tell others. And lead by example.

Other students will catch on, as will some of their parents and grandparents.

After time, the movement snowballs – as it gains momentum.

Resistance will fade over time, just as other movements, such as Civil Rights, Women’s Suffrage, etc. have ceased to be the major wedge issues in this country.

But always remember, to promote the Green Movement, one needs to practice outreach and education.

One person at a time.

As Seth Godin says, “One at a time is a little anticlimactic … but one at a time is how we win and how we lose.”

Are you continually practicing green outreach?
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Austin, Texas:  A new study, commissioned by hand dryer manufacturer Dyson, shows that its AirBlade cold air system is the most environmentally friendly way of drying hands, according to an article in GreenBiz.com.

The most startling thing about the study isn’t that Dyson rates their hand dryers well above other methods– but just how non-green paper hand towels and standard hot air hand dryers really are.  

In fact, according to the study, standard warm air hand dryers rank at the bottom of the list.

Seem confusing?  It probably is.  

But as a green organization, isn’t it time to talk to your vendors to see how eco-friendly your restrooms are..and take appropriate action to reduce your carbon footprint?  Between the hand dryers, sinks and toilets, there are probably sufficient areas for you to study your options and make plans for a greener 2012.

By being vigilant, you will continue to uncover areas that can be improved at your office.

If you are to continue on your goal to reduce energy consumption by 10% each year, your rest rooms are a good place to start.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today.
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Austin, Texas: Many people are still buying plastic bottled water from the grocers and at Starbucks and other retailers in hopes of staying healthy.

Unfortunately, only a percentage of these bottles get recycled and many of them end up in the landfill or in the waterways.

Most people like bottled water for their on-the-go lifestyle– and find them to be a convenience, which they are.  However, claims that bottled water is healthier than tap water is misguided.

According to Connie Mizak, a USF professor in the department of Geography, Environment and Planning, the price of bottled water could be defensible if consumers gained something from the extra charge. But  that has yet to be proven, she told in an article from The Oracle.

“There is no empirical evidence that bottled water is cleaner than tap water … There’s a lot of money being made on a resource that is available to all of us out of our faucets. It is a scheme, essentially,” she said. “The scary part is that, while municipal water is regulated by the EPA and has to meet the Safe Drinking Water Act standards, bottled water is regulated by the FDA and, under these rules, if bottled water is produced in a state and that product never crosses state boundaries to be sold, then it’s exempt from any regulations.”

The article continues: Even if the bottled water has crossed state lines and has been required to meet FDA standards, they have “more lax requirements than tap water, which is tested on more elements,” said Van Dyke. Bottled water that is marketed as “100 percent spring water” is not even purified, she said, as the FDA allows it to come straight from the spring.

The filtration process bottled water companies use is often reverse osmosis for water from aquifers or other non-spring sources. This is a very common filtration technique, one that can even be installed at home for a one-time cost of $100, Mizak said. For those with a smaller budget, Mizak said, “carbon filters work just fine and catch the majority, if not all, of what reverse osmosis removes.”

A 2008 study showed that bottled water often contains residues of medicine, fertilizer and other waste byproducts.

In addition to the fact that plastic bottles end up in the waste stream and are not any healthier than tap water, studies are showing that the plastics in the bottles may cause cancer.

A recent study conducted by the University of Missouri, found a “78 percent increase in the growth of the breast cancer cells compared to a control sample,” according to the Environmental Working Group. The group responded to the study, saying the “ingestion of endocrine-disrupting and cancer-promoting chemicals from plastics is considered to be a potentially important health concern.”

Next time you want water on the go, take along a reusable water bottle and fill it from the tap.

If you are a business looking to promote your brand by giving away imprinted water bottles for your next trade show or as Holiday gifts, be sure to stay only with those bottles made from biodegradable plastics or stainless steel, which can be reused hundreds of times.

Let’s promote ecology and wellness at the same time.  Encourage the use use of reusable water bottles – and let’s try to put an end to single-use plastic bottles as quickly as possible.

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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Austin, Texas: Texas is voting today on a constitutional amendment — known as Prop 8 — which would give tax breaks to landowners who take measures to conserve water and preserve water quality.

According to the Statesman.com, the rule would give landowners who implement water-conserving measures a lower valuation on their property, similar to how an agricultural or wildlife exemption works. Some of the measures would include planting more native grasses that require less water or fencing off streams to prevent erosion.

The tax breaks differ based on how much land is utilized. Since the calculations would be the same as other existing programs it could save them up to thousands of dollars annually on taxes.

Texas has seen record  a drought this past summer, with billions of dollars in crop losses and devastated the beef and cotton industry–staples to the Texas economy.

However, are tax incentives the right answer?

Many people on both sides of the political spectrum have been talking about the need to end corporate welfare, which would include tax incentives that would favor any particular industries.

Is this just another way of choosing winners and losers for or tax dollars or is this really needed?

I think ranchers and farmers already have it in their best interests to conserve water.  Water conservation is Ranching 101.  They have seen the prices of their livestock plummet this year due to the drought, and its effects on crops and the health of their livestock, so they are already aware and motivated to conserve water.

However, I do not think a constitutional amendment is the way to go.

Perhaps the funds can better be used to build a desalination plants to convert water from the Gulf of Mexico into potable water.

Or use the funds instead to build facilities to treat and reuse waste water and adding it to the freshwater supply.

Picking winners and losers seems the wrong way to go.  Investing in the future for infrastructure that will help the entire region seems like a better idea.

What do you think?  Please share with me why you are for or against this amendment.

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UPDATE: November 9: It looks like I wasn’t the only Texan against this constitutional amendment favoring landowners.  It was one of only three amendments rejected out of ten proposed.

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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Going Green: An Interesting Tale

Austin, Texas: I get an email the other day –which I thought was hysterical about th previous genrations understanding of “going green”.

It was very humorous.

Here it is–verbatim:

In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.

The woman apologized to her and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”

The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment.”

He was right — our generation didn’t have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right.

We didn’t have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby’s diapers because we didn’t have the throw-away kind.

We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts — wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.

Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn’t have the green thing back in our day. Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house — not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana.

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power.

We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she’s right; we didn’t have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.

And we didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn’t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing back then?

Just goes to show, that everyone’s point of view of what comprises “green” or “conservation” may be in the eye of the beholder.

Let’s all find ways to be greener – without any name calling or without the passing of judgment.
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, is experienced in green marketing campaigns and a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Austin, Texas:  As a marketer, it seems like it gets tougher and tougher to stand out from the crowd in a world of advertising, e-blasts, social media, etc.

As a green company, it is just as difficult.  Many people are using the word “green” in their name, in their product description, on their packaging, etc.

How can you catch your customer’s attention while so many other companies are also going green?

Well, have you thought about going green locally? Going green at the community level?

Think of ways to promote green outreach to your community.  It is easier to make an impact on a micro level, and it will build goodwill for your organization.

Here are a few simple ideas to keep your green message in front of your community:

1-Sponsor a portion of a highway for litter pickup.

2-Plant trees at a park or school or community center.

3-Speak at local organizations about how companies can “green their office”–such as at chamber of commerce meetings, Lion’s or Rotary Club meetings, etc.

4-Sponsor a booth or table at your city’s Earth Day Festival.

5-Start an Earth Day celebration in your town.

6-Team up with other businesses to promote green seminars, trade shows or fairs.

7-Get your vehicle wrapped with green messages and slogans.

8-Team up with other businesses and sponsor a Trash Pickup Drive–that takes oils, paints, batteries, prescription pills and other non-hazardous trash that cannot disposed of during regular trash pickup.  Get involved with your city’s Solid Waste Department to see how you can help.  You can also bring in the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to participate with you.

9-Work with your city’s solid waste or public utilities department and see if you can help with donations, giveaways, speeches to the general public, cross promoting with their programs, etc.  City services have very tight budgets, and the more public support they get, the better.

10-Sponsor an e-Waste Trash Disposal drop off campaign.  These drop off stations can be wrapped or logoed with your brand — and you can work with local e-waste recycling centers to handle the recycling and disposal of these items.

11-Put together a YouTube or PowerPoint presentation about green issues concerning your community – and use it internally, promote it on social media, lend it to local news outlets and to city services, who might utilize it in some ways.  These presentations need to be 100% non-commercial, with just your logo and message at the end for a few seconds.  If it reeks of commercialism, it will fail.

12-Give out eco-friendly promotional items instead of plastic ones.   Each of these items, from imprinted environmentally-themed coloring books to information wheels should have educational value.

13-Practice what you preach in public.   This would include having a recycling program both at  home and at work, downsizing to a more fuel efficient vehicle, switching to CFL or LED lighting, etc.  Don’t be caught in a lie, promoting yourself as “green” just for appearance sake.

14-Keep in mind: It is important at these events to keep the focus on education and outreach on environmental issues-and not be a shill for your company.  You will have a much more positive impact on the audience.

Stand out from your competition.

Be creative.

How do you plan to promote your green organization to your audience?

I’d love to hear about it.

Let’s make Earth Day Every Day.
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Austin, Texas:  Many pundits have been declaring that GREEN IS DEAD over the past year or so, as the economy falters.

Recently, President Obama asked the EPA to withdraw new ozone protection laws as they might cost jobs.

Austerity measures are fine, and any legislation that might have the perception of job killing is politically dead, however true or false the assertions are.

What does this mean to the rest of us?

Well, to me it means that businesses of all sizes must step up to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce their energy dependence.

If every organization, big or small, found ways to reduce their energy consumption by just 10% per year, we will cut our usage by 50% in five short years–without any government intervention — or interference.

Each company should have a person designated as Sustainability Director who takes suggestions form ALL departments on ways to cut their electricity and power usage.

There is a great deal of “low hanging fruit” that can easily yield a 10% annual reduction.

Encourage and challenge your employees to look for simple ideas. Then keep looking.

Make it fun.

Educate your employees about why you are making these changes.

And encourage them to reduce their energy consumption at home by 10% too.

At the 10 year anniversary of the September 11 attacks, who would not be in favor of reducing our foreign oil consumption that leads indirectly and directly to Mideast unrest and wars.

Drill baby, drill? Perhaps. Perhaps not, but that it not a fix for our “energy addiction”, as former President Bush alluded to.

Schools and government organizations should lead the way in reducing their energy usage–and small and large businesses alike should be jumping in.

Will you join the 10% challenge?

Spread the word.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today.
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Austin, Texas:  It is now official.  There have been 10,000 commercial green building projects that have earned LEED ratings, as mentioned by GreenBuildings.com.

LEED-certified commercial space now totals 1.3 billion square feet of property around the globe, according to Erin Emery, a spokeswoman for the Green Building Certification Institute, which provides the third-party confirmation for LEED certifications.

Since the  U.S. Green Building Council initiated its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system in 2000, there has been tremendous strides.

This is a great start for the entire commercial building industry.

The chart, from Environmentalleader.com, shows the rapid growth of LEED Gold certified buildings over the past decade.

Hopefully, this trend will not only continue, but will double in scope each year.

Will it take tax incentives?  Most likely.

The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) encourages its developer members to “proactively lobby local governments with their preferred incentives when the subject of green buildings appears on the local agenda.”

Achieving LEED certification is a win-win proposition.  The property owner saves money on their energy bills, they can more readily attract a better tenant,the property usually retains it value longer and it helps to reduce climate change.

Does achieving LEED certification take time, money and effort up-front.  Sure.  But the cost savings in the long-term ,ore than offset this effort.

Establish your business as truly green friendly and seek out LEED-certified buildings to lease, build or convert your own property as LEED certified, and/or support businesses who have earned LEED ratings.  When money flows to these companies, it will only encourage more applications for the program.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today.
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Austin, Texas: College students–it’s now move-in time!

Students are probably the most green demographic, and helping them pack, might also rub some “green” onto parents.

As we load up cars to move our students into their apartments, dorms, or condos, we found some simple ways to go green:

Furniture: Visit resale shops, Goodwill or use Craigslist to find some tremendous bargains–and to prevent those items from ending up in landfills. Reuse is probably THE most effective way to go green, as nothing new has to be produced.

Clothing: Pack clothes in suitcases, reusable shopping bags and even used corrugated boxes.  The goal is zero waste…and this can easily be accomplished.

This is also a good time to sort through older clothes — and to donate to a charity or to neighbors.

Appliances: Now is the perfect time to donate some older appliance to your child, so that you can upgrade.  If that is not applicable, then try to look for the  ”Energy Star” logo on appliances when a new one is a must. This will greatly reduce energy consumption.

Less is more: Avoid clutter.  Most people tend to over-pack, so make a list, then check it twice.   Then try to eliminate at least 4 or 5 items from the list.

Drinkware: Be sure to pack plenty of reusable water bottles and coffee tumblers to encourage conservation.

Transportation: Most campuses and off-campus dorms offer very reliable mass transit.  Is a car necessary?

If so, remind your child to empty their trunks and keep their tire pressure filled to reduce fuel consumption.

Pack a bike: Bicycle travel can be best on many campuses, especially where parking is tight.  Be sure to pack one, or buy one once they arrive on campus.  Again, eBay or Craigslist often have ample bargains available for the budget-minded student.

These were just a few ideas that we thought of this week while packing up.

What other ideas do you have?

Let me know, so we can get the word out.
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 25 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of reusable and organic tote bags, recycled and biodegradable water bottles, recycled pens and pencils in the country.

His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.