Tapping Into Americans' Faith in Innovation

One of the toughest issues facing consumers these days is rising gas prices. The people are angry…very angry!

The Wall Street Journal discusses the aggressive marketing strategy used by companies such as ExxonMobil. By painting themselves as part of the solution to our growing energy crisis, oil companies have come under harsh criticism from Greenpeace and other environmental groups.

Don’t shoot me, but higher gas prices may help us in the end because money may be the only motivator which will actually result in a behavior change. How else are we going to get people to drive less, invest in hybrid cars and generally consume less?

$5.00 gas…here we come.

Green really is "Big in '08"

Ok, I have to preface this post by stating I've never warmed up to saying something was "Big in '08." But, when you receive mail from your mother who is generally two or three years behind on adopting any kind of idea or product (ever wonder who is still keeping the VHS industry alive?) it really has achieved "Big in '08" status.

As many of us in the office continue to plan our summer weddings, including me, I thought I would share an article (sent to me from Mom) that appeared in The Olympian on how you can make your special day ecofriendly. Of course, green weddings do come with a price, as Alex Lluch, a wedding planning book producer points out, "The average wedding costs about $27,000, according to recent statistics, but green weddings can cost up to 20 percent more."

Below are some tips on how to keep the big day green:

Reception

• Hold your ceremony and reception at the same location to cut down on consuming natural resources
• Outside receptions are generally more energy-efficient than indoors
• Use glassware and cloth napkins to cut down on waste

Ceremony

• Instead of using rice, which is in high demand and dangerous for birds, for throwing at the end of the ceremony, the article recommends using flower petals, waving ribbons or blowing bubbles.

Invitations

• Print invitations on recycled paper and limit the inserts that go with the invitation. One way I have limited invitation "filler" is by creating my own website to give hotel details and directions.

I'd be interested to hear how the rest of you are keeping, or have kept your weddings green.