How Green Is Your Tweet?

I recently read a blog post discussing the environmental impact of using and storing your average email. The blog linked to an interesting article by Harper’s that discusses the levels of energy usage consumed by Google’s storage facilities. It’s something I’d not really considered before, and it got me thinking a lot, especially about the use of popular micro-blogging site Twitter.

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This Valentines Day, True Love Plants Trees

Every year I hear the same line, from men and women alike (though mostly men):

“Valentine’s Day is just a commercial holiday.”

Huh. It’s not that I disagree entirely; it’s just that I think there is a small bit of merit to celebrating the holiday. Sure, it’s sad that as a society we need to take one day out of the year to let our significant others know how much we love them. But life is busy. We forget to say “I love you.” We forget to make the people, especially the most special person, in our lives feel special. So there’s one day on the calendar reserved for that.

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Esurance Sets the Bar for Eco-Minded Insurance Companies

I remember the first time I saw an Esurance ad on television. The ad didn’t stick out to me because of killer branding or intense concept, though. It stuck out simply because I thought, “Big whoop.” An insurance company branded totally on the fact that you can take care of everything online? I’ve been with Geico since I could drive a car and have never once made a phone call or filled out a piece of paper.

I don’t think Esurance has crossed my mind once since that day I first saw their ad until today. As I was flipping through my new favorite mag, Ready Made, I came across an Esurance print ad. “You care about the planet,” it touted. “So do we.” The message successfully reeled me in and as I continued to read the rest of the full page spread, I began to give Esurance a second thought.

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Go Green and Sustainable by Eating Less Meat

We’ve already decided that going green can be simple. You started making more of an effort to recycle. You’re carpooling a few times a week. You even bought a slew of reusable shopping bags and are actually remembering to use them… but what you’re putting in them may have more of an environmental impact than all the plastic bags you could use in a lifetime.

Stocking your fridge with less meat is one of the easiest moves you can make toward being green.

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Pond Scum to Clean Up Carbon Emissions

A lot of people are merrily jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon. As reported last week, Bob Lutz wants higher fuel prices to encourage ‘green energy’ solutions. And by promising to significantly cut carbon emissions, President Obama is cleaning up many of the former US administration’s green policies. And now scientists in Kentucky are getting in on the act by farming algae. Excuse me?

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Is Bamboo the New Cotton?

The first few times I came across bamboo sheets, the thought of panda snacks rubbing against my skin didn’t seem especially velvety. I was interested, though, and took the bait. Upon first touch I was shocked… bamboo fibers are surprisingly soft.

In fact, the bamboo sheets I felt in Oak Cliff’s Bishop Street Market were silkier than standard cotton sheets. Since my first encounter with bamboo fabric a few months ago, it seems to be popping up everywhere.

Tees from New Balance. Tops from Gap. Even linens from Target.

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It’s Hip to be Green

There’s a lot of buzz around the word “green.” So much so that I’ve gotten a little irritated with the whole “it’s hip to be green” phenomenon.

One day while shopping with a friend, I climbed up on my soapbox and started ranting about the “Hug me, I recycle” shirts at Delia’s. “That shirt is thirty dollars! And it was probably made in China by a five-year-old at a facility that emits toxic waste!” She laughed at me first, then asked me why it mattered so much to me. I then realized that she was right; it didn’t matter at all. People are moving forward, getting with the program, making the effort. If it takes green being hip for the world to get green, then I guess that’s just something I’m going to have to deal with.

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