Everyone Wants Good Karma
Date: January 21, 2008 | Category: Lifestyle, Tech, Transport, ecoMan
Though it’s not available just yet, some things are too good to ignore - Karma being one of them. Slated in a Wired article to “do for the the plug-in electric what the Tesla has done for the electric car,” which is make the latest in green technology smokin’ hot, the Fisker Karma has lithium-ion batteries that purportedly get 50 miles of emissions-free, fully electric driving before it switches to a regular hybrid. With an $80,000 price tag, like the Tesla, it is priced to attract the eco-elite. Only 100 or so cars will be available (if all goes well) in 2009, but another 15,000 cars are supposed to go into annual production in 2010. Just a heads up in case you want to start saving. Fisker says that there are no compromises or sacrifices with this vehicle (your bank account might beg to differ). I guess karma isn’t free after all.
How Targus Got Their ‘Grove’ Back
Date: December 17, 2007 | Category: Lifestyle, Tech, Travel, ecoMan
Targus International Group, makers of those less than fabulous black laptop cases you’ve been seeing in airports for years, is now shipping a line of eco laptop cases called “Grove”. The bags are part of a new Targus initiative called EcoSmart. They are PVC-free and are made from recyled plastics and nickel-free metals. Targus is even sponsoring the University of Michigan’s solar car team Continuum. Not a bad turn-around for a company that back in 2005 was accused of selling children’s vinyl lunch boxes containing 90 times the allowable limit of lead. The bag is only offered in olive green but the Grove cases are reasonably priced in the $50 to $80 range. If you purchase one on Dell.com, Targus will donate $2 to an organization called “Plant a Tree” to offset the carbon footprint of manufacturing a computer notebook. That offset covers your laptop, but you better head over to CarbonFund.org to offset all that air travel you’re doing with it!
Spread Your Green Meme
Date: December 4, 2007 | Category: Fashion, Lifestyle, Men, ecoMan
Promotional tchotchkies proliferate our lives - from the dentist to the car dealership. And now that there is a green way to spread your meme. You can make a sustainable statement with your promo items that is hopefully more in line with the rest of your business practices. Long Beach based company, Rethreads, provides a lot of the traditional doodads minus the environmental mess. While their array is too vast to cover, I’ll clue you in on some of our ecofab favorites: A 100% biodegradable corn-plastic coffee mug. A recycled plastic sport bottle. A burlap mesh trucker hat. Bamboo coasters. An organic cotton hoody. Many things are listed as recycled, but we recommend inquiring about what percentage is recycled material before you think you’re getting a truly “green” product. This is the sort of company where the shades of green are on a serious continuum, so you need to clearly communicate your needs and values to them. They have an enthusiastic staff that is dedicated to taking the company as far down the green brick road as possible, so let them know that you embrace their commitment. They’re also proud members of 1% for the Planet.
