My friend came across an investigative report that shows hotels do not wash their cups and glasses. Hopefully such exposure will get the hotels to change this practice. In the meantime, please watch this video and take the necessary precaution when traveling. Here's the video:
[ Original Article: Don't Ever Drink From Hotel Glasses ]
Showing posts with label The Environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Environment. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Greenwashing: Is it really green or it is just marketing?
It's hip to be green these days. More and more businesses are providing consumers with green products. Slap the green eco-friendly label on it and it'll selling like gang-busters. Unfortunately this leaves truly green-conscious folks with a dilemma:Is it really green or is it just marketing?
I recently heard from a radio show that we as consumers can go to TerriChoice at http://www.terrachoice.com/greenwash to determine for ourselves if a product is truly green. Here's an executive summary of the 6 criterion they suggestion we use:
- Hidden Trade-Off - Paints a product greener than it really is
- No Proof - Green claims that cannot be substantiated
- Vagueness - Green claims so poorly defined that the real meaning is lost
- Irrelevance - Green claims that are true, but are unimportant
- Fibbing - Making false green claims
- Lesser of Two Evils - Green claims that misleads consumers away from the true issue.
A website like this is good for everyone - the consumers and the corporations - because it allows the consumer to become more aware and educated. It also allows corporations to be held accountable and to understand what it takes to make a truly green product.
In any case, stuff like this starts always starts with the consumers. Educate yourself. Demand more from the corporations. If they fail the live up to your demands, report them so that they can improve.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
A Cultural Change is Needed to Solve the Energy Crisis - Fuel Efficient Needs Be Sexy
I recently heard the After Oil podcast and I found it to be a great discussion about the current state of our energy crisis. They discuss projects that use different techniques to improve energy efficiency and projects that focus on bringing alternative energy sources to the masses. Regardless of which approach is taken, one thing that stood out in their discussion is the cultural aspect associated with the energy crisis; The energy crisis is real. We all can do something about it, but no matter what type of new technology is created to solve this crisis there must be a cultural change. We must change our attitude. We must change the way we think about these things.
Let's focus on an automobile's fuel efficiency since they are a major contributor to the energy crisis. We like big cars. We like fast cars. I am no different. But we must change. We should want fuel efficient cars.
Let's focus on an automobile's fuel efficiency since they are a major contributor to the energy crisis. We like big cars. We like fast cars. I am no different. But we must change. We should want fuel efficient cars.
Joan Ogden, Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at UC Davis, mentions in the podcast that there are many technology improvements making car engines more efficient, but most improvements focuses on making cars go from 0 to 60 faster instead of making them go farther with the same amount of fuel. Currently acceleration, speed, and power are sexy. We need to make fuel efficiency sexy. A cultural change is needed.
Here are some things to consider:
1) Cap the speedometer at 100 mph
Most highway and freeway speed limits are between 55 to 65 mph - definitely no more than 80 mph, yet most cars can go well over 100 mph. Why does a automobile need to go beyond 80 mph if it's not legal to do so? So let's be conservative and cap the speedometer at 100 mph so the highway patrol still have something to do.
2) So what if it goes from 0 to 60 in 30 seconds?
Ok I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get the point. The energy crisis is a bigger problem in metropolitan areas where there is a lot of traffic congestion. We rarely get a chance to use acceleration (or speed for that matter) in such places. I argue that we don't need the acceleration of a Porsche. A Honda Accord should suffice. Next time you're in the market for car consider fuel efficiency instead of acceleration and speed.
3) We don't need all that power
Most of us do not need the power of a Toyota Tundra. If you need one to haul your boat or horse-trailer, I believe you are the exception to the norm. There is a need for some people to own a Toyota Tundra-like vehicle (like contractors) but the power of a normal 4-door sedan will probably work for most consumers. Pass on the oversize and suped-up vehicles if you don't need one.
4) Do not buy SUVs
SUVs give us a false sense of coolness and we are all drinking the koolaid. I want to single out SUVs because I believe that it's a brilliant marketing campaign and nothing more. You can't really do any sport-like activities with them nor would most SUV owners want to try to do anything of that nature - you can't really go off-roading with most of them anyway. The Cadillac Escalade is too beautiful to be taken off-roading. The consumer Hummer is just the shell of the army Hummer. Taking it off-roading is a one-way trip to the repair shop. Furthermore, most SUVs do not give anymore seating capacity than a normal 4-door sedan. SUVs are basically an over-priced car with supremely bad fuel efficiency and a penchant for rolling over. You're a soccer mom whether you hide behind the marketing or not. Buy a station wagon, they have the same seating capacity and similar trunk space, but better fuel efficiency. If you really have a need for big-time seating capacity, buy a minivan. They have better seating capacity, a little better mpg, and a friendlier price tag. And most importantly, Soccer moms are still hot whether they drive a SUV, station wagon, or minivan :) The car does not make you who you are. Look pass the marketing and do the right thing.
These suggestions are simple and straightforward, yet I'm sure you're thinking that it cannot be done because. It's idealistic and maybe even ridiculous, right? You are correct because big and fast cars exists because we want them. But we need to solve the energy crisis and it will require involvement from everyone - corporations, governments, and most importantly us. It all starts with us. We need to want fuel efficient cars. If we want fuel efficient cars, corporation will provide it to us. We need to demand from the government policies, laws, and incentives to ensure that auto companies focus on improving energy efficiency with cars just like it did with kitchen appliances.
The worst part about a cultural change is it is initially very difficult to overcome because we are creatures of habit, but once you get over the hump you wonder why you didn't do it earlier. I went through this a few years back when I traded in a car that had more acceleration, power, and speed than my current one. My first few weeks of driving it was weird, but I adjusted and I love my current car. In fact, I would get the exact same model once it's time to trade in my current one - assuming there isn't a more fuel efficient one out there.
Here are some things to consider:
1) Cap the speedometer at 100 mph
Most highway and freeway speed limits are between 55 to 65 mph - definitely no more than 80 mph, yet most cars can go well over 100 mph. Why does a automobile need to go beyond 80 mph if it's not legal to do so? So let's be conservative and cap the speedometer at 100 mph so the highway patrol still have something to do.
2) So what if it goes from 0 to 60 in 30 seconds?
Ok I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get the point. The energy crisis is a bigger problem in metropolitan areas where there is a lot of traffic congestion. We rarely get a chance to use acceleration (or speed for that matter) in such places. I argue that we don't need the acceleration of a Porsche. A Honda Accord should suffice. Next time you're in the market for car consider fuel efficiency instead of acceleration and speed.
3) We don't need all that power
Most of us do not need the power of a Toyota Tundra. If you need one to haul your boat or horse-trailer, I believe you are the exception to the norm. There is a need for some people to own a Toyota Tundra-like vehicle (like contractors) but the power of a normal 4-door sedan will probably work for most consumers. Pass on the oversize and suped-up vehicles if you don't need one.
4) Do not buy SUVs
SUVs give us a false sense of coolness and we are all drinking the koolaid. I want to single out SUVs because I believe that it's a brilliant marketing campaign and nothing more. You can't really do any sport-like activities with them nor would most SUV owners want to try to do anything of that nature - you can't really go off-roading with most of them anyway. The Cadillac Escalade is too beautiful to be taken off-roading. The consumer Hummer is just the shell of the army Hummer. Taking it off-roading is a one-way trip to the repair shop. Furthermore, most SUVs do not give anymore seating capacity than a normal 4-door sedan. SUVs are basically an over-priced car with supremely bad fuel efficiency and a penchant for rolling over. You're a soccer mom whether you hide behind the marketing or not. Buy a station wagon, they have the same seating capacity and similar trunk space, but better fuel efficiency. If you really have a need for big-time seating capacity, buy a minivan. They have better seating capacity, a little better mpg, and a friendlier price tag. And most importantly, Soccer moms are still hot whether they drive a SUV, station wagon, or minivan :) The car does not make you who you are. Look pass the marketing and do the right thing.
These suggestions are simple and straightforward, yet I'm sure you're thinking that it cannot be done because. It's idealistic and maybe even ridiculous, right? You are correct because big and fast cars exists because we want them. But we need to solve the energy crisis and it will require involvement from everyone - corporations, governments, and most importantly us. It all starts with us. We need to want fuel efficient cars. If we want fuel efficient cars, corporation will provide it to us. We need to demand from the government policies, laws, and incentives to ensure that auto companies focus on improving energy efficiency with cars just like it did with kitchen appliances.
The worst part about a cultural change is it is initially very difficult to overcome because we are creatures of habit, but once you get over the hump you wonder why you didn't do it earlier. I went through this a few years back when I traded in a car that had more acceleration, power, and speed than my current one. My first few weeks of driving it was weird, but I adjusted and I love my current car. In fact, I would get the exact same model once it's time to trade in my current one - assuming there isn't a more fuel efficient one out there.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Hybrid Cars. Are we missing the point?
I will soon be in the market of a new car. I'm looking at fuel efficient cars primarily because of high gas prices and secondarily because of the carbon emissions problem. I focused my research on hybrid. I stuck with the mainstream brands because I do not want to purchase an experimental car or a car from a startup company that might not be around in a few years. Here is the list of the hybrid models that I considered:
Fuel efficiency
The leaders of the pack - Toyota Prius and Honda Civic
The Toyota Prius gets 48/45 mpg compared with (in my opinion) the closest equivalent - the Toyota Corolla S gets 26/35 mpg.
The Honda Civic Hybrid gets 40/45 mpg compared with the non-hybrid equivalent - the Honda Civic LX gets 25/36 mpg.
The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid are the standouts. They get at least 40 mpg in the city or highway. The con is they are considered compact cars, smaller than what I'm used to - my golf clubs might not fit in the trunk. I'll live.
The middle of the pack - Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord
The Toyota Camry Hybrid gets 33/34 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - The Toyota Camry LE gets 21/31 mpg.
The Nissan Altima Hybrid gets 35/33 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Nissan Altima S gets 23/31 mpg.
The Honda Accord Hybrid gets 30/37 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Honda Accord LX gets 21/31 mpg.
I'm not impressed; the hybrid version gives a measly 10/4 mpg extra. Nevertheless, there is an improvement. I would like to keep these cars on the list because I would likely purchase one of them if I did not consider energy efficiency because they are the most cost effective cars on the market.
These are hybrids? - Satura Aura Green Line and all the Lexus models
The Saturn Aura Green Line gets 28/30 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Saturn Aura XE-I4 gets 22/30 mpg.
The Lexus GS 450h gets 25/28 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Lexus GS 450 gets 18/25 mpg.
The Lexus LS 600h gets 20/22 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Lexus LS 600 gets 16/24 mpg.
I'm confused. Why are there hybrid versions of these cars? The folks who design these cars seem to have forgotten the purpose of using hybrid technology - fuel efficiency. My minimum requirement is 30/30 mpg. If you can get that you're off the list.
Conclusion based on fuel efficiency
The Saturn and Lexus models are definitely off my list of a possible purchase, but the rest are still in the running for the next criterion; cost effectiveness.
Cost effectiveness
I will do a quick comparison of the cost of ownership of the hybrid versus the non-hybrid model for each of the cars in the list. My definition of the cost of ownership is this:
total cost = (price tag - tax credit) + (miles driven * cost of gas per gallon) / [( city mpg + highway mpg)/2]
because I've made the following assumptions:
Toyota Prius
Prius - price tag = $21,000 : tax credit=$0 : city/highway mpg = 48/45
Corolla S - price tag = $15,500 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 26/35
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the Prius becomes cheaper than the Corolla after spending about $10,700 on gas at 150,000 miles.
Will it make it to 150K miles with the new hybrid technology? It is difficult to go with the hybrid with these numbers. Pass on the Prius. I'm going with the Corolla (The federal government used to give a tax credit of $3160 which will make the Prius cheaper after spending about $4600 on gas at 65,000 miles - much more palatable numbers).
Toyota Camry
Hybrid - price tag = $25,200: tax credit=0 : city/highway mpg = 33/34
Non-hybrid (LE) - price tag = $19,000 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 21/31
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the hybrid Camry is still more expensive than a non-hybrid Camry after spending about $30,000 on gas at 300,000 miles.
It never gets cheaper! The lack of a tax credit makes it hard. Pass on the hybrid. I'm buying the good-old trustworthy Camry LE.
Nissan Altima
Hybrid - price tag = $25,100 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 35/33
Non-Hybrid (S) - price tag = $20,100 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 23/31 mpg
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the hybrid Altima becomes cheaper than a non-hybrid Altima after spending about $19,400 on gas at 200,000 miles
200,000 miles! Are you kidding me? The lack of a tax credit makes it hard. Pass on the hybrid. I'm buying the Altima S.
Honda Civic
Hybrid - price tag = $23,000 : tax credit = $2100 : city/highway mpg = 40/45 mpg Non-Hybrid (LX) - price tag = $18000 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 25/36 mpg
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the hybrid Civic becomes cheaper than a non-hybrid Civic after spending about $7400 on gas at 95,000 miles.
This one is borderline. The hybrid mpg is decent. I think this one separates the real tree huggers from the wannabes. If you do go for the Civic Hybrid, better be in it for the long haul. I'm leaning towards passing, but this is the only one that comes close to making any financial sense.
Honda Accord
Hybrid - price tag = $31,100 : tax credit = $1300 : city/highway mpg = 30/37 mpg
Non-Hybrid - price tag = $20,400 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 21/31 mpg
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the hybrid Accord is still more expensive than a non-hybrid Accord after spending about $30,000 on gas at 300,000 miles.
It never gets cheaper! Pass on the hybrid. I'm buying the normal Accord
Conclusion based on cost effectiveness
It is not very cost effectiveness to buy hybrids at this stage in the game. The only one that is worth considering is the Honda Civic Hybrid, but even that is a long shot in my book. There are other options like the Toyota Yaris or Honda FIT that have decent fuel efficiency and do not use hybrid technology that maybe worth looking into.
Overall conclusion
I must say that I am disappointed with my findings. I will admit that I have made a lot of simplifications in my analysis. Hopefully the errors lie somewhere in the these simplifications and someone will prove them to be flawed.
With the current choices of hybrid, you need to value the environment more than your bottom line. I want to buy a fuel efficient vehicle for "the greater cause", but I cannot afford to do it. I believe the majority of people have the same sentiment so we need to get off the guilt bandwagon thinking we need to pay more for energy efficient products. We need to focus on getting businesses to build energy efficient products that are so good that consumers want to buy it but because it is a superior product and not because it is a green product. The problem today is most energy efficient products either costs more or it is an inferior alternative. Hopefully, as more true fuel efficient cars hits the market their prices will come down and be comparable to the normal models and posers like the Saturn Aura Green Line and Lexus GS 600h will go the way of the dodo bird.
- Toyota Prius
- Toyota Camry Hybrid
- Nissan Altima Hybrid
- Honda Civic Hybrid
- Honda Accord Hybrid
- Saturn Aura Green Line
- Lexus GS 450h
- Lexus LS 600h
- fuel efficiency (The higher MPG the better)
- cost effectiveness (Does it make financial sense to purchase the hybrid or the non-hybrid version?)
Fuel efficiency
The leaders of the pack - Toyota Prius and Honda Civic
The Toyota Prius gets 48/45 mpg compared with (in my opinion) the closest equivalent - the Toyota Corolla S gets 26/35 mpg.
The Honda Civic Hybrid gets 40/45 mpg compared with the non-hybrid equivalent - the Honda Civic LX gets 25/36 mpg.
The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid are the standouts. They get at least 40 mpg in the city or highway. The con is they are considered compact cars, smaller than what I'm used to - my golf clubs might not fit in the trunk. I'll live.
The middle of the pack - Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord
The Toyota Camry Hybrid gets 33/34 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - The Toyota Camry LE gets 21/31 mpg.
The Nissan Altima Hybrid gets 35/33 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Nissan Altima S gets 23/31 mpg.
The Honda Accord Hybrid gets 30/37 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Honda Accord LX gets 21/31 mpg.
I'm not impressed; the hybrid version gives a measly 10/4 mpg extra. Nevertheless, there is an improvement. I would like to keep these cars on the list because I would likely purchase one of them if I did not consider energy efficiency because they are the most cost effective cars on the market.
These are hybrids? - Satura Aura Green Line and all the Lexus models
The Saturn Aura Green Line gets 28/30 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Saturn Aura XE-I4 gets 22/30 mpg.
The Lexus GS 450h gets 25/28 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Lexus GS 450 gets 18/25 mpg.
The Lexus LS 600h gets 20/22 mpg compared to the non-hybrid equivalent - the Lexus LS 600 gets 16/24 mpg.
I'm confused. Why are there hybrid versions of these cars? The folks who design these cars seem to have forgotten the purpose of using hybrid technology - fuel efficiency. My minimum requirement is 30/30 mpg. If you can get that you're off the list.
Conclusion based on fuel efficiency
The Saturn and Lexus models are definitely off my list of a possible purchase, but the rest are still in the running for the next criterion; cost effectiveness.
Cost effectiveness
I will do a quick comparison of the cost of ownership of the hybrid versus the non-hybrid model for each of the cars in the list. My definition of the cost of ownership is this:
total cost = (price tag - tax credit) + (miles driven * cost of gas per gallon) / [( city mpg + highway mpg)/2]
because I've made the following assumptions:
- I do 50% city and 50% highway driving
- Gas price is constant at $3.30 per gallon
- I can get the maximum tax credit from the government
- The tax credit numbers is from hybridCars.com website
- All other expenses such as taxes, licensing, maintenance, etc are essentially the same
Toyota Prius
Prius - price tag = $21,000 : tax credit=$0 : city/highway mpg = 48/45
Corolla S - price tag = $15,500 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 26/35
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the Prius becomes cheaper than the Corolla after spending about $10,700 on gas at 150,000 miles.
Will it make it to 150K miles with the new hybrid technology? It is difficult to go with the hybrid with these numbers. Pass on the Prius. I'm going with the Corolla (The federal government used to give a tax credit of $3160 which will make the Prius cheaper after spending about $4600 on gas at 65,000 miles - much more palatable numbers).
Toyota Camry
Hybrid - price tag = $25,200: tax credit=0 : city/highway mpg = 33/34
Non-hybrid (LE) - price tag = $19,000 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 21/31
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the hybrid Camry is still more expensive than a non-hybrid Camry after spending about $30,000 on gas at 300,000 miles.
It never gets cheaper! The lack of a tax credit makes it hard. Pass on the hybrid. I'm buying the good-old trustworthy Camry LE.
Nissan Altima
Hybrid - price tag = $25,100 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 35/33
Non-Hybrid (S) - price tag = $20,100 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 23/31 mpg
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the hybrid Altima becomes cheaper than a non-hybrid Altima after spending about $19,400 on gas at 200,000 miles
200,000 miles! Are you kidding me? The lack of a tax credit makes it hard. Pass on the hybrid. I'm buying the Altima S.
Honda Civic
Hybrid - price tag = $23,000 : tax credit = $2100 : city/highway mpg = 40/45 mpg Non-Hybrid (LX) - price tag = $18000 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 25/36 mpg
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the hybrid Civic becomes cheaper than a non-hybrid Civic after spending about $7400 on gas at 95,000 miles.
This one is borderline. The hybrid mpg is decent. I think this one separates the real tree huggers from the wannabes. If you do go for the Civic Hybrid, better be in it for the long haul. I'm leaning towards passing, but this is the only one that comes close to making any financial sense.
Honda Accord
Hybrid - price tag = $31,100 : tax credit = $1300 : city/highway mpg = 30/37 mpg
Non-Hybrid - price tag = $20,400 : tax credit = $0 : city/highway mpg = 21/31 mpg
Plug in those values into my total cost equation and you will find the hybrid Accord is still more expensive than a non-hybrid Accord after spending about $30,000 on gas at 300,000 miles.
It never gets cheaper! Pass on the hybrid. I'm buying the normal Accord
Conclusion based on cost effectiveness
It is not very cost effectiveness to buy hybrids at this stage in the game. The only one that is worth considering is the Honda Civic Hybrid, but even that is a long shot in my book. There are other options like the Toyota Yaris or Honda FIT that have decent fuel efficiency and do not use hybrid technology that maybe worth looking into.
Overall conclusion
I must say that I am disappointed with my findings. I will admit that I have made a lot of simplifications in my analysis. Hopefully the errors lie somewhere in the these simplifications and someone will prove them to be flawed.
With the current choices of hybrid, you need to value the environment more than your bottom line. I want to buy a fuel efficient vehicle for "the greater cause", but I cannot afford to do it. I believe the majority of people have the same sentiment so we need to get off the guilt bandwagon thinking we need to pay more for energy efficient products. We need to focus on getting businesses to build energy efficient products that are so good that consumers want to buy it but because it is a superior product and not because it is a green product. The problem today is most energy efficient products either costs more or it is an inferior alternative. Hopefully, as more true fuel efficient cars hits the market their prices will come down and be comparable to the normal models and posers like the Saturn Aura Green Line and Lexus GS 600h will go the way of the dodo bird.
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