Austin, Texas:  Last week, President Obama announced an “all of the above” energy strategy, which would include more drilling, a new look at the Keystone XL pipeline project, as well as alternative forms of energy.

Although energy has become politicized over the past few decades, I think a realistic approach like this is the only true way to make progress.

Life is all about compromise, and if we can increase drilling in a safe manner, improve fracking technology, reduce risk of nuclear accidents, then the “all of the above” strategy is ideal.  But safety must come first.

We need to quit blocking projects just to please one party and start looking at the various options with a more open mind.

America will not stop using oil for many decades, so we must consider drilling in addition to solar, biofuels, wind power, nuclear, natural gas and other options.

Let’s challenge our country’s brightest minds to find ways to increase output of all these energy forms, while reducing costs and increasing safety.

Let’s not pick winners and losers.  Let’s hope that they can all succeed.

After all, today, railroads and ships still compete with airlines and trucks for commercial freight business. It doesn’t have to be a winner take all.

All of the above? I think it makes the most sense.

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: As the year comes to a close, it is time to take a look back at your marketing efforts to see if you met your green marketing goals.

As an eco-marketing company, you must be at the forefront of green technology,  waste reduction, recycling and other green initiatives.

Take a look back to see if you can pinpoint measurable reductions in paper usage, miles driven by you and your fellow employees, energy reductions in running your business, supply chain mandates, etc.

Talk to your employees about other areas where you can achieve energy savings, whether it be as simple as thermostat changes and weatherization or more profound and deeper changes.

As the new year approaches, take time to see where you can lead on environmental causes, promote green outreach programs and motivate and inspire your employees, your customers, your vendors and the general public.

Look over your marketing materials to see how you can educate your audience both on the value of your greener product or service, but also on environmental issues in general.

Be sure to practice what you preach in terms of using recycled paper for print, as well as using recycled promotional products to carry your branded message.

Going green cannot be a one-person plan. Be sure your employees are actively behind your green initiatives and agenda.

Did you reach the goal of 10% energy reduction in 2011?

If not, let’s double down and make it happen in 2012.

If so, can you achieve 11% reduction this year?

Keep striving for a greener planet.

We’re all in it together.

Happy New Year!

May 2012 be the greenest one yet.

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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.

Can Oil Companies Be Good Stewards of Our Land?

Austin, Texas: The Wall Street Journal just reported that the  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a permit on Monday to ConocoPhillips that would allow the energy company to develop the first commercial oil well in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

The permit sets 22 special conditions designed to minimize the environmental impact of the project, and Conoco will pay fees into a special fund to compensate for damage to tundra wetlands, which the corps, in a statement, said would be “unavoidable.”

As both an environmentalist and a businessman, I understand that compromises are needed. My feelings are that this will probably be the most pristine oil project of all time – as the eyes of the world will be upon it.

If this project goes well with very minimal environmental impact, it will open up more of Alaska’s reserves to drilling and development–which can be beneficial to the United States, both in terms of reducing our dependence on foreign oil and for job creation.

If there are environmental problems, any further discussion of oil projects in Alaska will be shelved–probably for decades.

Let’s hope that this project is a success – and we can make further exploration dependent on increased alternative fuel subsidies.

I am certainly for green energy and clean energy.

Our dependence on fossil fuels is destroying our planet through climate change and air quality issues.

We will certainly not wean ourselves from fossil fuels overnight, but we should definitely do what we can to stop supporting Middle East unrest.

Let’s test this job creation project with a tremendous amount of oversight.

We need to increase all forms of energy–fossil fuels for the short term and solar, wind and geo-thermal for medium and long-term security.

Hopefully both sides of the political spectrum can soften their approach to energy and we can move forward on cleaner energy for a better tomorrow.

Tighter regulations mean cleaner fuel projects.

I grew up in New Jersey and can still remember the smell of the refineries.

Let’s clean up our act.

Let’s increase expenditures for alternative fuels from the profits of this new exploration.

It can create a win-win — more jobs, cleaner energy.

That’s a platform I think most Americans can support.

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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 few weeks back I had attended a trade show for the wholesale trade and was amazed at the number of people with banners touting “Eco-Friendly” and “Go Green”, etc.

Being a green marketing company, those signs immediately attracted my attention and I stopped at most of these booths.

Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed at how these firms substantiated their claims.

Just because an item can be recycled, does not necessarily make it eco-friendly. Many of these companies had no clue as to the recycle symbols on their products, whether or not it had any recycled material, country of origin, etc.

Customers are wary of claims that cannot be backed up with proof.

Then, on top of that, the majority of these companies had business cards that were not made on recycled paper stock or FSC-certified paper– nor were their catalogs or flyers.

Pay attention to the little things.

Going green means paying attention to the details, big and small..

If you claim to be green, at least know the issues that are affecting the country in terms of sustainability, carbon footprint and even climate change.

If your business cards and flyers are not recycled or FSC-certified, take down your “eco-friendly” banners- and decide if marketing to a green niche is the right target audience for you.

Marketing takes consistency.

Is your green marketing message consistent?

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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: 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:  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: As I watch the Republican Presidential debates over the past few weeks, I am amazed at  the lack of commitment by any candidate on most major issues.

Answers  by all seem to be vague, ambiguous and wishy-washy.  There is certainly no passion that comes across to the viewing public.

Is this like your company’s stand on the environment–vague, ambiguous and wishy-washy?

People can easily cut through this B.S. and tell that you are not truly committed.

Green Washing?  No, too many companies do Green Lying, where they knowingly are not green but pretend to be.

If you are a green marketer or an organization going green, how are you living that commitment?

Jut by having the word “green” or “environmentally-friendly” on you packaging or in your mission statement doesn’t make you a green company.

Where is your passion?

How is your company reducing its energy consumption?

How are you reducing packaging waste?

How are you encouraging car pooling by your employees, inspiring greener procedures at work and changing your green lifestyle?

Going green is like fitness….. you need to be committed to it in order to be successful.

Show some passion to the green movement and get involved.

Practice what you preach.

Live the lifestyle.

Your organization will gain a great deal more credibility..and your commitment will show.

I’ll vote for that!
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Robert Piller, president of Eco Marketing Solutions, is experienced in green marketing campaigns and recycled promotional products.

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:  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.