Comments on: Google Search for Good! Save Energy and Donate for Free While Surfing the Web http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web Social entrepreneurship, businesses, and ideas Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:08:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rich http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web/comment-page-1#comment-688 Rich Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:26:18 +0000 http://www.socialearth.org/?p=3897#comment-688 <a href="http://www.earthtechproducts.com/flexible-solar-panels---portable-solar-battery-chargers.html" rel="nofollow">Solar Battery Chargers</a> is a great way to help save the environment from utilizing the world's best source of energy, the SUN!!! Get one already! Solar Battery Chargers is a great way to help save the environment from utilizing the world’s best source of energy, the SUN!!! Get one already!

]]> By: Sean http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web/comment-page-1#comment-669 Sean Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:23:22 +0000 http://www.socialearth.org/?p=3897#comment-669 Yup thats what it means, it is a google sponsored search engine so you get all of the results and benefits google gives Yup thats what it means, it is a google sponsored search engine so you get all of the results and benefits google gives

]]> By: Priyanka D http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web/comment-page-1#comment-658 Priyanka D Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:33:26 +0000 http://www.socialearth.org/?p=3897#comment-658 this is a good idea, this google custom search so does it have all functions that google.com provides? this is a good idea, this google custom search so does it have all functions that google.com provides?

]]> By: Will http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web/comment-page-1#comment-652 Will Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:37:24 +0000 http://www.socialearth.org/?p=3897#comment-652 See thats the point, Jonathan especially, you are too fast to down this, this isn't a mainstream world change organization that will feed all the hungry people in the world, its a nice way to easily help out. Every little thing counts, and this being one of them - why not use Bellzar and help them donate? Its just as easy as anything else. If your too quick to shoot down easy, simple, and even small changes, what can be done? You need to start somewhere, why not here? I hope you can at least embrace the idea and others like it. See thats the point, Jonathan especially, you are too fast to down this, this isn’t a mainstream world change organization that will feed all the hungry people in the world, its a nice way to easily help out. Every little thing counts, and this being one of them – why not use Bellzar and help them donate? Its just as easy as anything else.

If your too quick to shoot down easy, simple, and even small changes, what can be done? You need to start somewhere, why not here? I hope you can at least embrace the idea and others like it.

]]> By: Erik http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web/comment-page-1#comment-651 Erik Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:26:58 +0000 http://www.socialearth.org/?p=3897#comment-651 The points mentioned above are great, love the discussion! To me, the objective of the article was to highlight a method which enables individuals to ‘slightly’ modify their daily behaviors which results in an improvement in human and environmental welfare (albeit small improvement). Jonathan- I agree with you that there are other ‘high-impact’ activities which save much more energy, but changing someone’s habits can be incredibly difficult- especially when you are trying to launch an application (Bellzar) which you aim to scale and take mainstream. However, the point of ‘effective greenwashing’ is very subjective, and difficult to substantiate in most cases; especially small businesses. Joe- good point, a company which donates 50% of their revenue is very rare, and a great model to study if they can become sustainable. Per methods which are ‘high-impact energy savings;’ yet don’t get highlighted, we’ve published a few ways in which individuals can adjust their habits to save energy which do not relate to one specific company: http://www.socialearth.org/30-days-tip-8-replace-a-standard-incandescent-lightbulb-with-a-led-bulb http://www.socialearth.org/30-days-tip-9-plant-a-small-vegetable-garden http://www.socialearth.org/30-days-tip-6-turn-off-the-television-this-evening http://www.socialearth.org/30-days-tip-4-save-hundred-of-gallons-of-water-with-a-water-efficient-showerhead Cheers, Erik The points mentioned above are great, love the discussion!

To me, the objective of the article was to highlight a method which enables individuals to ‘slightly’ modify their daily behaviors which results in an improvement in human and environmental welfare (albeit small improvement). Jonathan- I agree with you that there are other ‘high-impact’ activities which save much more energy, but changing someone’s habits can be incredibly difficult- especially when you are trying to launch an application (Bellzar) which you aim to scale and take mainstream. However, the point of ‘effective greenwashing’ is very subjective, and difficult to substantiate in most cases; especially small businesses.

Joe- good point, a company which donates 50% of their revenue is very rare, and a great model to study if they can become sustainable.

Per methods which are ‘high-impact energy savings;’ yet don’t get highlighted, we’ve published a few ways in which individuals can adjust their habits to save energy which do not relate to one specific company:

http://www.socialearth.org/30-days-tip-8-replace-a-standard-incandescent-lightbulb-with-a-led-bulb
http://www.socialearth.org/30-days-tip-9-plant-a-small-vegetable-garden
http://www.socialearth.org/30-days-tip-6-turn-off-the-television-this-evening
http://www.socialearth.org/30-days-tip-4-save-hundred-of-gallons-of-water-with-a-water-efficient-showerhead

Cheers,
Erik

]]> By: Joe http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web/comment-page-1#comment-649 Joe Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:48:14 +0000 http://www.socialearth.org/?p=3897#comment-649 To be perfectly honest, I think it is attitudes like that, (Tristan/Jonathan) that are preventing the world from making innovations like this. Just think, a company that donates at a minumum, 50% of their revenue to charity - and you both manage to find a way to make it wrong. Be happy, its a great thing that we should embrace - dont over analyze! Its a great thing that we should all support!! To be perfectly honest, I think it is attitudes like that, (Tristan/Jonathan) that are preventing the world from making innovations like this. Just think, a company that donates at a minumum, 50% of their revenue to charity – and you both manage to find a way to make it wrong. Be happy, its a great thing that we should embrace – dont over analyze! Its a great thing that we should all support!!

]]> By: Tristan http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web/comment-page-1#comment-647 Tristan Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:20:31 +0000 http://www.socialearth.org/?p=3897#comment-647 Good point Jonathan. LCDs don't make a difference, but CRT (tube) and plasma screens do save energy on a black screen vs white screen basis (see The Black Pixel Project via http://www.socialearth.org/the-black-pixel-project-saving-energy-one-pixel-at-a-time). You also touched on greenwashing, the act of a for-profit company to make themselves look green when they really aren't. We all should be aware of this, CSR is getting better, but can be deceiving. Good point Jonathan. LCDs don’t make a difference, but CRT (tube) and plasma screens do save energy on a black screen vs white screen basis (see The Black Pixel Project via http://www.socialearth.org/the-black-pixel-project-saving-energy-one-pixel-at-a-time).

You also touched on greenwashing, the act of a for-profit company to make themselves look green when they really aren’t. We all should be aware of this, CSR is getting better, but can be deceiving.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.socialearth.org/google-search-for-good-save-energy-and-donate-for-free-while-surfing-the-web/comment-page-1#comment-635 Jonathan Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:37:54 +0000 http://www.socialearth.org/?p=3897#comment-635 Probably worth mentioning that flat panel displays (LCDs, etc) use just as much power to put out black screens as white ones. LCDs have a backlight that is always on, and run three colored filters in front of the light. So, no energy savings there at all. CRTs do save a bit of power, but not a whole lot. I fear this is one of those consumer facing things that feels good and means nothing, particularly compared to actual high-impact energy saving tactics like living close to where you work; or printing less paper; or hibernating the PC when you leave your desk. But of course, none of those make money for sites like this one (the other 50% of their revenue, no?), so they are rarely talked about. Filed under: effective greenwashing, small business edition. Probably worth mentioning that flat panel displays (LCDs, etc) use just as much power to put out black screens as white ones. LCDs have a backlight that is always on, and run three colored filters in front of the light. So, no energy savings there at all. CRTs do save a bit of power, but not a whole lot.

I fear this is one of those consumer facing things that feels good and means nothing, particularly compared to actual high-impact energy saving tactics like living close to where you work; or printing less paper; or hibernating the PC when you leave your desk. But of course, none of those make money for sites like this one (the other 50% of their revenue, no?), so they are rarely talked about.

Filed under: effective greenwashing, small business edition.

]]>