Why is green so commericalized?

Question

I hear this garbage everyday about how i should get rid of my old stuff and swap out for green. Green tvs, Green appliances, green furniture.

Whats the point of swapping out all my still used and very much usable stuff just to have the new state of the art green stuff? It seems a bit contradictory to say its better for the enviroement to buy a low wattage tv, when my current tv has 5 or 6 good years left. Throwing it out would just increase the trash in landfills.

If anything i call myself Green Smart. I am smart enough to not buy something just cause it says green when I have a premade, and usable item thats already there.

Any thoughts on why green is such a commerialized thing at this point?

Answer 1

I know what you mean.  I heard a commercial talking about how much energy you can save by replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner with a more efficient one.  I wondered why you would replace a 10-year-old air conditioner, and if they took into the consideration the energy and resources used to make the new one.

The idea of going green is very very good in principle.  But when I transitioned to veganism I didn't throw my dairy and eggs in the trash.  I started buying vegan food while still eating the non-vegan food I already had.  And I'm not going to throw my existing appliances and other products in the trash either.  I will replace them as needed.

The place to start is not a new refrigerator or car (unless you have a lot of extra money and you give away your old items to a good charity.)  Rather, it's locally grown food and household products with natural ingredients.

Right now, "green living" is a very popular idea, and companies recognize that, and use it as a marketing tool.

Answer 2

Lower energy use is about economics, not the environment because with nuclear power we could use a lot more energy than we currently do and not cause any increase in global temperatures.  A new TV that uses less power might save you money but it won't do enough for the environment to be worth it.

"Any thoughts on why green is such a commerialized thing at this point?"

Because people are willing to pay for it.

Some of the things actually do have economic benefits though so it isn't as bad as 'organic' food which is just inferior higher priced food.

Answer 3

This is how the left works

They make something up

then cash in on it

The sheeple follow blindly

Answer 4

I think the thought was that if they turn it into a fad, it will become more popular and will be more used, making the world a better place.

I don't have a good answer for you about whether to throw all of your stuff out now to buy green stuff, other than that things such as the low wattage tv are just that-low wattage, which will use less energy, which is better for your energy bill and the earth.

Try starting small, like recycling your aluminum foil (in the same place as you recycle aluminum cans) and buying recycled aluminum foil, which you can again recycle when you're done with it. Recycling only takes 5% of the energy it would take to make brand new foil.

So, don't dump everything you have, but make a few mall life changes, and when the time comes to get a new appliance, consider one that is a little greener.

Answer 5

Yes, commercialism has a history. It began 3000 years ago, and as the population grew, so did the method of advertising. At some point , I believe around 1900's, advertising changed from the product trying to find a "name" for itself, because high quality and the name was a selling bonus, to the wants and desires of the consumer. The consumer has the power to determine what will and will not be advertised, and advertisers are constantly researching the nation for these desires and needs.

There is a need for "Green", as people are concerned about the world now, since our glaceriers are melting.

Advertisers have known for years, and have prepared in advance for this moment, trust me. They didn't just brainstorm overnight about the "green" movement and decide to just throw these adds and commercials and products out there. They have been waiting, finger on the pulse, and jumped at the precise time we desire this . Now, consummerism has always benefitted mankind, however irksome it may be to have it all about us. It enlightens us to what is new, what is coming, and what is available to us to help us in our mission to be "green" . Despite its bad rap, it does benefit our planet. It keeps the economy thriving, and products moving.

As for your things, you already have, you know you are wise to hold on to them. It is wise to use your own judgement.

Funny , to "Bad Company", I've been saying that about the "right" for the last 8 years.

Answer 6

Overkill.......

Think about it.........The grass isn't greener on the other side.

The other side of a blade of grass......Where it's grown from.....is brown.

Think Brown!

Answer 7

Yes it is to make money .. The teachers have brain washed our children on the green garbage, It would of been much better to of taught them the Bible at least they might have some morels...

Answer 8

Green is definitely "in" at this point.  And when something is in, marketers flock to it and try to sell you products you don't need.  The irony here is "going green" is more about minimalism than rampant consumerism.

Green marketing is not regulated in the US like you think it might be.  Right now it's reaching critical mass, and there are more snake oil salesmen out there than legitimate people trying to save the environment.

We really need to educate ourselves as consumers, as you obviously have done.  Wasting perfectly good cars, and televisions to go green is not in the best interest of the movement.

Answer 9

Ideally you would replace the tv or whatever when it wears out.  There are some things (cars, refridgerators, computer monitors) that use so much power that replacing them will save loads of energy (and money), that it outweighs the cost of disposing/producing the new product.

Answer 10

because they are hypocritical money grubbers like they claim big business is. if there wasn't money in it they wouldn't be doing it.

Answer 11

We are a nation of consumers, if people truly went green we would by less and that means bad news for companies that want to sell things. They are working hard to get you to buy there product, there is a lot of questionable Green advertising going on, it's called green washing.

As the idea of going green spreads people want to feel like they are part of the solution and are easily swayed by marketing. I've seen so many questions about why is going green so expensive. It isn't. As people want to make better choices, marketing is trying to capture that dollar.

People who truly understand going green make use of what they have and don't just toss it out because it isn't considered green. I only buy organic clothing, I'm not going to clear out my closet of anything that isn't organic, I actullay will keep anything that fits and is good repair untill it no longer is.

There is more energy used in a tv than what it takes from your house. It used energy to obtain all the matrials to manufacture it and the energy to build and ship it, then there is the energy and wast involved with the old tv, will it go to a landfill?

Answer 12

the answer is money.  i am skeptical of all claims of green.  most of overblown and barely match a minimum standard set by a administration that cares little for the environment and cares unduly for big business.

on the other hand, if you do make a purchase that replaces a current working item there are plenty of options to avoid the landfill.  i use freecycle.com and give away the item to someone willing to come and get it.  churches, community centers, shelters, goodwill, salvation army, are all great places to recycle your products.

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Answer 13

these same b******s ruined christmas

Answer 14

They are idiots. And they are not genuine environmentalist. Just cheap losers like the people who get sucked into it.

Answer 15

Major corporations have just recently figured out how to sell the green movement by claiming "energy efficiency" savings. GE couldn't sell a CFL lightbulb using just "green" marketing until they discovered the savings angle.  Now their CEO is very open about the fact that his company's green ideas are commercially driven.  There is a Snackwells affect going on in the green movement. Many consumers buy green to asauage their guilt, and some of those are over-consuming behind the idea that their comsumption is green so it must be ok.

I have to agree with you - don't buy what you don't need and don't make the swaps until they're really needed.