So much for saving the planet. A recent survey reveals that over the past few years, Americans have become less likely to say they care a great deal about the current and future state of the environment. Similarly, we’re also less likely today to purchase all-natural or organic products, bother trying to use less water, and reuse things we already own—not when we can buy new stuff and toss the old items in the trash.
By 2025, the government will require an average fuel economy of 54.5 m.p.g. for cars and trucks sold in the U.S. To meet that requirement, automakers must focus on more efficient, technologically sophisticated cars that cost more upfront to build — and whose costs are ultimately passed along to consumers. How much more will these [...]
Last year, the average U.S. household paid $4,155 gassing up their cars, and when gas, insurance, depreciation, vehicle payments, and other expenses are tallied up, the average car costs $8,776 annually. These costs will only increase now that prices for gas and new cars have risen substantially. There’s an obvious alternative to owning a car—not [...]
If done properly, a smartly built green home featuring solar power, energy-efficient appliances, and proper insulation can result in the owner facing monthly electricity bills amounting to $0, or thereabouts. Now, one homebuilder is making such “net-zero” features standard in several communities around the U.S.
All along, skeptics said that the enormous success of daily deals couldn’t be sustained in the long run. And indeed, in recent months, the industry appears to have suffered some setbacks. Roughly one-third of all deal sites disappeared last year, because they were either purchased or closed down. This week, Groupon shares dropped 15% after [...]
Why would a company that’s in the business of selling clothing and outdoor gear tell consumers that they should buy fewer of the products it makes?
Electric cars and gas-electric hybrids have bigger sticker prices than their conventional-engine and hybrid-engine counterparts. But does the cheaper price of “fueling up” by simply plugging in result in savings for electric vehicle owners in the long run? By some accounts, the answer is probably not if you only consider the numbers over the course [...]
For American drivers interested in electric vehicles, the options have been limited. The only true EV currently sold in the marketplace is the Nissan Leaf, and until recently it’s only been available in a handful of states. The gas-electric hybrid Chevy Volt is unduly expensive (upwards of $40K) for what it is: a GM sedan. [...]
Adding to the list of post-recession terms such as “unbanked” (individuals without checking or savings accounts), “anti-dowry” (student loan debt holding you back from getting married or buying a house), and “Groupon remorse” (regret felt upon buying a daily deal you can’t use or never really wanted), here’s a roundup of zeitgeist-y phrases, including “squatter’s [...]
More and more “green” products are entering the marketplace. And more and more, the labels claiming that a product is green, eco-friendly, or otherwise good for the environment are fairly meaningless.
So maybe it’s that consumers will buy products that help them save money—and if they also happen to be environmentally friendly, that’s a bonus.
