April 2008: Going green has gotten easier
Green netizens sound-off: contests, ideas and activism
As with any social cause, conversations among people are what push budding ideas into the mainstream. Digital environments have become the main forum those conversations. Being active within the Green movement has never been easier.
The Big Ask is a campaign by Friends of the Earth EWNI (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
asking for a new climate change law in the United Kingdom.
If The Big Ask climate change campaign site is any indication there is plenty of conversation to be had. The site helps British people ask their politicians to take action on climate change. One current initiative is pushing for Porsche to accept a proposed higher congestion charge that will be levied on cars in London that emit more than 225g of CO2 per kilometer.
Starting the conversation is just the first step – taking action is next. Players like Progressive Insurance who have a vested interest and consumer product to sell are out actively pushing for change. In March Progressive became the title sponsor of the Automotive X Prize competition and is funding the $10 million prize purse.
Applications for the Progressive Automotive X Prize will be accepted through mid-2008
The Progressive Automotive X Prize is a competition designed to inspire fuel-efficient vehicles with viability in the consumer market. The independent and technology-neutral competition is open to teams from around the world that can design, build and sell 100 MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent) vehicles that people want to buy, and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance.
Not only can potential competitors learn more about the prize on the Progressive X Prize Foundation site, visitors can participate in the conversation by commenting on the site’s blog or in the community forum.
Also making news at last month’s New York International Auto Show was the Subaru R1e electric car, which the company claims is its “vision of the future.” Developed by Subaru in partnership with the Tokyo Electric Power Company, the utility has been testing a fleet of R1e electric cars since 2006. This summer the New York Power Authority will begin using two of the R1es with Subaru evaluating the results.
To support the unfurling of this vision Subaru launched a simple, yet effective, website dedicated to pushing the conversation forward. After listing the benefits and capabilities of the R1e the website simply has an open field that asks “What are your thoughts?” Although it does not say where these comments go or what they are for, at least someone inside Subaru thought it was important enough to ask. Subaru is continuing the conversation.
What does this mean for automakers and automotive marketers?
While, there is no shortage of opportunities to support, sponsor or challenge consumers’ green activities, the first lesson is a simple one - listen. Online activists want an outlet to share ideas and the closer they can get to sharing with industry insiders the more they will feel a part of making change. Brands that have an open door policy stand to gain consumer loyalty and evangelism.
Related links: Other places sparking the conversation . . .
Honda Problem Playground
AutoblogGreen
Green Maven Blog
Ford Eco Driving Skills
Land Rover
