I think most of it’s a crock.
This has little to do with where you stand on whether or not global warming is real or as serious as it’s reported. My issue is with the companies that claim that by buying this product or that, you’re saving the environment. To me, there’s little difference between this and the low-carb craze. “Buy this, and you’ll get skinny.” When you take the thought processes out of it, your guaranteed to get ripped off, no?
Take for instance, the hybrid cars. Hybrid cars are good for a lot of things, like saving on gas. However, just because you’re saving on gas does not mean you’re saving the environment. The development and disposal of the batteries are equally as bad, if not worse on the environment than your average gas guzzler. So for me, anything that purports to be “Green,” I’m instantly skeptical of.
This isn’t to say that earth-friendly products and concepts aren’t out there, or shouldn’t be sought after. I just think we shouldn’t blindly believe and buy (and pay exorbitant amounts for) things simply because they’re labeled as green. Generally a little more research is involved to determine the full impact of a product.
But there are times when I find a product that impresses me with its usefulness, creativity and down right efficiency. And to celebrate Earth Day today, I inadvertently discovered such a product in the Costco bathroom. I walked in to find this little beauty mounted on the wall:
It’s the new blow dryer for your hands!
And let me tell you, this baby’s incredible. Stick your hands in the little holes, and the water all gets pushed off of them by a concentrated stream of air, and gets collected in a trough at the bottom. Amazing!
I never used the old dryers if there was a paper towel available because they took forever, water always dripped down my arms, and the air stayed on when I was done. But with this little baby, my hands were bone dry in 10 seconds. I never had to touch a button that other gross hands had touched. Water was collected in the trough instead of in my sleeve or on the floor, and it shut off as soon as I pulled my hands out. It was an incredible experience, let me tell you. That’s the kind of green efficiency I can get excited about. I’d like to meet the person who invented this baby and give him/her a shake with my clean, dry hand! Happy Earth Day!
I’m glad I am not the only one skeptical about all the “go green” garbage! I feel like a sinner saying that in Oregon!
I, like you, appreciate saving our environment and we try to do our small part, but I tend not to get sucked into all the hype that the “green” products have to offer. Happy (late) Earth Day!
Straps? You crack me up! You should see my old skin in that thing. It’s the most amazing, surreal thing you may ever see! It just moves all over – and bunches up – kind of like a sharpei……..Ah, the joys of being 50!
I tried the Dyson airblade out last weekend at the San Fran airport. It seriously was the coolest thing every! But I was amazed at how few people used it. Everyone was still reaching for the scratchy brown paper towels. Silly people.