|
Kermit was wrong; it is easy being green. At least it’s easier than it used to be. Though they might not consider themselves environmentalists, 90 percent of the respondents to a nationwide survey told us that they base their buying decisions in part on the effect their choices will have on the environment. But weighing those effects hasn’t been as straightforward as comparing other specs: the cubic inches in a refrigerator, for example, or the capacity of a washing machine. Now consumers have an accessible, reliable source to help them choose products that are better for themselves, their families, and the world: Consumer Reports Greener Choices: Products for a Better Planet, a free Web site. Launched on April 22, Earth Day, GreenerChoices.org allows you to sort through not just which environmentally friendly product to buy, but also how to save money and energy as you use it and how to dispose of it safely. We’re starting with products in five categories--autos, appliances, home and garden, electronics, and food. There are also sections on issues and actions you can take. Here’s some of what you’ll find: • Do you know how cadmium gets into cigarettes or arsenic into chicken liver? Or what effect they can have on our health? Are you aware that sewage sludge contaminates some beef and poultry, and how to avoid those products? We include a section that tells you about those and other hazards in plain English that makes complex science comprehensible. • Our survey told us that more than half of consumers are concerned about the cost of electricity. So GreenerChoices.org gives you energy-consumption costs for some of the major appliances we rate. We’ve also broken down your home by its “energy appetite” and listed specific types of products and actions to take to cut your energy bills. • According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. government alone disposes of approximately 10,000 computers every week. Those that end up in landfills can leach toxics such as mercury and lead into the environment. Because disposing of an old product can wreak even more havoc on the environment than using a new one, you can click on Recycling Center on the Web site and find safe ways to get rid of your old cell phones, computers, and other electronics. You might even get some money for them. In Consumer Reports, we’ve long included energy consumption in our assessments of autos and appliances. With the launch of GreenerChoices.org, CU plans to give you ready access to a lot more information to help you connect decisions you make in your world to the health of the whole world.
|
