Like the latest runway trend, "green is the new black" according to the media. At least where business is concerned. But it turns out that companies are finding "going green" is an easy way to put themselves in the red.
Back in 2003 FedEx announced it would begin switching to hybrid trucks and won an award from the Environmental Protection Agency, but at $70,000 more per truck the costs got in the way. Four years later, the company has fewer than 100 hybrid trucks, according to the October 29 BusinessWeek.
Other companies like PepsiCo and Caterpillar could face problems with the bottom line because of their support for more government regulation, said Steve Milloy on CNBC's "Street Signs" October 12.
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Still many companies are going green anyway, and the media is cheering them on and in some cases even taking part. NBC Universal announced its “Green is Universal” initiative on October 23, which included “raising awareness” “through what we do in front of the cameras and behind the scenes” as well as greening the company’s own operations. That will include a week of “green”-themed programming beginning November 4.
But it seems NBC has an odd idea of what it means to go green. NBC’s “Today” crew will jet around the globe, sending reporters to the Arctic Circle, Antarctica and Ecuador, according to its October 29 broadcast.
“Well, the journey has begun. ‘Today’ is going to the ends of the earth to report on the changing climate … It all begins exactly a week from today,” said co-host Matt Lauer, who will be in the Arctic Circle for the November 5 simulcast.
This week the Business & Media Institute analyzed coverage of corporate efforts to go green and found that additional costs of eco-friendly choices are often ignored by reporters. You can find the entire story here. If you like what you see, please be sure to sign up for BMI's weekly email newsletter The Balance Sheet.
—Julia A. Seymour is an assistant editor for the Business & Media Institute.
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The LAWS of physics, thermodymanics remain in place.
November 1, 2007 - 14:29 ET by upcountrywaterNo amount of wishing, feeling or the color GREEN will EVER change that.
Entitlement over infrastructure every SINGLE time.
Same Old Line
November 1, 2007 - 14:29 ET by JEB StewartIt is the typical "Do as I say not as I do."
And " We know what is best for you because YOU ARE TOO STUPID."
“Well, the journey has
November 1, 2007 - 14:59 ET by Darth Dutch“Well, the journey has begun. ‘Today’ is going to the ends of the earth to report on the changing climate … It all begins exactly a week from today,” said co-host Matt Lauer, who will be in the Arctic Circle for the November 5 simulcast."
Hmmm, and I wonder exactly how Mr. Lauer will be traveling to the Arctic Circle. In one of those big corporate jets belching out those dreaded greenhouse gases?
Darth Dutch
Sometime ago, Congress, in
November 1, 2007 - 16:12 ET by jdhawkSometime ago, Congress, in its "wisdom" limited the number of gallons that my toilet uses to flush. Ever since then taking a dump involves flushing and either waiting for it to recycle and flush again or coming back later and flush.
The only reason I bring up the above is that it appears that Wal Mart is doing the same thing. Of course, now, instead of the previous customer going back to reflush, I get to do that for him when I have to take a dump. <barf>
This GW is getting to be a bunch of crap - literally!
Speaking of hybrids, I was
November 1, 2007 - 16:22 ET by jdhawkSpeaking of hybrids, I was in the local Toyota showroom the other day and checked out their Camry models. The bottom of the line is the "LE" at around $21 thousand. The top of the line is their Hybrid at around $28 thousand. That's a $7 thousand dollar difference to go "green."
The increase in cost doesn't end there. The cost and the resources to manufacture a Hybrid are much more than a conventional combustion engine car. There is the certainty that you will have to replace the battery sometime during its lifetime at around $3 thousand dollars. Then, there is the uncertainty of whether you will be charged for disposing of the battery.
Meanwhile, the Camry LE gets 22/31 mpg; the Camry Hybrid gets 31/34. Since the majority of my driving is on the highway, that is a lot of money to shell out for 2 mpg more.
I will bet that the Camry Hybrid goes the way of the discontinued Honda Accord Hybrid.
Car Prices
November 1, 2007 - 18:59 ET by Mike From CanmoreHoly Crap we get screwed on car prices up here in Canada. Now that the C$ is worth more than the greenback, I'm heading down there to buy my car.
*Argue for your limitations and sure enough you will achieve them.
I'm going to have to
November 1, 2007 - 22:53 ET by bretzysdudeI'm going to have to disagree, at least for now. Right now, I work for the company in the picture, and I think we are least doing better than what we have in the past. I may eat those words, but I would like to hope that I think the company will pull through.
What I am annoyed at, however, is the news story that came out that we were in alliance with the Clinton Initiative in attempting to do better for the environment, and it had the nerve to list Bill Clinton as president, not former president. Yeah, thanks a lot.
The thing is
November 2, 2007 - 01:44 ET by crosspatchThat many municipalities allow hybrid and "alternative fuel" vehicles to use HOV and express lanes. A delivery company would have incentive to purchase a few such trucks in order to use these lanes during rush hours. On the other hand, putting hybrids in the fast lane removes them from the very type of traffic (stop and go congestion) where they are much more efficient than conventional vehicles and eliminates most of their energy saving advantage.
I had no idea
November 2, 2007 - 08:19 ET by PopularTechSo paying a premium for a financially impractical car or using a fuel like Ethanol which gives you worse gas mileage will cause you to lose money? Amazing.
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