Truck Market Dwindles as Gas Prices Climb

The Hummer: the last of a dying breed

You don't need to be an analyst or an auto industry insider to realize that the truck market is shrinking as quickly as gas prices are hiking. With fuel costs flirting at $5.00 a gallon, few people are opting for trucks and SUV's when shopping for a new car. Gas prices are also effecting the used car market, with smaller traditionally less popular vehicles pulling in a pretty penny, while trucks and SUV's are being offered for less and less. It should come as no surprise then, that the Honda Civic, a compact sedan hailed for it's reliability and fuel efficiency, is the top selling car in the US for the first time since 1992.

Petroleum-based industries have been hit hardest by the rising costs of oil. "All the factors are working against the truck market right now,” says Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with Endmunds.com per the New York Times. And as the demand for trucks shrink, companies like Ford, Chrysler and General Motors take a huge blow as they compete for sales in a dwindling market. Dealers report that the only people buying trucks are the ones who need them for work. And with skyrocketing oil prices that show no signs of dropping, we can assume this change is permanent.

Sink or Swim

For US automakers, to survive in the new market, some major adjustment is required. Automakers, whose bread and butter has traditionally been the truck and SUV sales, must switch to manufacturing fuel efficient/alternative energy vehicles if they are to survive. This task is easier said then done. Companies are losing money rapidly—GM's bank account is reportedly shrinking by 1 billion dollars a month—even as they make efforts to adjust. Skyrocketing gas prices hit manufacturers and consumers alike like a ton of bricks, and automakers are stuck with a ton of inventory that won't sell. Meanwhile alternative fuel technology lags behind demand.

General Motors announced it will shut down four plants that make trucks and alter or eliminate the gas guzzling Hummer. Chrysler announced that it will cut 12,000 jobs by the end of 2008. Ford who has already laid off thousands of union workers, is cutting another 2,100 salaried positions. The company speculates that they won't turn a profit until next year.

The near future looks dim for US automakers. Only time and money will tell which companies will dig themselves out of this rut.

On the upside, despite current economic woes, this change in the market is forcing consumers to re-examine their driving habits, and opt for more fuel efficient vehicles. At the same time car manufacturers are picking up the pace on sustainable automotive technologies—just last month Honda released the first commercially available hydrogen cell fuel vehicle—and this is something we can all look forward to.

For more information on how oil prices are effecting the automotive industry, check out these articles...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/business/05auto.html?ref=business
http://knowledge.emory.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1148

Schwrazzenegar Slams Offshore Drilling Efforts

California's Governor may be a Republican, but he's sticking to his environmental guns. Schwarzenegger is a long-time critic of his party's stance on the environment and this week he publicly criticized the GOP-led effort to end the 27-year ban on offshore oil drilling.

Record gas prices and a sluggish economy have fueled public angst. President Bush has chosen this critical time to propose a measure that would end the long-standing federal moratorium on offshore drilling, claiming the lift would reduce America's dependency on foreign oil.

Governor Schwarzenegger was frank on his stance when he made these remarks in Miami at a Climate Change Summit, organized by Governor Charlie Crist(R), who is thought to be a potential running mate for Senator John McCain:

"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and ending the ban on offshore drilling, it goes on and on the list," Schwarzenegger said,

"But, anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke."

Though Schwarzenegger's views divert from his parties leaders, he was careful not to point the finger at any of them. A spokesman for the Governor said that his comments were not directed at George W. Bush, Charlie Crist, or Presidential hopeful John McCain, since none of these politicians overtly stated that offshore drilling would lower the cost of oil for consumers.

BeGreen, Saving the Planet One Dollar at a Time

There are many things that money can buy: a fancy car, a Prada purse, a slimmer physique, even a more attractive partner. Now the folks at begreennow.com are claiming that they can offset your carbon footprint for the right amount of cash.

How it Works

The website features a calculator where visitors provide information about their lifestyle like the make and model of the car that they drive, and the miles they rack up annually. The calculator takes these factors into account, and estimates the tons of CO2 that the user generates in a year. After the user has determined their carbon emissions, they are given the option of purchasing "carbon offsets" from BeGreen's online store. For $56, a customer could purchase a BeGreen Driver for Compact and Small Cars, and offset 4 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions( the amount of pollution that the average compact car emits annually). BeGreen claims to offset carbon emissions by funding reforestation projects, investing in carbon-offsetting technologies, and purchasing renewable energy—think solar power and wind—credits.


Real World Results or Wolf Tickets?

BeGreen has partnered with recognized environmental protection agencies like American Forests and The Pacific Forest Trust. They also outsource an independent firm to review all of their purchases and sales. The audit report is available on their website.

And the Verdict Is...

Overall BeGreen's system seems legit. Still I would have a hard time handing over my hard-earned cash so that someone else could reduce my carbon footprint. I think my money would be better spent donating directly to non-profits that protect the environment—for one thing giving money the good old fashion way eliminates the middle man—or investing in companies that are developing new green technologies. And there's always recycling, driving less, and eating slow food. Still I have to give it up to BeGreen for facilitating innovative ways to save the planet.

Simply Sustainable

I first got wind of Simple shoes as an akward eighth grader. Black eye liner, oversized jeans that could easily fit an over weight man, and skate boarding shoes(even though I didn't own a skateboard), were my must-have wardrobe items. Fast foward 14 years, and I can't help but laugh everytime I see a snapshot of my budding teenage self, glaring back at the camera with independence and angst. Over the years my temperment has softened and I now where clothes that fit me, yet despite growing up, I still have a soft spot for Simple shoes.

Maybe it's because Simple's line of shoes is the most sustainable footwear out there. You won't hear whispers about Simple shoes being made in a swatshop, because they're not. And you won't have to compromise your standards for your style, when you purchase a pair of these kicks, because each shoe is made using environmentally friendly materials. Old tires are saved from an eternity in a landfill, when they are broken down to construct the shoe's outer souls. Recycled plastics are used to construct the footbeds and shoe laces. Bamboo and organic cotton, two very sustainable crops, are some other popular ingredients that go into making these eco- friendly shoes. They come in casual and dressy styles to suit a range of tastes, and can be purchased for less then the cost of a new pair of Nikes.

If your local shoe store doesn't carry them don't fret, Simple offers free ground shipping on online orders, and accepts returns on unworn items, in case you change your mind.
The green toe logo represents shoes made using the best possible effort towards making things better for the planet.

Roughnecking on the high seas!

President Bush has called for increased drilling in our fine country. The White House issues this press release, http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whoismms/whatsocs.html . The OCS , Outer Continental Shelf, are the seas and submerged lands around our country. What all this boils down to is drilling for more oil off the shores of our country.



As the hike in oil prices is driving prices higher all around us, we need to be clear and wise about he choices we make. I firmly say "No to increased off shore drilling" and yes to technology, regulations and ingenuity. Technology to make this stronger and more efficient. Regulations to force industries to clean up and improve things. Ingenuity to solve issues in ways that no one has thought of yet.

Move closer to work so that you can walk or bike to work. Shop locally! Recycle, Reduce, Reuse.

Solar powered Booze?

Well not quite. CNN is running an article about Square One Vodka. Neat. A bit of Yahoo'n and Google'n didn't turn up any organic bourbons. I did find one gin at Blue Coat , however, not sure if they are 100% organic, but their juniper berries seem to be. A good selection of wine can be found at http://www.theorganicwinecompany.com/ or our bay area site Vinfolio

Honda Debuts The Clarity FCX, The First Hydrogen Powered Car

Clarity has arrived! This week Honda announced the debut of it’s first hydrogen full-cell vehicle. Honda will be sending a few dozen of the cars to Southern California, where a select group of A-listers and high profile customers, will be the first to take the Clarity on the road. As nice as it is for Honda to have stars like Jamie Curtis—she is one of the first scheduled to receive a car—zipping around town in their latest green invention, the Clarity is being sent to the LA-area for more then just celebrity power; Southern California is one of the few areas in the country that has enough hydrogen fuel stations to support the vehicles.

As gas prices reach record highs, and consumers look for alternatives, the clean-burning car couldn’t have come at a better time. According to Honda’s website, the Clarity, which uses hydrogen fuel cell technology to create electricity, is the first car that produces no pollution whatsoever. Honda plans to release 200 more of the cars next year, when more refueling stations become available.

The Happening

Yes, I know, some of you are probably thinking that an environmental blog isn't the best place to review a film, but The Happening, which was written produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan's isn't your typical horror flick. The psychological doomsday thriller could have easily carried the title When Plants Attack, in fact, the first draft of the script was appropriately titled, The Green Effect. At times funny, at others gruesomely dark, The Happening is an unofficial warning against environmental degradation. The film is centered in the Northeast, where a pandemic is spreading. It stops it victims dead in their tracks, where they quickly become disillusioned and instaniously commit suicide. One man feeds himself to a tiger, in another scene, construction workers throw themeselves from the roof tops, like apples fall from a tree. Initially bioterrorist are blamed for all the self-inflicted killings. But, a sweeping rate of infection suggests that something else is going on. Without giving too much away, we learn that the source of all the mayhem is much greener then anyone could have ever imagined.

Shyamalan compares this film to such classics as Alfred Hitchcock's The Bird's. I enjoyed how The Happening was undeniably frightening without relying on too much gore or special effects; in that respect it is much like the classics Shyamalan sought to emulate. Robert Ebert praised the film with a four out of five star rating, and the New York Times applauded Mark Wahlberg's performance. Despite these rave reviews, most mainstream critics haven't been so generous. On rottentomatoes.com, which compiles reviews from top critics, the film has a lowly 11% rating. I'm glad I saw, the movie, which I thoroughly enjoyed, before checking out what the critics had to say.

Airlines Find New Ways to Cut Corners as the Price of Fuel Climbs

Drivers aren't the only ones burdened by skyrocketing fuel costs. Price hikes are hitting the airline industry hard. In light of rising oil and jet fuel prices, airlines are finding new ways to cut corners.

The days of the complimentary airline meal are long gone; American Airlines has even started charging for snacks. But it's going to take more then cutting back on a few peanuts to even put a dent in rising fuel costs. Gas prices have risen nearly 85% in the last year, and fuel costs now account for about 40% of ticket prices; a stark hike from 15% just eight years ago.

To save money airlines are looking to lighter building materials, limiting the amount of passenger baggage, and charging for checked in luggage. On Jet Blue flights, maintenance workers are dumping water and waste from the airplane restrooms, each time the plane stops, rather then waiting until the aircrafts reach their final destinations. American Airlines no longer fills it’s water tank completely. Delta Airlines has removed the phones from the coach class seating, and eliminated most of the on-flight microwaves, since hot meals are less frequently served. And these are just some of the ways airlines are watching their weight.

Lightening the load is a big part of cutting costs. According to Tim McGraw, director of corporate environmental and safety programs for Northwest, for every 40 pounds eliminated, the airline saves $440,000 annually.

Some of the major airlines are already trading in gas guzzling planes for newer fuel-efficient models, but others can’t afford to do so. Airlines are even losing pricing power in this bleak economy. When airfares go up, ticket sales drop. The current predicament is sure to push some existing carriers out of business. American West Airlines, which merged with US Airways, is slowing flight speed to maximize fuel efficiency.

In the meantime consumers can expect to see less frequent flights and suspended services as airlines cut back to stay abreast.

For more info check out...

www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/11/airlines-analyze-operations-save-fuel

Seafood Watch

Fish is generally believed to be a healthy alternative to red meat and poultry. But the farming and fishing techniques involved in capturing certain types of seafood wreaks havoc on the delicate eco-system in the ocean. What's worse is that high levels of mercury found in certain fish can lead to cancer and birth defects. This news doesn't mean you need to write-off tuna melts and salmon dinners, but it does mean that you should be an informed consumer. The Monterey Bay Aquarium publishes a West Coast seafood guide which outlines eco-friendly options, as well as fish to avoid. Check out their website at www.seafoodwatch.org before your next trip to the seafood market or a trip to your favorite sushi bar. The choices we make as consumers effects demand, which ultimately effects fishing techniques. The best options are fish that are abundant in the ocean, and that are captured--whether wild or farmed-- in environmentally friendly ways.

Quick list of some common no-no's: Farmed Salmon, Imported Shrimp(farmed or wild), Imported Mahi Mahi, Imported King Crab, and Tuna that is captured using longline fishing techniques.

Betters options: Farmed US Talapia, Wild Alaskan Salmon, US Mahi Mahi, US Shrimp(farmed or wild), Tuna that is captured using troll/pole fishing techniques, Dungeness Crab, Alaskan Snow Crab, and Imitation Crab(Dog Fish)

Smart Grocery Store Shopping

Everyone knows it's best to shop organic, and unprocessed foods are much better then their shiny-packaged, over-processed alternatives. But soaring grocery prices and junk food cravings make it hard to stick to your guns when making your way through the grocery store. Follow the tips below to eat a healthy diet that benefits your body and the planet.

1. Buy organic fruits and vegetables. They might cost a little more, but your body and the planet will thank you for saying no to foods that are slathered in chemicals and pesticides. If organic groceries are putting too much of a dent in your wallet, it's worth noting that some foods maintain much higher levels of pesticide residue then others after washing. Fruits and vegetables with thin skin--like bell peppers, strawberries and leafy green--are more likely to soak up chemicals then those with thicker skin--like asparagus and bananas. A list of must-buy organic foods, known as the dirty dozen is a great resource.

2. Buy organic beef and dairy if you can. On average organic beef costs twice as much as regular meat, but when you buy organic beef and dairy, you say goodbye to all of the hormones and antibiotics that are pumped into your average cow. Not to mention that animals raised on organic farms are generally treated more humanely. In addition, the risk of developing illnesses like mad cow disease pretty much disappears when you buy organic beef--due to the higher quality of diet that organic cows are fed.

3. Buy organic poultry and organic, cage free, certified humane eggs. Free range means that chickens have the option to leave their cage because the door was briefly opened, but it doesn't guarantee that they actually got a chance to roam. A certified humane label guarantees a higher level of treatment. An organic label means that chickens were fed a diet free of pesticides, sewage, animal by-products, and genetically modified feed. U.S. poultry is prohibited from containing hormones so never pay more for a product simply because it boosts a label that says hormone-free.

4. Stick to the parameters of the grocery store. Sugary, starchy, refined goodies are usually found in the center of the grocery story, whereas fruits vegetables and dairy can be found around the edges. If you buy the bulk of your groceries on the outer edges of the store, you are probably maintaining a diet that consists largely of whole foods.