Blazing neon lights 24/7, the world’s most grandiose fountains, gridlock on Las Vegas Boulevard, frigid indoor air over millions of square feet when it’s a hundred and ten outside … not exactly a poster boy for sustainability.  Name the top ten green cities in America – I’ll bet Las Vegas would not make your shortlist.
 

Well, think again.  After meeting with officials from the City of Las Vegas to learn more about their green initiatives for our Sierra Club Green Home Web site, I must conclude that America’s adult playground is making a sincere effort to embrace sustainability.  And the major casinos have actually been pioneers in energy saving techniques – with the power and water bills they generate, it makes economic as well as altruistic sense for them.  “What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas” but it might be beneficial for the casinos to get the word out about their green initiatives.

 

Sometimes controversial, always quotable and often progressive, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is somewhat of a legend on the local and national scene.  Under his stewardship, Las Vegas began to embrace green environmental policies before it became de rigeur.  Goodman was one of the first to sign the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a pledge to green their city which now has over 1,000 mayoral signatures.  Currently, Las Vegas has one of America’s toughest consumer watering policies.  “Water cops” can fine you if they see runoff on your sidewalks.  Outdoor fountains at residential developments have come to a grinding halt.   Vegas was also an early adopter of hybrid fleet vehicles and even embarked on a recycled anti-freeze program in 2007 to help power the city fleet.  They also have a green building program, which rewards developers with tax breaks for building energy efficient, ecofriendly structures.
 

 

Tom Perrigo, Deputy Director of Las Vegas’ Planning and Development Center further enlightened me about how the city has been a pioneer in all things sustainable since 2005.  The city government and related buildings all have strict, sustainability management guidelines for power and water usage as well as recycling.  They are setting a great example here, and many of the major casinos in town have followed suit with state-of-the-art technology for saving power on laundry, lighting, climate control and water consumption.   City Center, the largest real estate development project in the country, is being built to varying degrees of LEED standards with help from prominent consultant John Picard and other leading green architects and designers.  Another noteworthy Las Vegas program is Green Chips, which provides free home energy audits for residents of low income housing and loans to consumers and businesses that will use the funds to improve energy efficiency.
 

Things are not perfect in Las Vegas, for sure.  To the average homeowner, recycling is not commonplace.  There are several neighborhoods that pick up recycling, but for a city of this size and scope the recycling efforts have a long way to go.   Some people have the false notion that the trash companies separate out the recyclables at their facilities.  I could not find any proof that this is accurate.   And most obviously, sun, sun, sun everywhere, but where are all the solar panels?  It is disturbing to think about how much solar power could be generated for residential and commercial applications here, yet solar panels are almost non-existent on the residential side.  Hopefully continuing advances in solar panel technology, additional governmental subsidies, and cost reductions will change this.  Perrigo also mentioned Nevada’s terrain is primed for generating Geothermal power; he has high hopes that the state will embrace this renewable source in the future.
 

Sierra Club Green Home.com has staffers from UNLV’s environmental studies program who are committed and enthusiastic about spreading the word on sustainability.  These young people are Las Vegas residents who inspire me with their dedication and willingness to help America go green.

The point here is that if an inherently non-green city like Las Vegas can embrace sustainability, so should all municipalities.  I urge you to look into what your city is doing to improve the environment.  Sierra Club’s Cool Cities program outlines sustainability agendas  across the nation.  Please take a moment to see what your city is doing at Cool Cities.  Let us hear your comments, and if they aren’t doing enough, be sure to urge your mayor and council members to do more.


 

Pictured Above: Sierra Club Green Home.com employees, Abi Wright and Bridge Barnes, meet Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

I recently received a call from a radio station in Manhattan, wanting me to comment about Mayor Michael Bloomberg using a chopper for the 12 minute hop to see U2 at The Meadowlands. How un-green of him!? What an assault on the environment!? After thinking about it for a moment, I decided to give a rare “no comment” and avoid piling on the Mayor for this egregious mistake.

After the dust settled, there were many detractors and supporters -- and overall, I am in the latter category. It seems that Mayor Bloomberg, who is pals with U2 front man Bono, as they have worked together on charitable endeavors, had committed to attending the concert and visiting with Bono in person before the show. As he was busy meeting with the President of the Dominican Republic (maybe about importing some Little League prodigies to help the Mets?) he didn’t have time to limo the 12 miles to reach The Meadowlands, in New Jersey. Let’s face it, a 12 mile bridge and tunnel journey in New York rush hour can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half. Thus the chopper, a guaranteed 10 minute ride.
 

The green critics called foul: hey, how dare the Mayor use a helicopter, which admittedly is a smoke-belching, air polluting machine, to attend a concert, not a matter of state or city but a personal entertainment event? To which I say, on some level, and sorry about this: all men are not created equal when it comes to personal transportation. Should President Obama not fly Air Force One since it emits more carbon on one cross country flight than thousands of automobiles do over a whole year? Let’s remember that Bloomberg works for no salary, and has contributed hugely to the green movement by tackling many environmental issues in New York. 
 

Indeed, here are just a few of Mayor Bloomberg’s recent green environmental milestones:  creating a law mandating a fully green taxi fleet by 2010 throughout New York;  designing a major water infrastructure  plan that will conserve New York’s water usage;  a program to reduce city carbon emissions a full 30 percent by 2030; an initiative to repopulate the city with fuel efficient, low emissions trash trucks; and the ill-fated Congestion Tax he proposed, one not unlike London’s, which would have charged citizens for driving into Manhattan.
 

Bloomberg is a proven leader in the green world and his time – let’s bear in mind that he is personally a billionaire – is very valuable.  If I were a Manhattan-based taxpayer, I’d want him working on green energy efficiency programs and not sitting in the back seat of a limo wasting over an hour of that precious time.  A helicopter makes sense for the Bloombergs of the world, especially for short hops around Manhattan and the immediate surrounding area.  Efficient, fast and relatively safe travel for a really, really important guy to whom every second counts.
 

This should not be a political issue.  Perhaps it’s about a Wall Street titan vs. the average man?  Wall Street titans are no longer in vogue.  Bloomberg himself quipped, maybe he should have biked and swum his way over to the Meadowlands? 
 

We can all learn from this.  Whenever going on personal errands, to work, or to entertainment and recreational activities, we should try to travel as efficiently as possible.  Walk, ride a bike or take public transportation if we can.  And if circumstances make those choices a no-go, maybe we stay home instead?  However, if Bono is waiting, I’d say go ahead and drive, or even helicopter.  The good that Mayor Bloomberg has done for New York and the long term viability of our planet, and the additional green initiatives that he will launch, have earned him plenty of chits.  I for one say let’s applaud him for his commitment to stopping climate change and working for free in a job that is surely exciting but does infringe on one’s privacy.
 

Your comments, as always, are encouraged.  For as in most of the issues we raise in My Inner Green, there is no real right or wrong answer…

The sustainability movement has come upon us with full force so fast that it’s hard to keep track of the trends and topics, not to mention get a solid grasp of the eco-era fundamentals and back-story. If you are trying to play catch-up or expand your base of knowledge on the subject, here is the must-read list on all things sustainable.

The way this list works - It is divided into two sections: Catalysts and Current. The links, ratings, and reviews were taken from amazon.com. Keep your reading green by getting used books either from amazon.com, your local used book store, or your local library.

Catalysts These books set the stage for the sustainability movement and provided the little nudges along the journey to keep the subject in the mainstream consciousness. Some of them, such as Walden and Sand County Almanac, with their ecologocal thinking and intimate descriptions of the alive and changing rural landscapes, reveal a raw connection and appreciation for the natural world. Others, such as Silent Spring, address the environmental harm caused by business and commerce.

Walden
by Henry David Thoreau, 1854
4 stars
$6.95
Purchase Here

"Walden" is the classic account of two years spent by Henry David Thoreau living at Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts. The story is detailed in its accounts of Thoreau's day-to-day activities, observations, and undertakings to survive out in the wilderness for two years. Thoreau's journal is an exquisite account of a man seeking a more simple life by living in harmony with nature. In today's fast-paced consumer-driven society the austere life style endorsed by Thoreau is as relevant and refreshing as ever.

A Sand County Almanac
by Aldo Leopold, 1949
5 Stars
$13.20
Purchase Here

Published in 1949, shortly after the author's death, A Sand County Almanac is a classic of nature writing, widely cited as one of the most influential nature books ever published. Writing from the vantage of his summer shack along the banks of the Wisconsin River, Leopold mixes essay, polemic, and memoir in his book's pages. In one famous episode, he writes of killing a female wolf early in his career as a forest ranger, coming upon his victim just as she was dying, "in time to watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes.... I was young then, and full of trigger-itch; I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view." Leopold's road-to-Damascus change of view would find its fruit some years later in his so-called land ethic, in which he held that nothing that disturbs the balance of nature is right. Much of Almanac elaborates on this basic premise, as well as on Leopold's view that it is something of a human duty to preserve as much wild land as possible, as a kind of bank for the biological future of all species. Beautifully written, quiet, and elegant, Leopold's book deserves continued study and discussion today.


Silent Spring
by Rachel Carson, 1962
3.5 stars
$9.72
Purchase Here

Silent Spring, released in 1962, offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Rachel Carson's book focused on the poisons from insecticides, weed killers, and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture, a practice that led to dangerous chemicals to the food source. Carson argued that those chemicals were more dangerous than radiation and that for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. Presented with thorough documentation, the book opened more than a few eyes about the dangers of the modern world and stands today as a landmark work.

Limits to Growth
by Donella H. Meadows, Jorgen Randers, and Dennis L. Meadows, 1972
4 Stars
$15.30
Purchase Here

This book, by a trio of professors and systems analysts, offers a pessimistic view of the natural resources available for the world's population. Using extensive computer models based on population, food production, pollution and other data, the authors demonstrate why the world is in a potentially dangerous "overshoot" situation. Put simply, overshoot means people have been steadily using up more of the Earth's resources without replenishing its supplies. The consequences, according to the authors, may be catastrophic: "We... believe that if a profound correction is not made soon, a crash of some sort is certain. And it will occur within the lifetimes of many who are alive today." After explaining overshoot, the book discusses population and industrial growth, the limits on available resources, pollution, technology and, importantly, ways to avoid overshoot. The authors do an excellent job of summarizing their extensive research with clear writing and helpful charts illustrating trends in food consumption, population increases, grain production, etc., in a serious tome likely to appeal to environmentalists, government employees and public policy experts.

The Ecology of Commerce
by Paul Hawken, 1994
4.5 Stars
$12.23
Purchase Here

Paul Hawken, the entrepreneur behind the Smith & Hawken gardening supplies empire, is no ordinary capitalist. Drawing as much on Baba Ram Dass and Vaclav Havel as he does on Peter Drucker and WalMart for his case studies, Hawken is on a one-man crusade to reform our economic system by demanding that First World businesses reduce their consumption of energy and resources by 80 percent in the next 50 years. As if that weren't enough, Hawken argues that business goals should be redefined to embrace such fuzzy categories as whether the work is aesthetically pleasing and the employees are having fun; this applies to corporate giants and mom-and-pop operations alike. He proposes a culture of business in which the real world, the natural world, is allowed to flourish as well, and in which the planet's needs are addressed. Wall Street may not be ready for Hawken's provocative brand of environmental awareness, but this fine book is full of captivating ideas.


Current These books address that which we know today – our environment is at the mercy and threat of our bustling economies, production, and growth. Sustainability is no longer an ideal, but an imperative to preserve the health of our planet for future generations. Each of these books address different issues within the sustainability dialogue. Some offer prescriptions for preservation, such as Cradle to Cradle and Mid-Course Correction. Others, An Inconvenient Truth, lay bare the grim outlook of the effects of unfettered growth, and Natural Capitalism takes a look at sustainable business.

Mid Course Correction - Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface Model
by Ray Anderson, 1999
5 Stars
$13.57
Purchase Here

Of value to business people, environmentalists, and educators alike, Mid-Course Correction is a business book about the enviornment that's written from a personal perspective. With passion and pride, Ray Anderson, Founder, Chairman and CEO of one of the world's largest interior furnishings companies, recounts his awakening to the importance of environmental issues and outlines the steps his petroleum-dependent company, Atlanta-based Interface, Inc., is taking in its quest to become a sustainable enterprise -- one that will never have to take another drop of oil from the Earth. Thought-provoking and thoughtful, Anderson's story is told from the heart.

 
Cradle to Cradle – Remaking the Way We Make Things
by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, 2002
4.5 Stars
$18.15
Purchase Here

Paper or plastic? Neither, say William McDonough and Michael Braungart. Why settle for the least harmful alternative when we could have something that is better--say, edible grocery bags! In Cradle to Cradle, the authors present a manifesto calling for a new industrial revolution, one that would render both traditional manufacturing and traditional environmentalism obsolete. Recycling, for instance, is actually "downcycling," creating hybrids of biological and technical "nutrients" which are then unrecoverable and unusable. The authors, an architect and a chemist, want to eliminate the concept of waste altogether, while preserving commerce and allowing for human nature. They offer several compelling examples of corporations that are not just doing less harm--they're actually doing some good for the environment and their neighborhoods, and making more money in the process. Cradle to Cradle is a refreshing change from the intractable environmental conflicts that dominate headlines. It's a handbook for 21st-century innovation and should be required reading for business hotshots and environmental activists.

Biomimicry – Inspired By Nature
by Janine Benyus, 2002
4 Stars
$10.49
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Forget the notion that technology improves upon nature. Benyus introduces us to pioneering engineers making technological breakthroughs by uncovering and copying nature's hidden marvels. These engineers are devising solar fuel cells as efficient as plants, fibers as tough as abalone shell, and computers as sophisticated as the brain. For Benyus, though, a technology that mirrors nature does more than enlarge human powers and gratify human ambitions. Such a technology teaches us how to live in harmony with nature, rather than how to dominate it. Unless we learn this urgent lesson, Benyus warns, our highly unnatural and exploitative technologies will soon render the earth unfit for life. Sobering yet hopeful, this book will bring help bridge the dangerous chasm between technophiles and environmentalists.


An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It
by Al Gore, 2006
4.5 Stars
$16.29
Purchase Here

An Inconvenient Truth—Gore’s groundbreaking, battle cry of a follow-up to the bestselling Earth in the Balance—is being published to tie in with a documentary film of the same name. Both the book and film were inspired by a series of multimedia presentations on global warming that Gore created and delivers to groups around the world. With this book, Gore, who is one of our environmental heroes—and a leading expert—brings together leading-edge research from top scientists around the world; photographs, charts, and other illustrations; and personal anecdotes and observations to document the fast pace and wide scope of global warming. He presents, with alarming clarity and conclusiveness—and with humor, too—that the fact of global warming is not in question and that its consequences for the world we live in will be disastrous if left unchecked. This riveting new book—written in an accessible, entertaining style—will open the eyes of even the most skeptical.

Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution
by Paul Hawken, Amy Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins, 2008
4.5 Stars
$12.91
Purchase Here

In Natural Capitalism, three top strategists show how leading-edge companies are practicing "a new type of industrialism" that is more efficient and profitable while saving the environment and creating jobs. Paul Hawken and Amory and Hunter Lovins write that in the next century, cars will get 200 miles per gallon without compromising safety and power, manufacturers will relentlessly recycle their products, and the world's standard of living will jump without further damaging natural resources. "Is this the vision of a utopia? In fact, the changes described here could come about in the decades to come as the result of economic and technological trends already in place," the authors write.

They call their approach natural capitalism because it's based on the principle that business can be good for the environment. For instance, Interface of Atlanta doubled revenues and employment and tripled profits by creating an environmentally friendly system of recycling floor coverings for businesses. The authors also describe how the next generation of cars is closer than we might think. Manufacturers are already perfecting vehicles that are ultralight, aerodynamic, and fueled by hybrid gas-electric systems. If natural capitalism continues to blossom, so much money and resources will be saved that societies will be able to focus on issues such as housing, contend Hawken, author of a book and PBS series called Growing a Business, and the Lovinses, who cofounded and directed the Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental think tank. The book is a fascinating and provocative read for public-policy makers, as well as environmentalists and capitalists alike.

I was cleaning out my computer docs and came across notes I forgot post. I think they are still relevant eventhought the attention by most has turned from energy to economy. Read on if you want clean energy options.

I attended a conference last spring in Colorado. One discussion was led by Ray Lane, Managing Partner of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. He talked about the clean tech market and the areas of opportunity. Now I have been to many clean tech presentations and usually when I come out of them I understand about half of what is being said. It takes me back to my 8th grade German classes when it seemed everyone else knew what was going on but me. (Ich bin un dummkopf.) But Ray’s presentation did not evoke those teenage images of discomfort. Here are some of the points I came away with that I think all should know:

Facts of global warming
80% of our energy is dependent on fossil fuels.
50% of our fossil fuel consumption is wasted through heat, processing or other areas of inefficiencies.
7 gigatons  (7 billion tons) of carbon are annually emitted by the U.S.  The atmosphere holds about 750 gigatons of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide. Humanity currently emits about 22 gigatons of carbon dioxide, about seven gigatons of which is carbon (excluding traditional biomass burning of one gigaton). That 22-gigaton annual output of carbon dioxide comes from burning about seven gigatons of the current mix of hydrocarbon.  
To stop global warming we will need to eliminate 350 gigatons from the atmosphere. Lane stressed the concept of technological "wedges" which, when fully deployed in 2050, will result in one gigaton per year of carbon emissions reductions.

Those are some big numbers. So what are our options?

Solar – Solar energy is energy directly from the sun. This energy drives the climate and weather and supports virtually all life on Earth. Heat and light from the sun, along with solar-based resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available flow of renewable energy. The sun emits 100,000 terrawatts (if you don’t know what that is – it is A LOT) constantly. Lane stated that it is estimated that in 2050 the world will use 15 terrawatts per year.

Challenges - storage and capacity issues as well as costs. If we are able to develop better ways to store large amounts of solar produced energy we can then get it closer to the cost of energy provided by coal.

Opportunities - We are a few product generations away from producing solar in an efficient and cheap way that can be affordable for power companies and consumers to utilize solar on a mass scale. A grid 92 x 92 miles could power the U.S. needs. More information on solar options can be found here. http://www.ases.org/

Wind – In 2005, wind machines in the United States generated a total of 17.8 billion kWh per year of electricity, enough to serve more than 1.6 million households. This is enough electricity to power a city the size of Chicago, but it is only a small fraction of the nation's total electricity production, about 0.4 percent. The amount of electricity generated from wind has been growing fast in recent years, tripling since 1998.

Challenges – transmission lines from wind farms to communities is expensive. Reliant on wind blowing and may be intermittent.

Opportunities – This is one of the fastest growing sector of alternative energy. The U.S. leads the world in wind installations. More information on wind energy can be found here.

Bio-fuels – Biofuels are produced from living organisms or from metabolic by-products (organic or food waste products). In order to be considered a biofuel the fuel must contain over 80 percent renewable materials. 

Challenges – competition of crops for fuel vs. food.

Opportunities –  1.4 trillion gallons currently produced. The U.S. consumes 6 trillion.
Cellulostic crops produce fuels competitive to those of last years high fuel prices. For more info on bio Fuels here is a good resource.

Geo Thermal – is energy generated by heat stored beneath the Earth's surface or the collection of absorbed heat in the atmosphere and oceans. It offers a number of advantages over traditional fossil fuel based sources. From an environmental standpoint, the energy harnessed is clean and safe for the surrounding environment.

Challenges – not everyone lives in Iceland and has hot pools outside their doorways. Environmental concerns with drilling and drilling expenses.

Opportunities – It was estimated that geo thermal power can provide 100 gigawatts of thermal power. Once accessed it can provide clean efficient energy and a competitive cost point.  For more info on geo thermal click here

Product Energy Efficiency – The next generation of vehicles need to be more fuel efficient. If car fuel efficiency increased to 60 mpg would reduce emissions by 25%.

Challenges – people are incentive based.

Opportunities – build in technologies to manage efficiencies. Sleep modes, etc. Learn what cars are the most and least fuel efficient here.

Other – The consumption habits of modern consumer lifestyles are causing a huge worldwide waste problem. 15 billion megawatts of energy is lost to waste. Some alternative energy companies are developing new ways to recycle waste by generating electricity from landfill waste and pollution.

Pricing Carbon – Experts believe this will occur between $20-$50 per metric ton. Others disagree.

All of these are very interesting options and demonstrate that there is no silver bullet to the Inconvenient Truth.

The LOHAS concept has definitely become a global phenomenon with mass appeal. A Google keyword search on LOHAS provides close to 3 million results. The search results are websites, news articles, videos and blog posts from all over the world including the U.S., Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Germany and Korea. LOHAS has especially gained traction in Asian countries. For example, the Singapore Tourist Bureau has promoted itself as a LOHAS oriented city because it has beautiful gardens and clean city streets. The Korean Standards Association, which includes companies such as LG Electronics and Daesang FNF, has a LOHAS assessment and certification for environmentally friendly Korean products and services. A LOHAS Park is currently under development in Hong Kong that includes plans for 3,000 trees and a watering system that recycles rain and household waste water for gardens. In Japan, surveys showed that 22% of the population over the age of 15 are familiar with the term and 30% of adults consider themselves to be LOHAS consumers. LOHAS has definitely hit the shores of Taiwan, too. Just walking around Taipei you can find LOHAS oriented stores, products and magazines, as well as the large LOHAS department store in Kaoshung. There is evidence everywhere that LOHAS appeals to many Asians.

But how did this all happen? And where is it going?  All over the world people are recognizing that there has been a price paid for modernization. As cities grow and develop and more and more people live in populated areas with fast-paced lifestyles, pollution, more stress and unhealthy fast foods, health and overall wellbeing suffer the consequences. These are problems that many people face.  Many are starting to look closely at their own personal heath, as well as the health of their communities and the planet.   I have witnessed this in the United States. Many Americans are becoming more aware of their environmental impact and health and lifestyle issues. They are also seeking a sense of meaning and purpose beyond a fast-paced stressful life with no time to themselves. They want to be a part of a larger movement to give more meaning to their lives and they want to purchase products that are in line with their personal values.

Respect for the environment, community support and inner peace have been rooted deeply in Asian history and culture for centuries.  I find it interesting that some of these values westerners crave are inherent qualities of Asian tradition.  LOHAS brings these two worlds together, Asia and the West, by combining traditional Chinese values in a modern way that has mass appeal. People can return to or maintain their values but in an updated modern trendy way through LOHAS principles and practices. Those it appeals to are interested in a deeper sense of meaning and purpose while also feeling connected to a larger movement that values health and the environment.  

This is something that is very exciting to see and has tremendous potential if not abused, which leads to my next question: How does one know what is truly a LOHAS product? Clearly, many companies are guilty of ‘LOHAS-washing’ and take advantage of current trends and interest without being responsible for the environment, health concerns, etc. There are LOHAS branded coffee shops, LOHAS energy bars, LOHAS beer, LOHAS wine and many, many more. Since there are no standards set in place, anyone can claim their product is a LOHAS product.  For example, many companies wrap items in natural looking packaging and us green trees and a fresh, clean look in their advertisements, but they may or may not have a LOHAS product. This creates the opportunity for many companies to abuse the concept of LOHAS and dilute its essence for the sake of their own profit.  Consumers need to be careful they are not being misled and need to research a company’s authenticity.  In the U.S., ‘greenwashing’ is a term used to describe the practice of companies spinning their product as being environmentally friendly as a means to appeal to consumers.  Be careful of companies that are greenwashing or LOHAS-washing.

Sins of LOHAS-washing:
The Canadian company Terrachoice produced a study called the “Six Sins of Greenwashing.” They surveyed over 1,000 products in six different categories and came up with the six sins that can be applied to LOHAS washing:

•    Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off: e.g. “Energy-efficient” electronics that contain hazardous materials. 57% of all surveyed companies committed this Sin.

•    Sin of No Proof: e.g. Shampoos claiming to be “certified organic,” but with no verifiable certification. 26% of all surveyed companies committed this Sin.

•    Sin of Vagueness: e.g. Products claiming to be 100% natural when many naturally-occurring substances are hazardous, like arsenic and formaldehyde. 11% of all surveyed companies committed this Sin.

•    Sin of Irrelevance: e.g. Products claiming to be Cloroflurocarbon(CFC)-free, even though CFCs were banned 20 years ago in the U.S. 4% of all surveyed companies committed this Sin.

•    Sin of Fibbing: e.g. Products falsely claiming to be certified by an internationally recognized environmental standard like EcoLogo, Energy Star or Green Seal. Found in 10 products or less than 1% of environmental claims.

•    Sin of Lesser of Two Evils: e.g. Organic cigarettes or “environmentally friendly” pesticides, This occurred in 17 products or 1% of environmental claims.

These are great benchmarks for LOHAS-minded consumers to determine if company making LOHAS claims is actually speaking the truth. Unfortunately it is up to the consumer to research products for LOHAS authenticity because there are no regulations or LOHAS oriented certifications. As the concept gains more momentum and international appeal, this is a challenge that is not only specific to Taiwan but the whole world. I believe that people do not wake up in the morning and plan to harm others or the environment, however many people, particularly people in power, sometimes make decisions which have unexpected consequences. Many people have the desire to adopt LOHAS principles and become more responsible in their lives but obviously it can be more complicated that it seems. Once guidance and resources are more refined and available, LOHAS can be a way to enhance the self, community and the world like never before.



How to fight LOHAS-washing:
Research research research! – Read the packaging of a product. Do you understand all the words used? Does the message make sense to your heart? If you have questions ask the store keeper for information or go to the company website and see if they talk about their mission and ingredients.

Find stores that carry like-minded brands – Typically a store that is truly LOHAS based is very transparent with their beliefs and will share information with you. They are great resources for additional products and services that you may enjoy.

Ask for no MSG and natural and organic ingredients in restaurants – Monosodium Glutemate (MSG) is predominant in Chinese food as a flavor enhancer. However studies have shown it has adverse health effects including obesity and even seizures in extreme cases. Say no to MSG!

Looks beyond the advertising – Beware of LOHAS-washing. See if items are natural, recycled, providing charitable contributions, reducing waste, or are organic. If the product only looks LOHAS and the company cannot answer your questions it is possible they may be LOHAS-washing.