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In today’s society, words like “green,” “eco-friendly,” and “sustainable” have become much more prevalent, creating a buzz which unfortunately does not live up to the true state of the world. Many are lured into a false sense of security, thinking that hordes of others are going the extra mile for them – that if those people are making such a concerted effort to green the Earth, then they need not worry about the cause; it will, undoubtedly, all balance out. Unfortunately, this is not so.
Our planet is consistently changing and we aren’t helping as much as we think. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy stated that there was a 6 percent increase in world carbon dioxide emissions between 2009 and 2010. This may seem like a relatively small figure, but it technically adds up to 564 million more tons. Such numbers become even more of a cause for concern when you consider this: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated back in 2007 that the rate of global warming would be based on carbon dioxide pollution, and this new data on emissions is even higher than their worst-case scenarios at the time.
The proof is all around us, too, in everyday weather occurrences that we chalk up as mere inconveniences. Statistics offered by the Pew Center for Global Climate Change show that the frequency of heavy downpours across the United States between 1958 and 2007 had increased by an average of 20 percent. That’s just the national average, too; the frequency of heavy rainfall in the Northeast showed an increase of 58 percent. Back in the 1950s, record high temperatures were recorded in comparison to record lows at a ratio of 1:1. In the past decade or so, they have begun to occur twice as often. The world has, indeed, experienced some extreme weather in recent times and science suggests that global warming will only lead to even more extreme events.
The question, therefore, is why we are allowing all of this to happen. We at GoodLife Report recognize why there is such a contrast between the figures and the intent of citizens across the globe. There are those who think that being eco-friendly requires too much sacrifice; that it detracts from your quality of living. We’re here to tell you that there are many fine companies out there that are working hard to not only put out their best product but to ensure that they are minimizing their carbon footprint as well. This is why we started the GreenLux Awards last year; we hope to draw attention to brands that are doing their part to help preserve this place we all call home.
This year’s GreenLux honorees were chosen strictly on merit by our array of contributing editors, none of whom have accepted any perks or free merchandise for the sake of advertising. In our second year of running the Awards, we’ve decided to introduce several new categories so that the topics stay fresh. We know that not every area of interest will necessarily have a green product that impresses us from year to year, and we hope that each honoree we choose is absolutely worthy of the company of the others. We want our winners to not just reflect on our business motto, “Luxury With a Purpose,” but also on what is new, relevant, groundbreaking or fun in the lifestyle niche.
With that said, the 2011 GreenLux Awards honor astounding products and businesses in the following categories: Greenest Gourmet Food Product, Greenest Urban Hotel, Greenest Appliance, Greenest Mobile App, Greenest Clothing Line, Greenest Fine Dining, Greenest American Brewery and Greenest Hybrid Auto. We believe that you’ll be delighted at just how luxurious some of these choices actually are. Imagine soft, lightweight wool comfortwear that is creating American jobs through its production and is made by a company that aims to be entirely carbon neutral by 2013. Picture a gorgeous hotel in the scenic Northwest that is LEED Silver Certified and completely powered by renewable sources. Or, if you’re the skeptical sort, think of a handy mobile app that puts a variety of consumer concerns at your fingertips, branding products that pique your interest by their social, environmental and health impact. Trust us; these picks are sure to wow you.
We hope that as you read about our honorees, you consider how every little bit of effort counts when it comes to preservation. None of us are perfect, but we can all incorporate new products and routines into our life to contribute to the global campaign to be green. Remember: We can all live the good life and still respect the Earth. The better we take care of our planet now, the more we’ll be able to explore and experience all that it provides for us in the future.