10.10.08

The price of Green

Posted in General at 3:55 pm by Administrator

Here we must be clear that price is not the same as cost. Price = cost over time. Green choices take into account time and cost. We have often made purchases that are based solely on looks or the here and now. While this should play a role in our decisions, a wise choice considers what is not seen immediately.

All our consumer choices include the hidden time factor and costs in the price we pay. Our purchases come with baggage. Verizon Wireless has used this in their ads. Hosts of people are found behind the phone connection. We generally do not see them and so we forget they are there. We purchase a hamburger and do not see the cow, farmer or slaughterhouse that brought the meat to market. We live in a very specialized nation and often are out of touch with what it takes to bring products and services to market.

Contrary to popular belief “Green” choices do not have a higher price (Note: a “green” tag should not always be taken at face value watch for impostors :). A compact fluorescent light bulb costs more than a Thomas Edison, but the price is less. The life of a CFL is around 10,000 hours, the life of a standard Edison is around 1,000. The cost of a CFL is about $4.00, the cost of an Edison about $.60. The price of a CFL 400/10000 or 4 cents an hour. The price of an Edison 60/1000 or 6 cents an hour. The costs vary by model and retailer, but it is commonly perceived that CFL bulbs are expensive because the cost does not reflect the price. CFL bulbs also consume significantly less energy, 23 watts compares to an Edison 100-watt bulb. Energy-wise choices come at a lower price.

There are numerous factors that can be evaluated. There are many shades of green. The real issue, Are we living life for only today. Are we planning to stick around for 1,000 hours or 10,000…more? Will we, do we, care who pays the price? What legacy will we leave for the next occupants of our home, what legacy will we leave for our children? Are we proverbial used car/home salesmen or do we live with integrity? If you have not yet, please join the Energy-Star campaign with the simple green step of changing a light bulb.

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