Don't Ass-u-me.

Well, many of us have been asking this question for some time now. Especially over the past couple of years with all of the neo-environmentalism currently taking place. In fact, one of the very fist blog entries here at Eco-$ucker discussed the Eco-Chic phenomena from a business perspective; noting how the green movement has really been a dream come true for advertisers and marketers alike. At the end of the day however, one has to ask... do these "green" products actually deliver?
As with all things... Buyer beware.

So like many globally-conscious people out there, maybe you are now leaning towards purchasing more "green" products. I would argue of course that this has more to do with the emotional boost (however short-lived) that comes from purchasing products that supposedly are easy on the environment, versus any real net effect that they may (or may not) have. Remember, most people buy more based on emotion than logic.

Be honest, have you ever really thought about whether the so-called "green"products you buy are actually (read: scientifically) better for the planet? Or do you just take the manufacturers word for it? If you take the manufacturers word for it... there's a good chance that you may be an Eco-$ucker

On that note, here's a new story from the UK regarding a recent study performed by the staff of Auto Express magazine. In a recent test, these brave men and women dared to ask... Are hybrid cars which are touted as better for the environment, really better for the environment? You decide...

Eco-friendly claims for ‘hybrid’ cars dismissed as gimmickry

That's right. According to the team at Auto Express, what we once assumed was true about hybrid vehicles, may not be true at all...

Know someone who drives a Honda Civic Hybrid? The Auto Express team didn't have many good things to say about that particular ride...

The Honda Civic hybrid, regarded widely as one of the lowest emitting cars, performed the worst in the tests.

Instead of the 109g/km of CO2 claimed in the makers’ specifications, it was found to put out 171g/km. The testers said its electric motor was “not strong enough to propel the oddball four-door Civic on its own” and they concluded that the vehicle “failed to match the firm’s economy claims”.

Splitting hairs perhaps? Arguing that even the worst hybrid vehicle is significantly better than a conventional gas guzzler? I can't answer that, but think about how much C02 is released into the air by a single volcanic eruption versus how much C02 is put into the air by all humans combined and that "significant difference" becomes mute faster than a Toyota Prius can hit 60.

In the auto sales business, they often use the term "buyers remorse." I suspect that a few more cases of such an affliction will be recorded by years end. BTW, anyone know a good lemon lawyer?