Home » Expert Opinions » Energy efficiency , Green IT , Green Tools , Smart grid » The new environmentally aware mobile user
The new environmentally aware mobile user
The new environmentally aware mobile user
By Annette Zimmermann | Jul 1, 2010
Rising energy prices are not the only factor motivating environmentally aware behavior. There has been a clear trend toward supporting organizations and products that respect the environment. Interest in green products is growing, as revealed by many consumer studies in the past two years, and there are several instances of manufacturers of green products receiving favorable treatment from governments.
The German government recently introduced new legislation that allows state banks to offer credit lines at lower interest rates to makers of environmentally friendly products.
We are seeing many initiatives that help mobile device users to make better and informed product choices. Examples include:
- T-Mobile US launched the free Green Perks application in June 2009. Users receive electronic coupons on their mobile phone that offer discounts on environmentally friendly products and services.
- The App Store has several free applications, such as an eco-calendar and the application Breadcrumbs that retrieves information about grocery food items.
Several of the leading handset vendors continued their emphasis on green products in 2009, focusing on different aspects such as packaging and product materials. Gartner's research in 2008 showed that the industry has made progress in introducing new products with less environmental impact. This includes phasing out hazardous chemicals (for example, PVC), using recycled material for products and packaging, and introducing online manuals.
