If you’re at all like the gang at Marketing Eco, when a way to save energy takes only two clicks of the mouse button to implement, you’re all over it.

Hang on to your hats and get ready to to “click on” your energy savings, because by using Blackle as your browser’s home page and your default search engine you can make an impact, and we all know that even the small energy savings are important ones.

Here’s the scoop straight from Blackle.com:

How is Blackle saving energy?

Blackle was created by Heap Media to remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy. Blackle searches are powered by Google Custom Search.

Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. “Image displayed is primarily a function of the user’s color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen.” Roberson et al, 2002

In January 2007 a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year proposed the theory that a black version of the Google search engine would save a fair bit of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. Since then there has been skepticism about the significance of the energy savings that can be achieved and the cost in terms of readability of black web pages.

We believe that there is value in the concept because even if the energy savings are small, they all add up. Secondly we feel that seeing Blackle every time we load our web browser reminds us that we need to keep taking small steps to save energy.

How can you help?

We encourage you to set Blackle as your home page. This way every time you load your Internet browser you will save a little bit of energy. Remember every bit counts! You will also be reminded about the need to save energy each time you see the Blackle page load.

Help us spread the word about Blackle by telling your friends and family to set it as their home page. If you have a blog then give us a mention. Or put the following text in your email signature: “Blackle.com – Saving energy one search at a time”.

Have a look at our energy saving tips page for ideas on steps you can take to save energy or you can follow Blackle on Twitter and we will keep you updated with simple energy saving tips.

There are a lot of great web sites about saving energy and being more environmentally friendly. They are full of great tips covering the little things that we can all do to make a difference today. Try Blackling “energy saving tips” or visit one of the many great blogs dedicated to environmental awareness.

If you haven’t changed your browser’s default home page before, Blackle has instructions embedded above to set Blackle as your home page.

Thanks to Eco Scout, Marketing Eco has “clicked on” energy savings for each ME computer. We’d love to hear how many people are already on board with Blackle, and how many of you give two clicks for sustainability by visiting http://www.blackle.com now.

Per Eco Scout, it’s true as long as the site meets strict quality criteria, fills gaps in educational content, and is approved by the EEWW.

Here’s the scoop on criteria and how to submit your Web site straight from the EEWW:

The EPA Environmental Education Web sites make quality environmental education materials more accessible to Kids, Middle School Students, High School Students and Teachers. The EPA’s Environmental Education Web Workgroup (EEWW) evaluates sites to determine whether they are appropriate to be included as links on EPA’s environmental education portal pages.

Read the linking criteria to determine if the site you are proposing may be included in any of the portal sites. The site will not be selected if it:

• Promotes commercial activities
• Promotes political organizations
• Engages in advocacy
• Is not fact based and neutral

[Reference: Above information from http://www.ttemidev.com/eewwRev/]

Our audiences

We design our environmental education portals for specific target audiences. (Grades and ages may vary for certain content.)

Our Environmental Education Portal Web sites
Site	Audience	We link to:
Environmental Kids Club	grades pre-K-5 or ages 4-10	we link to EPA sites, other federal, state and local government sites, and educational sites (e.g., museums, educational institutions)
Student Environmental Center	grades 6-8 or ages 11-13	we link to EPA sites, other federal, state and local government sites, and educational sites (e.g., museums, educational institutions).
High School Environmental Center	grades 9-12 or ages 14-18	we link to EPA and other government sites, educational sites, and some non-government sites.
Teaching Center	classroom, home school, or non-classroom instructors for youth grades pre-K-12 or ages 4-18	we link to EPA and other government sites, educational sites, and some non-government sites.

[Reference: Audience information, method of evaluating sites, and more details regarding criteria can be found on http://www.epa.gov/teachers/criteria.htm]

Per Eco Scout, submit a site for EEWW review at: http://www.ttemidev.com/eewwRev/

Eco Scout has been watching for updates to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) "Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims" and noticed that the FTC updated eCFR Title 16, Part 260 on July 1, 2009.

Stay tuned! Eco Scout will stay on the trail of this e-CFR and keep you in the loop regarding all future FTC changes big and small. Even though this recent update by the FTC wasn’t much to squawk about, as the FTC continues to hold hearings and gather information we expect to see changes in the regulation of environmental marketing claims.

TITLE 16–Commercial Practices
CHAPTER I–FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
SUBCHAPTER B–GUIDES AND TRADE PRACTICE RULES
PART 260–GUIDES FOR THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS

Try one of these easy ways to stay connected and connect your friends and colleagues to all Eco Scout’s finds on Marketing Eco:

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For those of you who want certainty about making environmental claims, it’s critical to work with marketing and advertising firms that are familiar with this information and on top of future updates. 

Because the FTC will continue to gather information, hold hearings, and update these guides as needed, Marketing Eco will keep a watch on developments with this e-CFR.

Without further ado, here’s the scoop from the FTC:

The guides in this part represent administrative interpretations of laws administered by the Federal Trade Commission for the guidance of the public in conducting its affairs in conformity with legal requirements. These guides specifically address the application of Section 5 of the FTC Act to environmental advertising and marketing practices. They provide the basis for voluntary compliance with such laws by members of industry. Conduct inconsistent with the positions articulated in these guides may result in corrective action by the Commission under Section 5 if, after investigation, the Commission has reason to believe that the behavior falls within the scope of conduct declared unlawful by the statute.

These guides apply to environmental claims included in labeling, advertising, promotional materials and all other forms of marketing, whether asserted directly or by implication, through words, symbols, emblems, logos, depictions, product brand names, or through any other means, including marketing through digital or electronic means, such as the Internet or electronic mail. The guides apply to any claim about the environmental attributes of a product, package or service in connection with the sale, offering for sale, or marketing of such product, package or service for personal, family or household use, or for commercial, institutional or industrial use."

e-CFR Data is current as of June 18, 2009
TITLE 16–Commercial Practices
CHAPTER I–FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
SUBCHAPTER B–GUIDES AND TRADE PRACTICE RULES
PART 260–GUIDES FOR THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS

Eco Scout – Eco Adventurer and Devoted Green Retriever

Thanks to Eco Scout, Marketing Eco is on the trail of green marketing techniques, environmentally sound business practices, and other eco friendly ideas.

Ever hungry for outside-the-box eco thinking and new eco adventures, Eco Scout invites you to email Eco Scout or add a comment on a MarketingEco.com post with your favorite eco friendly finds. Eco Scout will highlight a favorite eco tip from reader submissions each month. Email Eco Scout at:

Stop back often to watch for Eco Scout’s posts, to feed Eco Scout treats (in the form of eco tips), or simply subscribe to an RSS feed and come along for a colorful and ongoing eco adventure you won’t want to miss.

Marketing Eco is committed to "Saving the Earth Together Through Sustainable Marketing" by improving ecology and economy through eco-friendly marketing practices, client-empowering, interactive and social media marketing techniques, and partnerships with environmentally conscious clients and vendors. With over 18 years of hands-on international marketing experience in a broad range of industries, Marketing Eco is helping companies from all walks, both green businesses and regular companies who want to green up and their business practices.

	Project Eco-Office – Green Business Practices Marketing Eco takes an active part in Project Eco-Office, the ongoing effort to make our business practices as eco friendly as our marketing services.
	Eco Scout – Eco Adventurer and Devoted Green Retriever Eco Scout’s goal is to bring you the latest and greatest of green marketing techniques, environmentally sound business practices, and other eco friendly ideas. Learn more about Eco Scout here >
	Website Hosted With 100% Solar Energy Our website is hosted with AISO.net, 100% powered by solar panels, not energy credits. Their green data center and network goes well beyond just using clean energy to help fight pollution and preserve our natural resources.