While I really hope that the Green Marketing phenomenon isn't just a fad, there's no reason why an adult webmaster should avoid the big green wave that's currently washing over everything. Call me cynical but I have a fear that the moment something shinier comes along, Green Marketing will get dropped like yesterday's trash. Unfortunately, the whole world is experiencing an economic downturn and sustainable products are often more expensive that regular ones. Then again, in the long run, when you live and operate with the environment in mind you save money by saving resources.
How does the Adult Webmaster go Green?
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"As far as webmastering is concerned, the best way you can make your site go green is to make it as fast-loading and easy-to-navigate as possible." |
The same way as everyone else does. Go green personally. People in our profession spend an inordinate amount of time on the Internet thus requiring an inordinate amount of power for our computers, broadband modems and other hardware. If you're looking to upgrade your machinery, now is the time to make sure your new equipment is Energy Star compliant. Today's desktops and laptops are far less watt-hungry as those of five years ago. From monitors to CPUs to notebooks, a piece of hardware purchased now uses less electricity.
In fact, almost all appliance manufacturers are producing goods that consume less power. Refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, air conditioners, electric razors, coffee makers, lamps, Energy Star stickers on these machines are nearly as ubiquitous as UL stickers. Of course you should go out and get you some florescent or LED light bulbs but your energy savings efforts shouldn't stop with bulbs. The next time some gadget or machine dies, buy an Energy Star compliant replacement.
Instead of spraying your house with chemical laden air fresheners, go greener. You can drop a couple of hundred dollars on some energy-sucking air cleaner or you can take that money and fill your home with plants nature's air filters. Plants eat the carbon you expel as well as many other pollutants. In addition, when you keep your plants properly watered, you add moisture to the air of your home. Not only will your place smell better, the air will be cleaner and more environmentally beneficial to your skin and lungs.
Stop using chemical-laden personal care and cleaning products. Really, things like soap and glass cleaner don't have to be made with ingredients you can't pronounce. You can get surfaces shiny and clean with concoctions no more complicated that vinegar mixed with water. If you don't want to make your own, many of these green products come in gallon sizes or concentrated formulations where you re-fill the original dispenser, thus reducing waste. When you cease buying and using harmful chemicals, you cease adding them to the water supply as well as your system.
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Re-use whatever you can. Old CDs make great coasters. Empty butter containers store leftovers just as well as plastic wrap and tinfoil. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on bottled water, buy a nice filter, refill old glass bottles with fresh H20 and chill them in your fridge. Take a patch of your yard and turn it into a small vegetable garden. When you grow them yourself, you cut down on the gas spent and carbon expelled, transporting veggies to the grocery store. Take a good look at everything you own, especially before you throw it out. Or consider buying something new. Ask yourself, can my things be re-purposed or re-used?
If your adult business involves shipping tangible items, you can most definitely help the environment by packing those goods with sustainability in mind. Smaller mailers and greener cases for DVDS. Instead of Styrofoam, old newspapers and shredded documents make wonderful packing material. Those little plastic air-pillows save because one uses less of them to cushion breakable goods.
As far as webmastering is concerned, the best way you can make your site go green is to make it as fast-loading and easy-to-navigate as possible. The less time your surfers waste trying to figure pout where the porn is, the less time they spend with their computers turned on. When your graphics load quickly and your videos play properly, you'll send your visitors off to yours sponsors that much faster.
You know, if the powers-that-be decide the green trend is over, that doesn't mean you have to stop acting like a good conservator. If we train ourselves to use less and waste less, we can make our air, land and water better, without the nagging of Madison Avenue. There's no special talent to sustainable living. In fact, it's so easy, even an adult webmaster can do it!