Unless you’ve been laid up in bed all this week, you’ve heard that Apple is releasing a new iPhone 3G-S with an amazing array of features But one you may not have heard of is a brilliant bridging between the iPhone and Zipcar.
These two are as they say peas in a pod, technology enhanced life(style) enhancements, for a demographic that I imagine likes that they get to both have what they want, when they want it, and do good by the planet at the same time.
Impressing your friends in the bargain is a fine dessert.
Much like the 3rdWhale app helps you locate green businesses in physical proximity to you, the upcoming Zipcar app will tell you where the nearest available cars are, allowing you to browse what’s there, learn about them, how many people they’ll fit, then when you’ve decided, reserve it, getting directions how to get there.
As demonstrated in this video from the recent premier of this app, it then will honk the horn of your car as you approach, even open the door. Yes, with an image of a key with buttons on your phone.
This is a wise move on both company’s parts, as it helps further integrate with the user’s life, allowing access and ease from any location, therefore encouraging more likelihood of making this sustainable choice of using a shared car, one that Zipcar has an interest in keeping running in optimum condition, therefore reducing unnecessary emissions, while minimizing the number of cars on the road. And in an urban environment, cars with dedicated parking spots will collectively go a long way to even further reduce both emissions and traffic of those endlessly circling for a spot.
Readers: What other useful integrations of mobile technology and green behavior have you seen? Comment below please!
How did the Environmentalist Movement begin ?
People have been concerned with issues relating to their environment as far back as the earliest human civilizations.
At least 4,000 years ago!
The Bible states that you should rest your fields on the 7th year:
But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.
Governing the availability of food, water and habitable land, the stability of the environment is crucial to our survival as human beings. It is therefore human nature to be concerned in some way, at the prospect of an environmental catastrophe.
Concerns for water and air pollution can be found in Ancient Roman texts and soil conservation was practiced in China, India and Peru 2000 years ago.
Most people use the publication of Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” (1962) as the starting point for modern environmentalism. The 1st Earth Day occurred in 1970.
The generation that founded the modern ‘green’ movement in the 1960’s could not have been the first to act in a belief that the damage being done to the environment might be a danger to civilization.
The Industrial Revolution brought up the first bout of health issues related to harmful particles in the air, as well as the first measures to protect the countryside.
So it seems safe to say that as civilization has expanded, concerns about the environment have increased hand in hand with economic and social development over time, like a rising tide.
How has it developed?
The difference between the way we view the environment today has changed in a very important way.
Awareness of the environment and issues concerning it are now a major part of our global consciousness, affecting us on a much deeper level than ever before.
With the onset of the industrial revolution a new, global environmental problem emerged which we have come to call ‘Global Warming’.
The key word here is ‘Global’.
Rather than affecting a local area, the threat is now international.
Some forecasts say that sea levels will rise by 1 meter by the end of this century displacing 72 million people in China alone.
People displaced by flooding around the world would create an unimaginable humanitarian disaster.
This is the driving force behind our desire to save the environment. It is simply the fundamental human instinct of survival.
Our urge to preserve the environment has mutated into a need to save humanity itself, tapping into our most basic human desire.
Fact: The average temperatures over the last 15 years have been the highest ever recorded.
There may be 200 million climate refugees by 2050.
The issue of global warming has sprouted a forest of interested groups around the world. Charities, companies and political parties, even individuals are putting more and more emphasis on their ‘green credentials’.
Are they motivated by the wish to help put off global disaster?
Or just to benefit themselves without any real concern for the environment itself?
How can we tell?
That is really cool,are ZipCars all over the United States yet?
@greencrusader You’ve clearly go a lot of passion around this subject! I think that people’s motivation matters less then the ultimate result. If people do environmentally beneficial behavior because they want to make a positive impact on the global environment, fine. If they want to do it to look cool, and in the process help keep the planet cooler, fine to. Just as long as a critical mass are making more planet friendly choices, it’s all for good, in the end.
@Kate They area in several major cities at this point, and in London. Great to see such interest in and there’s even competition in this realm, the better for all of us who could use them!