No, there will be no ‘eco fatigue’ in 2009, mainly because it’s hard to ignore or to dismiss the mind-boggling fortunes (and the accompanying power shifts and reductions in pollution) that are in store for those who figure out how to get the world off its addiction to oil and coal. Which means a steady stream of eco sub-trends.

They state and I agree though, that the growing wave of green companies will shift from product providers to service providers. The growing need for consultants that help everyone from businesses to consumers go green is sure to be a popular new business to start in 2009.

ECONCIERGES are firms and services dedicated to helping households go green in any possible way. And while any advice that reduces a household’s (harmful) consumption is beneficial enough, the fact that such advice leads to savings makes this a very 2009 development. In the next 12 months, count on cash-strapped consumers to embrace sustainability with a vengeance, but first and foremost for monetary reasons. Next? How about helping consumers to make money by being green, by for example letting them generate and sell excess power to the ‘grid’?

How can ordinary people tap into that trend? By offering services that consumers need. Popular blogger and attorney, Jennifer – The Smart Mama, has already done that by offering toy testing and healthy home consultations. Our own John Simonetta offers eco friendly promotional items at Proforma Green – not producing them, but rather searching out green products to offer to corporations.

Read more of this story »