A study by General Motors
(GM) has announced that ecologically responsible cars project more sex appeal than traditional chick magnets like Ferraris
and Porsches. The poll, conducted as part of GM’s green Challenge X initiative, found that nearly 9 in 10 women (88
percent) would prefer to chat with a guy driving the latest fuel-efficient model than the latest sports car.
Why are women friendlier
to eco-friendly men? “A man who drives a hybrid car shows that he is intelligent, thinking about the future, and is
not afraid of commitment, because you need to stick with a hybrid for a number of years before the savings on gasoline make-up
for the higher initial cost. What woman wouldn’t be attracted to that?” Beth Remmes, Founder of Zola Goods, LLC,
tells demo dirt. Through promoting eco-friendly products, Remmes teaches people
about small, affordable changes they can make to cultivate the art of living green (www.zolagoods.com).
The appeal goes beyond sex,
as both men and women would rather befriend an eco-conscious individual than a materialistic mechanics maven. At a party,
says the poll, eighty percent of guests would prefer to converse with the owner of an eco-friendly car than the owner of the
latest model sports car, because the green-minded driver would be more “interesting.”
Those who drive eco-unfriendly
cars are less likely to impress in eco-chic circles. More than four out of ten respondents aged 18 to 43 declare driving a
vehicle that is harmful to the environment a “fashion faux-pas.”
Changing values naturally
leads to changes in what we seek in relationships with our peers, says Jill Buck, founder of CA-based Go Green Initiative,
the nation’s largest and fastest growing environmental education organization.
Does Buck notice that, polls
aside, everyday people represent similar results as those found in the GM poll? “What I see in my world is that being
green is very trendy. I see people carrying around reusable grocery bags as a fashion statement. It is not far-fetched to
see these statistics,” Buck explains.
“This is an extension
of what human beings have been doing forever—finding people that are like-minded. As people want to live and drive green,
they seek like-minded friends, associates and dating partners," Buck maintains. "They value a green lifestyle, they have taken
the steps to live that way, and they will want to find partners, dates, and friends who are like-minded. This is value-based
dating. That’s a good thing.”
“This is no different
than when people wanted to live a smoke-free lifestyle. They would be less inclined to date someone who smoked,” Buck
adds.
Some smokers have said they
feel discriminated against in our increasingly smoke-free society. Will the same happen with those who don’t make green
choices; will they be shamed into living green?
“When folks choose
against the trend, it will be noticed. We can’t begin to guess what will motivate each individual to choose differently,”
Buck says. “As certain behaviors and lifestyles that are good and healthy become more mainstream, my hope is that more
people will choose to live that way. It is a positive thing to live green. Rather than out of guilt or shame, it is best for
people to do it because it feels good.”
For information on Go Green Initiative, go to www.gogreeninitiative.org.
