Eight Out of Ten U.S. Adults Consider Themselves "Environmentally Conscious"
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), October 28, 2007 - More than half of all U.S. adults say they would be more likely to select an airline, rental car or hotel that uses more environmentally friendly products and processes, according to the results of the latest travelhorizons survey by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and Ypartnership*.
But while more than half of U.S. adults may be advocates of environmental responsibility, only 14 percent of respondents said their actual selection of a travel service supplier would be influenced by that supplier's efforts to preserve and protect the environment. Just 13 percent would be willing to pay higher rates or fares to use suppliers who demonstrate environmental responsibility (although fully 56 percent said they might).
The amount of the rate or fare premium appears to be the source of their hesitation: 76 percent would pay less than 10 percent more per usage (e.g., room night, airline flight, car rental, etc.); with the majority of respondents indicating they would pay less than 5 percent more.
"The results of the survey suggest that awareness of a travel service supplier's efforts to operate in an environmentally responsible manner may be sufficient to attract additional patronage, but not at a significantly higher fare or rate," according to Suzanne Cook, TIA's Senior Vice President of Research. "The 'value assessment' consumers ascribe to any travel service transaction appears to remain the primary determinant of their actual purchase behavior."
Specifically, 50 percent say they would be more likely to use an airline if they knew it took the initiative to offset carbon emissions, used newer, more fuel efficient jets, or implemented recycling programs. Almost six out of ten (56 percent) stated the same thing for car rental companies (those offering more fuel efficient and hybrid cars). And fully 54 percent stated they would be more likely to patronize hotels or resorts they knew practiced environmental responsibility.
According to the survey, consumers would favor properties that actively tried to prevent beach erosion (oceanfront hotels), allowed guests the option to reuse towels and sheets, reduced their energy consumption by using energy efficient lighting/low flow toilets and showers, and supported community environmental causes.
And, not surprisingly, Americans' sense of environmental responsibility manifests itself in many other ways: eight out of ten (78 percent) U.S. adults consider themselves "environmentally conscious," according to the survey.
*Ypartnership is a worldwide advertising and public relations agency that specializes in serving travel industry clients and co-author of the widely-quoted National Travel Monitor with Yankelovich Inc.
Daylight Saving Time Begins First Sunday in November
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), October 28, 2007 - On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. Beginning in 2007, DST began on the second Sunday in March and will end the first Sunday in November. The Secretary of Energy will report the impact of this change to Congress. Congress retains the right to resume the 2005 Daylight Saving Time schedule once the Department of Energy study is complete.
In the U.S., clocks change at 2:00 a.m. local time. In the fall, clocks fall back from 1:59 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. In the EU, clocks change at 1:00 a.m. Universal Time. In the fall, clocks fall back from 1:59 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
In the U.S., restaurants and bars have various closing policies. In many states, liquor cannot be served after 2:00 a.m. But at 2:00 a.m. in the fall, the time switches back one hour. So, can they serve alcohol for that additional hour in October? The official answer is that the bars do not stop serving liquor at 2:00 a.m., but actually at 1:59 a.m. So, they have already stopped serving when the time changes from Daylight Saving Time into Standard Time. In practice, however, many establishments stay open an extra hour in the fall.
In the U.S., 2:00 a.m. was originally chosen as the changeover time because it was practical and minimized disruption. Most people were at home and this was the time when the fewest trains were running. It is late enough to minimally affect bars and restaurants, and it prevents the day from switching to yesterday, which would be confusing. It is early enough that the entire continental U.S. switches by daybreak, and the changeover occurs before most early shift workers and early churchgoers are affected.
Many fire departments encourage people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors when they change their clocks because Daylight Saving Time provides a convenient reminder. Information supplied by WebExhibits, a public service of the Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement (IDEA).
Missouri Organizations Receive $1,179,007 through Compassion Capital Fund
JEFFERSON CITY, (SLFP.com), October 28, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced awards totaling $57,840,781 through the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF). Of these awards, $1,179,007 will go to eight faith-based and community organizations in Missouri in order to enhance their ability to provide social services to those most in need.
"Our goal is to serve the poor among us in the most effective way possible," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "By supporting grass-roots organizations already serving those in need in their communities, we are increasing our ability to help more people in Missouri."
Eight organizations based in Missouri received funds through the CCF.
- Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph, Inc.; Kansas City
- Regional Violence Initiative, Inc.; St. Louis
- Coalition for Youth Safety Education and Empowerment; Kansas City
- Erise Williams and Associates, Incorporated; St. Louis
- FaithWalk Ministries; Paris
- MBCH Foundation; Bridgeton
- Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium, Inc.; Portageville
- The Alliance for Families & Communities Affected by Incarceration; St. Louis
"The Compassion Capital Fund is the signature initiative of President Bush's community renewal agenda," said Jay Hein, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. "It equips the quiet heroes serving those in need in America's communities."
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