Consumer to Conserver Economy

Posted by Carol Coletta on May 14, 2009

Glenn  Croston says our new savings rate is a sign that Americans are transitioning to a Conserver Economy in which people and businesses save more, waste less, and think of the long term.  He says businesses can join the business economy by coming up with ways to:  

• Share – Getting more out of goods we buy by sharing them among groups, like ridesharing (PickUpPal).
• Rent – Getting more value out of money by only leasing what we need, like buying power from solar panels rather than buying the panels (SolarCity).
• Repair – Fixing old appliances, watches, and clothes, giving them a new life rather than throwing them away.
• Reuse – Salvaging building material, selling used cars, thrift shops, and Terracycle.
• Rebuild – Retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient, saving energy, saving money, and fighting climate change (Sustainable Spaces).
• Rethink – Hummers and McMansions are out as people rethink what they really need to live well.

He points out the obvious: A lower consumption economy is also greener. So once again we come to what we "ought" to do by way of what works for our personal lifestyles and circumstances.