Green gone wild! In nearly every industry imaginable, the green movement has taken root and is slowly changing the world’s landscape. Prevalent examples include the success of hybrid vehicles to eco-friendly designs and architecture to the sourcing of alternative materials for electronics.

To date, there are unparalleled opportunities to embrace sustainable designs and make informed purchases. Organizations are helping educate and foster consumer interest in greener goods as retailers and advertisers are responding with new products and innovative, green business strategies.

In the last few years, the powerhouse of capitalism, Goldman Sachs has announced their commitment to developing environmental markets, reducing the banks overall climate footprint and considering the environmental and social impacts of their investments.  The investment giant announced an ambitious series of environmental goals, and found them directly in line with its primary goal of making money, Christopher Wright reports.

With the phenomenal growth of green in every industry, including the promotional products industry, there are tremendous opportunities for the consumers to make smarter, more environmentally-friendly choices by purchasing green electronics. It’s now easier than ever to buy electronics and accessories that use less energy and are made with recyclable and recycled materials. So take advantage and keep it green!

1. What does it mean to buy "green"?

Do your research. Consumer electronics, as a whole, are more eco-friendly and several manufacturers have developed their own green electronics lines. In order to be labeled green, a product must meet a stringent checklist of criteria.  There is a plethora of online resources to help you determine which companies and products go the extra mile to contain fewer chemicals and are more energy efficient.

2. Does green mean a boring? Does eco-friendly design equal lame?

Heck no! Green product lines are just as sleek and high-performing as other products but, they are extra-groovy for being environmentally-friendly.

3. Do green electronics cost more?

Green electronics are priced competitively in the marketplace; however, it’s reported they are a bit more expensive to produce.

4. Where do I buy green electronics?

Check out several searchable online databases for green products. You will find eco-friendly TVs, MP3 players, and more. Then, take your list to your preferred retailer or check the retailer's website. It takes just a little effort to do inform your green purchases but has a big payoff for all of us!

Grammy award winning producer and rapper, Kanye West has recently joined forces with Prodege LLC., to launch SearchKayneWest -- a Google & Ask.com powered search engine that gives users a chance to win Swag Bucks. The digital currency is redeemable for limited edition Kanye West merchandise, hi-tech items and other valuable goods at their online Swag Store.

The official free search toolbar is easy to download and customizable to make browsing faster and easier. How it works is simple: search the web as you would do on Google and the first person to search after the selected time will win a Swag Buck. If you did the winning search, instead of getting search results you will receive a screen with a Swag Buck notifying you that you have won. I registered and earned a buck in less than five minutes. Booyah!

Prodege, LLC has created branded search engines for celebrities including Akon, Lil Wayne and Beyonce. Additionally, the company provides individuals and organizations the ability raise funds through their branded sites.

Getting paid to search? I leave you with the illustrious words of Missy Elliot, “Ching-ching, gettin’ paid over here!”

Held on January 7^th thru the 10^th in Las Vegas, Nevada, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, International CES, exploded with cutting-edge technologies. This years show boasted more than 2,700 innovative exhibitors spanning a record 1.85 million square feet of exhibit space. Among the myriad of dynamic and innovative designs, one of the year's biggest trends, green technologies, captured the imagination.

Green is good as touted by Voltaic's new solar bags promising to recharge your laptop fully with a full day of sun, to Marvell's power factor correction controller designed to improve efficiency of desktop and laptop power supplies by configuring its optimization to the amount of energy a particular application needs. Alternative materials were also on the CES dance card with Fujistu's integration of plant-based plastic materials for their new laptop, possibly paving the way for other manufacturers.

Big companies also stood up, proud to be green, and anxious to prove their earth friendly credentials. HP announced plans to reduce energy consumption in desktop and notebook PCs by 25 percent by 2010. The green goes on with Sharp, Panasonic and Toshiba forming the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company. All companies involved are members of the Consumer Electronic Association, looking to provide a consistent recycling solution for e-waste and pushing to pass federally regulated e-waste standards.

It’s that time of year again, award season for the rich and glamorous. With all the accolades comes a favorite pastime for the stars – hoarding of gift bags from companies looking for high-profile exposure. Every year, the quiet Main Street of Park City, Utah, magically transforms into a corporate logo showcase as companies rent out storefronts to create “hospitality lounges” from which to “gift” celebrities.

In recent years, Park City Utah’s Sundance Film Festival has turned into an avalanche of swag-bags as retailers and designers hope that one of the pretty people dons their latest wares in a snap-shot headed for the star-studded glossies at grocery store near you. And who wouldn’t want to see a Mary-Kate Olson wearing a new Beyonce House of Dereon jacket, endorsing their brand and boosting sales for the company? It’s a boon-doggie baby!

While the writers are still on strike, the swag-bags have taken a more demure position at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Those actors wanting to support the writers and not appear too greedy have been less gregarious with their swag-bag snatching. Some visitors simply checked out the goods and left empty-handed. However, plenty of others have walked away with bags akimbo and posed for publicity pictures.

Rick Warner of Bloomberg News reports in his article, Sundancers awash in sexy swag, plenty of well-known actors and actresses have been spotted strolling through the gift suites on Main Street. Stars visiting LIVEstyle’s film lounge, where the freebies included hats, scarves and sandals from Anne Klein, included Woody Harrelson, Ben Kingsley, Jack Black, Alan Rickman and Amy Adams. The Phoenix, high-end art gallery turned swag-grab-scene, entertained guests including Kirsten Dunst and Armand Assante with organic canvas bags from Ecogear, hand-crafted dresses from Colorado designer Autumn Teneyl and SongPods, vibrating metal ovals with reputed healing powers made by medicine woman Amy Lee.

Entertainment News Blogs reports that founder of the Sundance Film Festival, Robert Redford, has taken up the war on swag, giving his staffers a mandate to do all they could to promote the festival’s role as a celebration of filmmakers and their work. Incidentally, the Sundance Institute produced 25,000 buttons bearing the message, “Focus on Film.”

But who can resist free stuff?

Jeremy Walker, whose New York public-relations firm representing six films at Sundance, sent a letter called “Swagifesto,” to his festival clients comparing swag with drugs. ''We've watched swag, like cocaine, turn nice, smart, humble, creative people into monsters,'' the letter says. ''Like cocaine, swag produces a giddy high of self-importance and supreme confidence. As with cocaine, once tasted, the consumer of swag instantly wants more.''

Let's be real, these days the swag is wagging the dog and it doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. Pass the bags!!!

It sure pays off to be dead! Posthumous merchandise is big business. Back in October 2007, Forbes published their annual “Top-Earning Dead Celebrities” with this year’s list of celebs topping off at $232 million proving once again that marketers are making a killing off the dead.

Apparently, the universal Law of Attraction still applies to the dead. How do they do it? Million dollar empires are built upon products emblazoned with the iconic images of the famed dead. Slapping the name of the dearly departed on all things from mugs to tees is a big revenue generator; that is, assuming you have acquired the rights to said property.

Corbis, a creative resource for advertising, marketing and media professionals owned by Bill Gates, acquired a Beverly Hills firm back in 2005 that held the rights to the images of 50 notables, including Andy Warhol, Albert Einstein and Steve McQueen. Corbis offers their services to sell all sorts or merchandise including toys, racing gear and clothing. Another marketing empire, CMG Worldwide, international leader in intellectual property rights management, boasts a diverse and lucrative client roster including Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Malcom X, Babe Ruth and Bettie Page.

In honor of our illustrious deceased, I dedicate the following:

Ironic Merchandise of the Dead

Elvis Presley ~ Elvis Pez Gift Set Don't Be Cruel, Eat a pez.

James Brown ~ Celebrity Rubber Duck Toy Because James Brown wanted to bathe with all of us in perpetuity.

Marie Antoinette ~ Head lollipop I have seen all, I have heard all, I have forgotten all. Lick my head.

Che Guevara ~ Wall Clock Viva el teimpo!

Rosa Parks ~ Cookie Jar “I shall not be moved,” except when you want to put chocolate chip cookies in my head.