Sustainability, climate protection, rising energy prices and of course the current gas crisis have brought the theme energy conservation to the fore of attention of many people. Manufacturing and promoting companies are going to be faced with huge challenges, but also communicative opportunities. Companies that position themselves as energy-conscious players with the help of haptic media and support their target group in mastering everyday life more efficiently and sinking their power costs, have a good chance of increasing the advertising power of their brand.
The 8,000 inhabitants of Aureilhan in south west France have had to get used to having no street lights since July 11. Otherwise, according to the Mayor, Yannick Boubée, the bill for lighting the streets of the city would cost almost triple the amount next year. In Germany on the other hand, where one is particularly dependent on gas from Russia, the politicians are suddenly holding toplevel discussions about showering habits: Whilst the German Minister of Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, called upon the public to follow his example and shorten the length of their showers, the Vice President of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Kubicki, announced defiantly that he will stay under the shower longer than ever now. Whereas the Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, decided: Showering falls under the private sphere. All of a sudden something as mundane as body hygiene has become a topic of debate.
Russia’s aggressive war against the Ukraine is significantly endangering the energy provision of western states. Gas storage tanks are running empty, prices are rocketing, everyone is worrying about having cold flats in the winter or production lines not running and these fears are indeed warranted. There is no doubt about it: In the face of these developments, saving energy is currently the talk of the town and seems to be common sense. And long since not only because Putin is threatening to turn off the gas supply. The topic of saving energy has become more and more important over the past years. There are many reasons for this: To slow the climate change down alone, reduce the emission of climate-polluting greenhouse gases and save natural resources, it is of essential significance wherever possible to save energy both in our private lives and in the production industry. Since the fossil resources needed to produce energy, i.e. coal, natural gas or crude oil are only available in limited quantities and their combustion leads to climate-polluting emissions, the emphasis of all efforts lies on more sustainability also in the case of energy consumption.
It is necessary to maintain the correct tyre pressure so that the car uses as little fuel as possible – the tyre pressure gauge Reflects- Montichiari by Reflects comes to the aid here, which additionally contains a tool, LED torch, emergency hammer and a warning light.
Besides climate protection, the rising costs also play a decisive role, because in the meantime – and all the more so in the near future – the consumers are increasingly noticing the effects of the energy crisis on their wallets, whereby the implementation of diverse power guzzlers is unavoidable in today’s everyday routine and showering is long since not the only issue: Smartphones, computers, TVs & co. consume just as much electricity as household assistants like tumble dryers or robotic lawn mowers. Not to forget: the fuel consumption for private and business trips – the best example is the discussion about the speed limit. There are obviously many reasons for taking this topic more seriously and to kick the ball off by saving energy oneself.
In addition to private entities, the theme also affects companies. In the course of their sustainability philosophies, many entrepreneurs have changed their processes over the past years to save energy, whether by switching over to the LED technology at their own premises, by ensuring shorter transport routes or by implementing other materials, for the production of which less energy is required. Brands that have already improved their energy balance over the past years definitely have a clear advantage in the face of the gas crisis. And they are also interested in communicating this accordingly – a reason why the theme is becoming more and more present in the communication of many companies. A positive side effect: This also sensitises their business partners and customers so that they in turn assert themselves more strongly for the topic. With items that pick up on the energy-saving theme and which contribute towards reducing the energy consumption in everyday life, companies can help their target group get through the crisis and at the same time position themselves as energyconscious companies. This brings them double the amount of popularity points. So, it is a good thing the market of haptic advertising has an array of different useful and smart ideas that simplify saving energy.
Using the sun
“Energy revolution from the bottom upwards “ – Sonnenrepublik is showing the way towards “mobile, ecological independence from the hitherto centralised energy provision” with its solar products such as the solar charging device Wing12 eBag Cork.
Example: Solar power. There are plenty of solar products on the market that operate solely using the renewable energy of the sun and thus don’t waste any resources. The company Sonnenrepublik is one of the absolute experts in this area. Alongside miniature solar lamps or power banks, the company also offers larger solar charging devices. “Sonnenrepublik is trying to bring about the energy change from the bottom upwards: With the aid of highly-functional, solar-powered products and systems, the energetic autonomy is to be pushed in as many areas of life as possible and directly among the end users. The aim is the individual, decentralised, mobile, ecological independence from the hitherto centralised energy provision,” explained Dr. Oliver Lang, co-founder of Sonnenrepublik. Whereby all solar products are manufactured under fair conditions and developed under the premises of being functional, high-quality, sustainable and durable. Products and parts that cannot be exclusively produced in Berlin, are only outsourced to and manufactured in selected production sites, which have been audited in advance to make sure the working conditions are fair. “Our product, the miniature solar lamp/power bank SolarBee, is predestined for the promotional products section – also due to its low price. It has a large printing surface on the back of its white housing and offers high, multifunctional utility value as well as a long service life. “As well as high-quality power banks, our line-of of further items that are suitable as promotional products also encompasses larger solar charging devices like our Wing6-eBag or Wing12-eBag series,” stated Lang. “Generally speaking, our products target companies from the areas ecology/sustainability, solar technology, energy provision, design or similar, but our customers also include political associations, municipals, etc.” The current developments are having a significant impact on the business, reported Lang: “The demand for our products has increased markedly since the Ukraine crisis. At the same time we see ourselves confronted with drastic delivery bottlenecks and price increases for almost all components and raw materials. I haven’t experienced anything like it in the almost 25 years I have been in business.”
Green Earth brings light into disaster areas and war zones with its WakaWaka products, among others with the efficient solar lamp, WakaWaka Light. The model serves as a substitute for the healthdamaging kerosene lamps mostly used there.
The WakaWaka products that Green Earth sells on the promotional products market also run on solar power. They are equipped with a patented, revolutionary solar technology that provides a source of light for 16 hours and only have to be charged for one day in the sun. Selling a WakaWaka product also helps make solar energy available to families in areas without electricity. In this way, the products are implemented in disaster areas and war zones for instance, in among others Syria, Ebola regions and in the Philippines – which is an important turn, after all the energy revolution and provision has to be planned at international and global level. Green Earth is bringing light to these regions with the WakaWaka Light, because the model serves as a replacement for the mostly healthdamaging, kerosene lamps that are usually implemented there and this was also the reason why they were developed. Equipped with a “Sunboost Chip”, the solar lamps made from recycled plastic are according to own accounts among the most efficient in the world: After an eight-hour charging process the lamp that was distinguished with a Promotional Gift Award in 2013 burns for over 16 hours and thus also contributes towards reducing CO2 emissions. Typically, promotional items with a solar function include numerous power bank models. There is not only a large number of possible forms here, but also a broad field of associations, because power banks literally lend brands power and provide the target group with an energy boost. Last but not least, they make their users self-sufficient from the dependency on access to a socket.
Assistant in card format
While power banks are therefore ideal items for the mobile society, the diverse energy saving cards from JH Innovations can be implemented in domestic households. For example, the Climate Protection Card, the Power-saving Card or the Refrigerator- Check, all of which are individually, fullsurface decorated promotional cards. Depending on the intended purpose, the card is fitted with a foil thermometer, a test stick or a hygrometer, which displays the corresponding values of the environment, rooms, outdoor ambiance, fridge/ freezer or water. “The indicators function very accurately; some of them are even TÜV-tested. The favourably-priced give-aways are of high practical value and hold great potential for sensitising people for themes like saving energy, heat protection or moisture and cold bridge recognition in rooms and on walls,” reported Joachim Hackel, managing partner of JH Innovations and added: “The Energy-saving and Power-saving Thermometer as well as the ThermoCard® are especially suitable for saving energy. They are easy to comprehend and can be implemented immediately.”
The fact that the theme of saving energy has been a heated debate for some time is also noticeable at JH Innovations: The product range is constantly expanded, partly also because customers approach the company with their own ideas. For example, many customers are interested in the Power-saving card, which displays a temperature range of between -23 °C and +28 °C and is thus extremely versatile – the temperature in freezers, fridges and the room temperature can thus be measured using just one card. “We are currently supporting the campaigns of an energy consulting agency in North Rhein-Westphalia with an innovative energy-saving door hanger that features an integrated ThermoCard®. The door hanger is selectively distributed to suitable households, which then demand information and can in turn arrange an appointment for a consultation,” stated Hackel. The products are very popular because they are suitable for a wide range of applications: “Our products are ideal for climate agencies, public utility companies, councils/municipalities/district administrations, banks, building cooperatives, the manufacturers of building or insulation materials, but also for professional tradesmen and companies that would like to sensitise their customers for the topic of saving energy,” Hackel summed up.
Fare’s innovative watersave® cover material not only saves water, it also reduces the energy consumption when dyeing the umbrellas by 70%.
Resource-saving production
Because power and energy consumption is so omnipresent, the theme also offers plenty of scope for its integration into marketing activities and the selection of corresponding products is vast: Radiator bleed keys may not seem particularly hip at the first glance, but they do contribute significantly towards reducing the heating costs. Tyre pressure gauges are also more important than ever because they help regulate the fuel consumption. Fridge thermometers, socket strips that serve as stand-by killers or battery testers – they all support the target group in saving energy and position promoting companies as caring, thoughtful and responsible players.
However, this also involves rethinking the concept for products that are not necessarily energysaving and also to save resources. On the one hand, for reasons of own interest to save costs, but also out of a sense of responsibility for the environment, climate protection and society. Many promotional products suppliers are committed to this task and are presenting initial product highlights that boast tangible improvements. For instance, the bag specialist Halfar won a Promotional Gift Award 2022 for a further development of the cool bag, Basket. The special feature of the product is the fact that it does away with an aluminium frame, which saves both material and energy and the related harmful greenhouse emissions. The umbrella specialist, Fare, on the other hand, is increasingly implementing the so-called watersave® material for its covers. Since the dye is applied to the fibre during the spinning process, not only 90% of the amount of water and 98% of the sewage sludge is saved compared to classic dying methods, the energy consumption is also reduced by 70%.
Hence, once can see that saving energy is indeed a challenge, but armed with the right tools it can also become an opportunity to shape the future conscientiously – in the everyday life routine of each and every one of us and not just while showering.
// Helen Lorenz
Photo source: Fare (2); Reflects (1); Shutterstock, Andrey Popov (1), as-artmedia (1), ldambies (1), JP Wallet (1), Monkey Business Images (1), Smile Fight (1); Sonnenrepublik (2); Unsplash/Gustavo Quepon; WakaWaka/Jeff Gomez (1)
