Our Story
We resigned from our corporate jobs in 2007 to follow our entrepreneurial dreams and establish Eco-innovations, a green building, green marketing and energy management consulting company in Seattle, WA. This was our calling, to have purpose in what we do by promoting sustainable choices and focusing on the environmental and economic benefits of ‘green’ products, practices and policies.
The Problem
The success of our consulting service relied on accurate product information, but we struggled to find a product comparison resource that was comprehensive and useful. The term green seemed to apply to everything without explanation as to why one product was ‘more green’ than another. What is green anyways, and who is the authority that stands behind this nomenclature?
We realized that green existed in the eye of the beholder – and by beholder we mean the manufacturer and advertiser. Green was really just a sales pitch that lacked consistency and regulation. But can a color really be regulated? We have visions of Hume, Hobbes and Rousseau philosophizing green and concluding that such a term belongs locked in a color wheel, certainly not worthy of the defining moment and greatest opportunity of our time.
The Solution
We launched Eco-rate on May 13, 2009 to bring you that missing link in the world of what was called green. The solution is simple in theory; we break down the barrier of green misnomers and focus on the fundamentals: efficiency, environmental impact, human health and financial feasibility. We’ve sorted through the complicated algorithms and have researched thousands of products, practices, policies and manufacturing processes to provide you with a centralized, comprehensive, unbiased, free online product comparison resource.
Our Mission
Our goal is to express the cost of product ownership, accounting for health, environmental and financial costs relative to that of other comparable products. By using reliable and attainable information, our approach provides a platform for effective and thoughtful product comparison, allowing the consumer to choose the highest quality product at the best price.
By redefining quality, we aspire to advance innovation so that green today becomes the benchmark for tomorrow.
Redefining Quality
It’s important to keep in mind that we as consumers have the power to change the world, not the government, nor the manufacturer, but we as consumers. The consumer gets what the consumer wants: if we demand more efficient vehicles, the manufacturer builds more efficient vehicles at a price we are willing to pay. If we demand toxic-free household products to keep our families safe, manufacturers will meet that demand. We as consumers must become more engaged and demand more of what we really want.
Eco-rate is that platform for change, where we as consumers can begin the process of redefining quality.
About Us
Brycelaine Self is the co-founder of Eco-rate and Principal of Eco-innovations. She brings to Eco-rate expertise in economics, sustainable product innovation and environmental stewardship program management. Brycelaine has a M.S. from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is a LEED® Accredited Professional and an ENERGY STAR® partner and home verifier. Contact Brycelaine at bself@eco-innovations.com.
Colby Self is the co-founder of Eco-rate and Principal of Eco-innovations. He brings to Eco-rate expertise in environmental policy and socio-economics. Colby has a B.S. from the University of Southern California’s School of Policy, Planning and Development and is a select member of the Cambridge-MIT Institute Enterprisers Forum. Colby is an ENERGY STAR® partner and home verifier, and EPEAT and WaterSense partner liaison. Contact Colby at cself@eco-innovations.com.
