Helios House, British Petroleum’s new “green” gas station, is scheduled to open on the corner of Robertson and Olympic this Friday, according to the LA Times.
And I’m quoted in the article:
“It’s just very ironic,” she said Tuesday. “I thought it was sort of funny that a place that, bottom line, depends on selling gas is trying to market itself as a green company.”
Is it weird to quote myself being quoted by someone else?
Anyway. Ann Hand at BP seems to agree with me. “We know it’s a bit of a paradox,” she’s quoted as saying.
Whenever I write anything about BP, I get a buncha comments about how BP’s better than other gas companies out there.
Let me make it clear that BP’s gas station sounds like it’ll be much greener than other gas stations.
But it’s still a gas station.
I’m not sure if Helios House will be a step in the right direction or not, because I obviously haven’t visited the place yet. The big question will be whether consumers will actually be encouraged to buy less gas, or whether they’ll simply be encouraged to “feel good” about buying gas.
The former scenario could be a possibility; according to the LA Times article, Helios House “is considering adding biodiesel and alternative fuels to the site.”
Then again, the station’s just “considering” alternatives. On opening day, the stuff Helios House sells won’t be beyond petroleum; it will all BE petroleum.
Update, 2/22/07: Helios House is throwing parties in preparation for the big launch –
Ya, it was kinda funny to see your name in the paper there. I missed the bit about it opening on Friday. I think that means I can hold out until it opens to get my monthly tank of gas (I realized earlier this week that I’ve put just 2000 miles on my car since last summer).
Comment by don hosek — February 21, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Hi Siel! How did you get quoted in the LA Times?!?! You are so cool! Love the quote.
Comment by Anne — February 22, 2007 @ 7:49 am
I was picking up take-out food last night at 10pm, on opposite corner to the construction site of the “green” BP station. I thought it was a movie set, given their night-time (construction?) work using TONS of huge, movie-style light arrays. Unless they *were* filming for a ad or promotion, my thought is, how much extra ENERGY was being wasted by this nightime work needing such quantities of light as opposed to doing it during the day?
Comment by Howard Simpson — February 22, 2007 @ 11:08 am
I think last night they were having some sort of gala opening party.
Comment by don hosek — February 22, 2007 @ 11:21 am
If the LA Times article is accurate and the construction of Helios House cost no more than a convetional gas station, then BP is demonstrating buildings can be put up wit h solar panels to generate electricity, lighting can be done with low-energy LEDs, farmed wood can be used in construction, recycled material can be used in constrcution. Cooling and heating costs (and energy consumption) can be reduced by “planting” the roof, etc. If nothing else, it proves green buildings are viable in the commercial world.
Comment by Larry — February 22, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Well, if the lights were for a party for lotsa people, then that’s understandable :)
Interesting way of looking at the Helios House issue! Would be kind of cool if we could make green building mandatory for gas stations, then see what happens to the gas station density per sq mile –
Comment by Siel — February 23, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
Do any of you people drive cars? I don’t even own a car. I ride a bike every where. If any of you criticizing BP for trying to make something a little bit cleaner or a little bit better, I think they say, you need to check yourselves. The consumers are the ones doing the damage. Its supply and demand. If there was no consumers they wouldn’t need, want or try to make anything greener and wouldn’t be able to sell gas. Hopefully they have a positive impact, because lets face it, gas stations aren’t going to disappear over night. If one is a little greener, just a little greener, it is a step in the right direction. Thank you BP for taking that step.
Comment by Doug — February 24, 2007 @ 10:06 am
See, now that is what I love about you people. You talk and talk and you talk, but when it comes down to action you freeze and are useless. I bring up one small valid point that you people, that complain about someone doing something a little bit better than the next guy, are the same people that are destroying the enviroment and you have nothing more to say! I am sick of you people. Stop talking about the opinion that you think what other people are doing isn’t enough and do more yourselves. Hypocrits! DO MORE, MORE OFTEN and then you will have MORE to talk about. ACTION ACTION ACTION. Please, it is for us all and the future generations. Next time you see a baby think about the world he/she will have to live in if we keep up like this. Think about it every time you start your car or fill up your tank or get stuck behind that truck with the broken exhaust. We can make a difference but it is going to take actions, not words. Do something.
Comment by Doug — February 28, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Doug — You’ll notice that most people comment on the day of or after when the post goes up. The fact that they didn’t respond to your comment means they probably never read it. Interesting of you to put a blanket “you people” and “hypocrits” (sic) label on individuals you don’t even know. For the record, I’ve recently gotten rid of my car, and bike, walk, and take public transit. But I don’t go around calling random people “hypocrits,” and I don’t berate them, accusing them of being “useless.”
Comment by Siel — February 28, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
Siel-Cool, I’m glad that you are taking some serious action. Maybe useless was a little harsh, since the potential for usefulness is still there as long as they are still alive. I just wanted to put some fire under the butts of people in the area that talk alot, I deal with these people all the time. Complain and complain but without action. I’m glad you responded and showed me that there are people out there making a difference. Stay real.
Comment by Doug — March 5, 2007 @ 4:21 pm