San Francisco - Interest in the Greeniac Nation at www.greeniacs.com has skyrocketed in recent months, prompting substantial upgrades to the popular, non-political green social networking site.  Simply by friends forwarding to friends around the world, traffic to www.greeniacs.com has surged by over 500% since early December.

“More and more Greeniacs feel at home with us,” says founder Greeniac1 (who enjoys the anonymity of his Greeniac ID) – and whose motto is: “Relax and improve the world with us.”  Though the site is absolutely free and open to everyone, only registered Greeniacs enjoy the full benefits of Greeniacs email, creating personal blogs, customized Greeniacs Instant Messaging and an expansive Greeniacs forum for open dialogue and sharing green experiences.  Another cool bonus is access to the Greeniacs research team that trolls Greeniacs blogs for questions and responds immediately with answers and relevant resources. 

“Public demand has forced us to take a great, user-friendly site and make it even better,” Greeniac1 says, adding that the increased volume now warrants a dedicated server (powered by 100% renewable energy, of course).  The new site is loaded up with content and interactive features like opinion polls, environmental news feeds, a glossary of green terms, and a green business directory.

Greeniac1 describes himself as “counter-culture” and is the first to admit that although Stanford-educated, he has no training in environmental science or ecology.  Rather, he feels that most of the world is equally unaware of the multitude of green-related issues, and people are eager to learn more provided no school principal is threatening detention for inadequate green performance.  “Nice, normal people do not wish to be preached at,” Greeniac1 passionately insists.  Instead Greeniacs prefer to encourage conversation among people who are green-curious and need a nurturing place to start.  Greeniac1 is amazed to watch a groundswell of interest explode as the friendly, non-judgmental, non-disciplinarian Greeniacs’ approach resonates with so many. 

Greeniac10796 in Chattanooga, Tennessee has labeled the venture the ‘New Environmentalism’.  As Greeniac1 puts it, “We are giving people resources to make lifestyle changes only if they so choose, and only at their own, enjoyable pace.  It’s a more positive approach than environmentalists of the past who made us feel we were part of the problem by not doing enough.  I’m a simple example.  Although I try to turn off the lights when leaving a room, I am only human and sometimes forget.  So I installed solar panels to reduce my energy use which has not caused any alteration in my lifestyle.  As soon as my wife’s SUV was no longer operable, we substituted a hybrid SUV in its place, again, with no discernable degradation in lifestyle.  As stated at greeniacs.com, you need not chain yourself to a tree or live in a mud hut to be a quality human being or a good Greeniac!”

Greeniac1 continues to refuse advertising and venture capital from investors, as both groups “seem more interested in a quick buck than a long-term solid green game plan,” even if such a plan ultimately generated revenue.  “I do not have the green education to determine which advertisers are worthy,” says Greeniac1, “yet I hope to have qualified advisors soon who can sort those things out.”  In the meantime, commercial success seems of no great importance to Greeniac1, just “good, clean, green fun,” he says.

“People in their ‘20s are a hot market for the Greeniacs,” according to Greeniac 50, age 27, who works at a green real estate company in New York. “We’re ready to learn something new while we enjoy social networking at the same time.”

The Greeniac Nation will soon travel to three US cities.  Look for the Greeniacs at Green Festival in Seattle on April 12 and 13 (www.greenfestivals.org); Go Green Expo in New York on April 26 and 27 (www.gogreenexpo.com)  and Green Festival in Chicago on May 17 and 18 (www.greenfestivals.org).

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