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how avoid pollution in live rivers
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Green Innovators in Business Network
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Oct 14 2012, 8:06 AM EDT by
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Thread started: Oct 14 2012, 8:06 AM EDT
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usage of plastic and detergents and some harmfull chemicals which are relesed by pharmasecutical and some industries next growth of usefull bacteria like Entamoeba coli, Escherichia coli which doubles in 20 minutes and will purify the river water
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Why is Plasma Battery Technology So Hush-Hush?
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Innovate Forum Discussion
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May 16 2012, 6:45 PM EDT by
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Thread started: May 16 2012, 6:45 PM EDT
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I read this link and am now mad as hell. Why are gas stations and coal plants even still operating if we have this technology since 2004? http://open.salon.com/blog/green_energy_reports/2012/04/15/censorship_-_the_only_reason_we_are_still_addicted_to_oil This is outrageous!
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Climate CoLab Contest: I Solve Climate Change
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GIBN 2009 Solutions Labs
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Nov 9 2011, 12:54 PM EST by
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Thread started: Nov 9 2011, 12:54 PM EST
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The Climate CoLab (http://climatecolab.org/) is part of MIT's Center for Collective Intelligence (http://cci.mit.edu/).
"The 2011 contest poses the question: "How should the 21st century economy evolve bearing in mind the risks of climate change?"
My proposal, How to Change US Energy in One Growing Season, is a finalist in the national category. You can see it at http://climatecolab.org/web/guest/plans/-/plans/contestId/5/planId/15206
You can vote for it or other proposals in the contest until November 15 at the URL's above. Please take a look.
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Solution Labs - Canada?
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Green Innovators in Business Network
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Feb 27 2011, 12:39 PM EST by
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Thread started: Feb 2 2011, 11:35 PM EST
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Just wondering if there are any plans on hosting a Solutions Lab in Canada in the near future.
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Last Reply:
RE: Solution Labs - Canada?
By: ,
Feb 27 2011, 12:39 PM EST
Our goal is to work with local groups interested in organizing Solutions Labs. We haven't heard of interest from Canada yet, but would be interested in it and happy to help out. Do you know of groups we should connect with?
Thanks for the question. dave witzel dwitzel@edf.org
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For Vonda Lockwood
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Fayetteville-Assessing Sustainability
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Nov 5 2010, 10:40 AM EDT by
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Thread started: Nov 5 2010, 10:40 AM EDT
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What does Walmart do with polystyrene packing materials?
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Manufacturer/Supplier Role in Product Sustainability
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Fayetteville 2010 GIBN Solutions Lab
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Nov 2 2010, 2:17 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Nov 2 2010, 2:13 PM EDT
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There can be a huge disconnect between the marketing/product development team - tasked with identifying & introducing "new" products for the market - and brand/retailer sustainability strategy. Example of this can be seen with new product introductions that essentially replace an existing product with - for all intents - the same product. There may be some marginal change in the product, that makes it differentiable from the previous one. But if the improvement is purely aesthetic, then does this not contradict sustainability goals, especially when you consider the impact to the supply chain. Replacement product development can require activities like retooling equipment, sourcing new raw materials, not to mention resources consumed during the development process like short manufacturing runs to produce samples. In addition, what about raw materials used in the replace product that may become obsolete (no longer required or replaced) but still exist in inventory down the supply chain.
It should not be a surprise that in order for consumer products to become more sustainable at the retailer or brand level, that the manufacturers & suppliers need to be part of the solution. So, the question that needs to be addressed is how do strategic product sustainability goals fit with strategic product development goals & how can manufacturers/suppliers support its customers to achieve both set of objectives during new product development. Because many manufacturers provide similar products to multiple customers, there can be a tendency away from sustainability when each customer request unique aesthetic requirements that don't impact form, fit, or function of the product (especially from a sustainability perspective). This can result in a supplier having to carry multiple material requirements in inventory. For example, multiple versions of blue yarn. This is where a brand/retailer in working with its manufacturer can
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Last Reply:
RE: Manufacturer/Supplier Role in Product Sustainability
By: ,
Nov 2 2010, 2:17 PM EDT
"There can be a huge disconnect between the marketing/product development team - tasked with identifying & introducing "new" products for the market - and brand/retailer sustainability strategy. Example of this can be seen with new product introductions that essentially replace an existing product with - for all intents - the same product. There may be some marginal change in the product, that makes it differentiable from the previous one. But if the improvement is purely aesthetic, then does this not contradict sustainability goals, especially when you consider the impact to the supply chain. Replacement product development can require activities like retooling equipment, sourcing new raw materials, not to mention resources consumed during the development process like short manufacturing runs to produce samples. In addition, what about raw materials used in the replace product that may become obsolete (no longer required or replaced) but still exist in inventory down the supply chain.
It should not be a surprise that in order for consumer products to become more sustainable at the retailer or brand level, that the manufacturers & suppliers need to be part of the solution. So, the question that needs to be addressed is how do strategic product sustainability goals fit with strategic product development goals & how can manufacturers/suppliers support its customers to achieve both set of objectives during new product development. " I apologize - the last paragraph was to be deleted before I hit "post". Below is what I intended to post.
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Sustainable Food Systems
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Discussion Forum
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Oct 1 2010, 12:48 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Oct 1 2010, 12:48 PM EDT
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The three solutions we identified to help fix the nation's food system:
1) Fix the Farm Bill Currently, federal subsidies support large scale industrial, commodity agriculture, hide the true costs of food and drive consumers toward low-quality, unhealthy foodstuffs. Demanding that government support small scale, local and organic producers is the single most important thing we can do to force positive change.
2) Spread the word Educate the public on ways to impact positive change through our purchasing decisions. These efforts are growing and make a difference. The more people learn about where their food comes from and why it matters, the better choices they'll make.
3) Build local food systems and infrastructure. Demand for local food exceeds supply. The past fifty years of agricultural consolidation has stripped the infrastucture required for small scale production. Protecting farmland, investing resources and legislating on the local level can help us rebuild essential capacity.
A worthwhile day's worth of discussion and problem solving - thanks to all!
Buzz Hofford Trustee, PCC Natural Markets District Manager, Bon Appé***
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MarionYuen |
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Intersection of Water and Energy
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Boston 2010 GIBN Solutions Lab
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Sep 21 2010, 10:49 PM EDT by
MarionYuen |
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Thread started: Sep 21 2010, 10:49 PM EDT
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Interesting info at www.circleofblue.org
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Great Boston Event -- A take on redefining "growth"
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Boston 2010 GIBN Solutions Lab
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Sep 20 2010, 4:07 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Sep 20 2010, 4:07 PM EDT
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I found the event last week to be engaging and enlightening. I've blogged on the topic that I helped facilitate: finding the root causes of resistance to sustainability -- http://richerearth.com/2010/09/how-would-you-redefine-growth/. I'd love you to add your thoughts.
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Our group's thoughts
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Catalyst Speaker: Peter Senge
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Sep 16 2010, 4:48 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Sep 16 2010, 4:48 PM EDT
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Solutions Statement Session Our discussion began with group reflection on the MIT/SOL speaker’s Conversation Catalyst. Here is what group members thought: Energy efficiency is playing a critical role in catalyzing interest in changing corporate culture to be more environmentally responsible, particularly in terms of carbon emissions. Taking a bigger approach, like Six Sigma, and starting by eliminating waste and then, as a next step, taking elements of the business that create value and making them the best they can be, in terms of energy efficiency and carbon, have long term financial paybacks for corporations. Success starts by making a firm commitment towards environmental sustainability, carbon footprint reduction, and energy consumption reduction, and then being accountable and putting resources towards achieving central goals. Growing pains are common, but in time, corporations can have a stronger ability to reduce their impact. Paying the real price of energy, including externalities like environmental and human health impacts, can be the most important driver in getting companies to do big things in the energy efficiency space. This could really be spurred on by climate legislation, and absent of federal legislation, we have to look for regional cap and trade systems to lead the way, like New England’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). Unfortunately, California's referendum to roll back emission reduction goals until unemployment drops could set back potential transformational changes in the energy system of our countries largest energy consuming state.
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Bringing Stakeholders to Sustainability – Seattle
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Seattle 2010 GIBN Solutions Lab
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Aug 26 2010, 5:21 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Aug 26 2010, 5:19 PM EDT
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At the Seattle event, we paired this topic with Social Investing. It allowed for a different discussion focused on financial impacts and how it is affected by stakeholder engagement. Agreeing to who stakeholders were was fairly easy: decision makers, ownership, employees, environmental advocates, investors, suppliers, communities where business operate, legislators, municipalities. Challenges: 1. Creating a sufficient sense of crisis for stakeholder action. a. Barrier -Education and awareness lacking b. Reality- People may not care enough. Why are citizens not more demanding. c. How far should businesses go for the environment? d. Should government follow business of vice versa? e. Businesses are reactive to consumer demands. f. Is REI doing good for competitive advantage or social good? g. Businesses need to decide if they want to take on hefty risk of being pioneers. 2. Prioritizing most meaningful method to engage with stakeholder a. What is best fit for a company: 1) Meaningful input; 2) Right issues – priority? b. Lots of momentum from status quo. c. Feminist view- i. Breaking boundaries ii. Diversity – Board –sustaining value to investors. iii. Capitalize on strengths – relationships valued (facilitation skills and management not just technical). 3. Current investment options may not be best models for balancing individual freedom and public good. a. Employees need to take more interest. Many don’t know how to take responsibility of their investments. b. Profit motive very strong c. Process to get involved in discussions not available. d. Social ROI – need to be in core value of company. e. SROI - Culturally not popular. f. There are no absolutes- balance of impact is important (e.g. CFL with some mercury). No metrics solves all. g. Investing locally- within the community (e.g. Ben and Jerry IPO only for NH residents first).
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RE: Bringing Stakeholders to Sustainability – Seattle -Part 2
By: ,
Aug 26 2010, 5:21 PM EDT
During the Solutions Salon, we looked for opportunities: 1. Outreach and education. The value of SROI a. What is the Return on Investment? More than Profit- Brand, Market share, Experience b. Recognize upfront value – doing good reduces risks. Encourage long-term views. c. Use of technology – i. Survey electronically to get feedback loop from customers to suppliers (e.g. Amazon Green) ii. Goodguide, iPhone Apps (e.g. for barcode scanning of product “goodness”) d. Social Media 2. Checks & Balances – Equal Stake (voice) in company for decisions – a. Board members / Management b. Customers c. Supply Chain d. Manufacturers 3. Collaboration for solutions- a. Public entities (government), b. Regulators, c. Industry, d. Environmental advocates 4. Co-op model for investments– is it always for the better good? a. Challenge of Co-ops- Scalability, Difficult to raise capital, profit motive b. Membership (mission) driven- depend on sales, lack metrics c. Must be paired with marketing strategy 5. Stakeholder Engagement Process a. Process _ See attached b. Barriers – i. Money ii. Resources iii. No existing or good process in place iv. No fundamental knowledge or metrics v. Competing Commitments (capital for new profit centers or investment in environmental payback) vi. Tenure of employees (“always done it this way”) c. Actionable Steps i. Identify Champion / Green Team ii. Develop metrics 1. Understand competitors 2. Benchmarking 3. Budget iii. Internal Support iv. Identify Stakeholders (see attached chart) v. Find Financial Advantage vi. Design Service, Process (retro-commissioning), Product according to financial model vii. Fail (to learn), Test , Prototype viii. Do again
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Economic Growth vs. Sustainability
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Topics - Seattle
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Aug 24 2010, 1:38 AM EDT by
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Thread started: Aug 6 2010, 2:36 PM EDT
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I don't see much action on this Wiki so I'll just throw out a big question to jumpstart things:
Can we really move toward sustainability using our existing economic model that requires continual (exponential) growth? Despite an ongoing decrease in energy use per GDP, per capita energy use is always on the rise. Companies require either a growing customer base or an increase per customer consumption to survive.
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Last Reply:
RE: Economic Growth vs. Sustainability
By: ,
Aug 24 2010, 1:38 AM EDT
One thing that came out of the Seattle discussion, which has come up many times before, is Externalities. Until they are included in the equation we will not make significant progress. Either the equation or the inputs need to change. The other thing to note, regarding GDP, is that it includes healthcare spending. I'd say that is a bad metric. So both the equation AND the metric of success must change.
That takes political will, which is in short supply at present. Which leads to another item of note from the Seattle Collaboration table topic - Campaign Reform. Until it's one person one vote, vs. one dollar one vote, we will not change the equation, the metric, or the desitnation to which we are currently hurtling. So, how can this group collaborate to create Campaign Reform?
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Solutions to current investment options:
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Sustainable and Socially Responsible Investing - Seattle
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Aug 10 2010, 3:01 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Aug 10 2010, 3:01 PM EDT
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-how far can you ask business to go given the current system. When are you asking too much of business when gov’t community isn’t stepping up -if it’s not happening in business, it’s not happening in government -is it really up to businesses to lead versus the community and individuals? -if consumers demand it, then businesses do it -did REI buy green energy because of consumers or why? -no org. can go too far out in front, otherwise it risks losing totally? -give and take with consumers and businesses -as we think about investments, what are we looking for? -too hung up on measuring financial return, not enough on social and environ. Retrun. -want connection. Personal gain in outcome of what business is doing. Appreciate value and good it brings to society. Don’t believe it costs any more.
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Notes from first conversation
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Sustainable and Socially Responsible Investing - Seattle
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Aug 10 2010, 2:04 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Aug 10 2010, 2:04 PM EDT
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Optyva: Ecosystem drives the change. All stakeholders need to be invested in making progress. Collaboration and enablement. -Roadblocks -lack of connection to customer -surveys -connection through technology -how does technology play a role in getting feedback? Communication and connections -online feedback -feedback to the supplier -how do you go back to supplier’s supply chain. -then go back to manufacturer. Look at one product holistically. -quantifyable -feedback from customer- packaging supplier: here’s something that consumer cares about -through technology can engage consumer through company to make change further back in the supply chain -without consumers voice, without supplier making the change, wouldn’t happen. Need to bring everyone together. -utilizing technology to get quantifyiable info to make change. -how engage government? Ask for more regulation? -collaborate. -bring various stakeholders to the table. Environmental group / public
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ride from the event to the Airport please
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Seattle Ride Share and Public Transportation Page
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Aug 10 2010, 1:00 AM EDT by
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Thread started: Aug 10 2010, 1:00 AM EDT
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I could use a ride to the airport after the event, if anyone is headed that way. THANKS
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Catalyst AM Presentations
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Topics - San Jose 2010
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Jul 21 2010, 10:21 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Jul 15 2010, 1:22 PM EDT
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Gil Friend (Pres #1) Big Small Big Community is our secret weapon We need to transform at the industry level; collaboration is key.
Pres #2 - Amy what is the role of technology in our transformation? Three opportunities: 1. products to services (Zip Car - We can't have 2 cars in every driveway...) 2. durability: What happens when we start to design for durability? (Aileen Fisher - bring our clothes back, lets find another use - sell them on eBay! :-) 3. ubiquitousness of data - google power meter, intuit apps, so that individuals can see what their impacts are, makes it much easier to shift behavior. Trends - Moving sustainability into Business Strategy - evolution is required and MUST include these new standards,
Pres #3: Peter IT/Data storage/Internet server (I think!) known for their energy efficiency, but can only go so far. - How can IT enable sustainability beyond energy efficiency? - Could we develop go to guide for IT practitioners?
We have a lot of advancing technologies... AND, every bit of data that is transferred on the net has a carbon footprint. Could our software be more energy efficient? How could IT accelerate sustainabiliy: now we are all measuring, how can we help?
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Last Reply:
RE: Catalyst AM Presentations
By: ,
Jul 21 2010, 10:21 PM EDT
Thanks for the notes. I appreciate it.
Community as a secret ingredient can be very powerful. Here in Cambridge, MA Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET - http://www.heetma.com) has been doing monthly weatherization barnraisings since the summer of 2008. Since then, about 25 other groups have started from as far away as Albany, NY and Providence, RI though most are in eastern MA. I'd like to see a weatherization barnraising on the White House with the full participation of "This Old House," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," and other TV carpentry shows.
There are other groups which are doing solar barnraisings as well. 30 and more years ago, there were solar barnraisings too and some of those devices are still working.
350.org has called for a work day on climate change for October 10, 2010. It would be good to have the barnraising spirit go viral leading up to and after that point.
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Gil's introduction
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San Jose 2010 GIBN Solutions Lab
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Jul 15 2010, 1:11 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Jul 15 2010, 1:11 PM EDT
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Slight correction on Gil's quote of Jim Leach: Community is the secret INGREDIENT (not weapon) in Sustainability is what Cohousing Developer Jim Leach (Wonderland Hill Development Co., Boulder, CO) says. http://www.whdc.com/ For more on the cohousing movement nationally, visit http://www.cohousing.org/
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Notes from Gil Friend
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Topics - San Jose 2010
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Jul 15 2010, 1:09 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Jul 15 2010, 1:09 PM EDT
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We must do what we are here to do; it takes collaboration at the industry level. Big Small Big - Big opportunties for for small and big companies working together.
Community is our secrets weapon!
Great context setter - as usual, he makes so much sense!
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Three words (most of them) from AM Introduction Exercise
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Topics - San Jose 2010
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Jul 15 2010, 1:05 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Jul 15 2010, 1:05 PM EDT
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Grandkids not disgusted Resource efficiency Triple bottom line Making it last Insuring future viability Working for all Thrive not survive Integrating sustainable solutions Permanence, blance, elusiveness Forever Today, tomorrow, and 100 generations Abundant future Its my kids Leave enough behind Leave things better No preaching to the choir Harmony not balance Challenge your assumptions Exciting challenging opportunities Leave small footprints Accelerating sustainable solutions Take responsibility People mobilization Responsible investment Conservation, preservation, education Consciousness New revenue opportunities Last Focus long term Opportunity through urgency Accounting for externalities Designing resilience now Long term proposition Being smarter about everything Thinking outside the box Low inmpact innovation Yes we can Healthy, thriving, and connective Everybody, everhyweere, everyday Plan, act, communicate For the 97th generation The next generation Radical change now Enough talk, act Harmonious marriage between society and environment Accountability, interconnectedness, systems thinking Innovation innovation innovation Step it up Not good enough Thrive in perpetuity Eliminate all waste Regenerative prosperous inclusive Ongoing supportable development Green is green Everyone contributing solutions
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Corporate finance of Sustainable Communities
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Topics - San Jose 2010
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Jul 15 2010, 12:57 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Jul 15 2010, 12:57 PM EDT
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The success of Silicon Valley has led to high housing costs and long commutes, reducing the competitiveness of area companies and dramatically increasing their carbon footprint. There are models for resident-led sustainable communities, EcoVillages and Cohousing, that let people live greener and in greater density, sharing common features and helping each other reduce impacts, well beyond the "sticks and bricks" of green building. The opportunijty is there for companies to help finance the development of these communities, not just for employee housing but also their parents and friends and peers, in a low-risk form of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI).
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