Fast Company Spins Sustainable Business Coverage Out to New URL
In November, Fast Company continued the migration of their online presence toward Co… meaning that each of their sections will be renamed and rebranded using Co+[term]. “Co” means “complementary” in mathematics, or “forming a satisfactory whole.” Co.Design has led the way with its unique look and feel as it explores the important role of design plays in our world. Now, [...]
Prime Minister Wants to Paint Canada Green
April fool 2011 :-) In a dramatic campaign promise, embattled Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that, if re-elected, his government would become a world leader in the production of clean, green energy, with plans to shut down the Alberta Tar Sands by 2025, and a commitment to do everything in its power to [...]
Boeing 797 Revealed- It’s a Zeppelin
April fool 2011 :-) Secret documents leaked this week reveal Boeing’s long awaited 797 design to be a zero-emission, solar powered dirigible code-named “Blue Whale.” The enormous aircraft will be capable of carrying 700 passengers in private cabins, along with more than 20 times the cargo carrying capacity of an Airbus A380. Reporting from Boeing’s [...]
Hot Alliance: Shell, Suntech and ICBC to Create “ShellSunergy”
April fool 2011 :-) Reaching for the stars has new meaning today with the announcement of a blockbuster solar energy joint venture between Shell, Suntech Power Holdings and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. While there are many permutations involved and details of the deal are limited, the bottom line is that the three [...]
Industrialists Embark on Cross-Country Run for the Environment
April fool 2011 :-) In a scene right out of Forrest Gump, industrialists Charles and David Koch have been running the entire 3,000 miles from the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan to the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. When asked for a motive behind the unusual cross-country endeavor, the two brothers were characteristically reticent, leaving [...]
Should Nonprofits Publish a Sustainability Report?
Last August I wrote a piece on why nonprofits (used interchangeably here with NGOs) should publish sustainability reports, similar to those produced by most large corporations. I had just returned from my GRI certification course and was disappointed to learn that very few nonprofits embraced the standards. Despite the availability of NGO specific sector supplements [...]
Sex with Trees: Do’s & Don’ts of Using Sex to Sell Sustainability
This post is part of a year-end series by MBA students at California College of the Arts’ Design MBA Program. Read more about our annual partnership here. Tall, lean, leaves blowing in the wind and all natural – trees are pretty sexy . . .right? What about global warming, conservation or recycling? For many, not [...]
What is the Message of the Midterm Election? How About Dirty Money Well Spent?
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s shellacking of the Obama administration, pundits are busy trying to interpret the message that the American people were sending through their votes. Was it fears of big government, lack of black voter turnout, discomfort with President Obama’s leadership style and high rhetoric, or perhaps discontent with the state of the [...]
Video Interview: Zimride’s John Zimmer on Leveraging Communities to Motivate Sharing
Earlier this month, Leon Kaye wrote about how Zimride merges social networking with carpooling. I had a chance to sit down with co-founder and COO John Zimmer to explore how Zimride leverages existing communities to break through the trust barrier. It was a rough ride for Zimride at first, when even Zimmer’s alma mater Cornell [...]
Paupers to Partners: Co-Creation as New Framework for Base of Pyramid
By C. Sala Hewitt 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of the equally venerated and vilified concept of “Base of the Pyramid” first proposed in an academic paper by then business academic CK Prahalad. The concept gained considerable steam in business circles to become one of the millennium’s business game changers. “Base of the Pyramid” refers [...]
Smart Grid’s Long Road Ahead: An interview with Katherine Hamilton
By Amy Hsuan The nation’s electric power industry, dating back to the 19th century, is in the early phases of an unprecedented change. With new, renewable resources coming online and commercial users searching for new modes of efficiency, the underlying infrastructure that has served the power needs of the United States for the better part [...]
The NFL’s Lip Service to Safety
By David Croushore This week, the NFL finally made a reasonable gesture with respect to player safety. However, the crackdown on brutal hits is only a good start in the fight for player safety that must continue. As Greg Easterbrook of ESPN is quick to point out, the NFL must make efforts to promote the [...]
Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School on the Net Impact Force For Change
This post is part of a short interview series featuring the winners and runners up for the 2010 Net Impact Force For Change Award The Award recognizes outstanding Net Impact members who have led an employee or student-driven project with tangible positive social and/or environmental impacts. I asked each participant to introduce their project and [...]
Street Food Gets Green Makeover from GustOrganics
At the Northwest corner of Park Avenue and 53rd street in New York City, you will find a totally different yet refreshing kind of food cart. This unique “Organic Cart NYC” not only serves certified-organic food, but it is powered using free energy from the sun. This new twist on street food is a pilot [...]
Green Jobs Are For Real
Green For All came on the scene at the end of 2007, with the simple idea that America could fight pollution and poverty at the same time by investing in clean-energy industries that created jobs for everyday people. We called them “green jobs,” and we thought they would be a big part of making the 21st century a prosperous one here in the U.S. And right now, as the final quarter of 2010 begins, we can say one thing for sure: Green For All’s original idea was right; green jobs are for real.
What’s Next Interview with Nick Ellis, CEO of Job Rooster
As part of our partnership with the Social Capital Markets Conference 2010, we are featuring a series of interviews with key conference participants. Don’t forget to get your 30% discount by using the code “3P30″ when you register! I spoke with Nick Ellis, CEO of Job Rooster, as well as his outlook on social enterprise. Job [...]
Are Asian Chemical Companies the New Welfare Queens?
It appears that certain companies are intentionally overproducing a very potent greenhouse gas called HFC-23 or trifluoromethane solely for the purpose of destroying it in order to receive CER units. The substance is a by-product in the manufacture of HFC-22, a common refrigerant used in air conditioning systems.
Twizzler Manufacturer Campaigning For American Nutrition?
Companies across the globe are beginning to address their sustainability principles and criteria. By making tangible positive changes, greenwashing may finally be fading away. Enter Hershey’s. The Hershey Company is the most recognized chocolate brand throughout the world and produces very well-known sugar-laden snacks such as Milk Duds and Jolly Ranchers. Recently, this chocolate confectioner became a sponsor with the American Dietetic [...]
Green America Exchange – Finally Getting Bartering Right?
With troubled economies often comes inventive solutions. It’s a must, to continue. Green America Exchange (GAEx) is one such solution. GAEx helps businesses can get what they need, in a time where credit lines may be short, and customers more scarce then you’d like. It’s based around bartering, an old idea really, but packaged with [...]
Snapgoods Lets You Rent Cool Gadgets for a Small Fee
Snapgoods, which recently caught on in New York, describes itself as the place “where good people meet, share, and put each other’s stuff to good use.” There are lots of cool products out there, but chances are that you just want to take them for a test run first. Or on the flip side, you own a cool bike or electronic contraption that you just do not use daily and you would like some help paying that credit card off.
BP Turns Down Help From Elite Science Group
Innocentive, a company that was founded in 2001 around the idea of pooling the greatest minds in the world into a collective resource was recently in the news because they offered a challenge based on the Gulf Oil spill. Close to a thousand solutions were submitted from their network, of over 200,000 innovators, many of whom have advanced degrees in science and engineering. Unfortunately, BP has shown no interest. Apparently the “Not Invented Here” syndrome that is rampant in so many companies, rules the roost at BP as well.
Brazil Hesitates on Deepwater Drilling
A planned stock offering to raise money for deepwater drilling by Brazilian state oil firm Petrobas has been delayed until September. Petrobas said the delay was necessary to allow Brazil’s energy regulator, ANP, more time to assess the value of the oil deposits, according to the Guardian. But the announcement comes as the BP deepwater [...]
Video Interview: Suzanne Shelton on The American Green Hispanic Consumer
Issues of sustainability transcend ethic groups. This is an interconnected, global world with 4 billion mobile phone users according to Kirsi Sormunen, VP with Nokia. And increasingly, a major focus of their communications is upon topics tied to their water, energy and food supplies, and the impacts of their production upon the individual, community and [...]
Gulf Oil Spill By the Numbers
By the time the leak is expected to be stopped, the total amount of oil discharged will be approaching 2 million barrels or 84 million gallons (roughly 8 times the amount of the Exxon Valdez). If stopped, by then, it will not be the largest oil spill in world history, but it should easily make the top five.
Webby Recipients Speak Out Against BP
Recipients of this week’s Webby Awards took the opportunity to speak out against BP. Acceptance speeches were limited to five words, making for some pithy yet cutting commentary.
Should Greenhouse Gas Emissions Be Confidential?
As new rules go into effect requiring certain industries to report on their greenhouse gas emissions, there is some question as to how much of the data collected should be considered “confidential business information.” In a sign that such concerns are being taken seriously, the EPA has sent a draft rule to the White House [...]
Huge Venture Capital Deal for Solar Company Amonix Announced
Amonix, maker of concentrating photovoltaic solar cells, has received $129.4 million in financing from Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and other investors. The deal is the biggest in the solar sector so far this year, and one of the largest in the entire cleantech sector, according to Cleantech Group. Amonix’s [...]
US Greenhouse Gas Emissions Dropped 2.9 Percent in 2008
Total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States dropped 2.9 percent from 2007 to 2008, according to the 2008 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory finalized by the EPA late last week. The downward trend is attributed to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions associated with the higher cost of transportation fuel in 2008, the agency reported. [...]
World Bank Report Says East Asia Could Stabilize Emissions By 2025
Six of the fastest-growing East Asian economies could stabilize their greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 without compromising growth, a new report from the World Bank has found. By focusing on efficiency and a concerted switch to the use of renewable energy, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam could simultaneously stabilize greenhouse gas emissions, increase [...]
Solar Electric Capacity Grew 37% Last Year — Residential PV Doubles
Electricity generated by sunlight grew 37 percent in 2009 to a total of 2,108 megawatts of capacity nationwide, according to an advance copy of the US Solar Industry Year in Review, to be released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Overall solar energy capacity — which includes solar hot water heaters — grew [...]
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Have your event listed here.
Webinar: Feb 17Greening Stonyfield Farm: As a consultant with Stonyfield Farm for the past 12 years, Switzer Fellow Tim Greiner will discuss efforts to broaden and deepen sustainability within the company. He will discuss the company's efforts to track its environmental impacts, barriers the company had to overcome.
Webinar: Feb 29Product Scorecards for Sustainability: Product scorecards that detail and evaluate environmental and sustainability aspects of products are increasingly adopted by leading companies. This webinar covers the best practices in this area and a case study by Seventh Generation.
NY: Mar 19-20Wall Street Green: The longest running and most comprehensive environmental market event in the industry. The Wall Street Green Summit covers cutting edge content, industry developments and features the practitioners and the leaders of tomorrow.
Bay Area: Mar 22-23GRI Certified Training: Demand for sustainability experts is growing rapidly as companies look for proven professionals. For companies, GRI trained employees mean faster implementations and better use of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework. Join our partner ISOS group for this two day session. Early bird discounts apply!
SF: Mar 26-28Cleantech Forum San Francisco: The 2012 Cleantech Forum San Francisco will mark the 10th anniversary of Cleantech Forums, the annual gathering of the global clean technology innovation community. Our theme this year is “The Power of Global Partnerships,” an exploration of how strategic relationships are playing an ever more important role in the future of clean technology. For a $300 Discount use code "VIPofTriplePundit " More Info.
SF: April 10-12 Navigating the American Carbon World: The must-attend event for professionals in the carbon landscape. Over the past decade, NACW has consistently provided informative content, thoughtful discussions and outstanding opportunities for collaboration.
Have your event listed here.
Webinar: Feb 17Greening Stonyfield Farm: As a consultant with Stonyfield Farm for the past 12 years, Switzer Fellow Tim Greiner will discuss efforts to broaden and deepen sustainability within the company. He will discuss the company's efforts to track its environmental impacts, barriers the company had to overcome.Webinar: Feb 29Product Scorecards for Sustainability: Product scorecards that detail and evaluate environmental and sustainability aspects of products are increasingly adopted by leading companies. This webinar covers the best practices in this area and a case study by Seventh Generation.NY: Mar 19-20Wall Street Green: The longest running and most comprehensive environmental market event in the industry. The Wall Street Green Summit covers cutting edge content, industry developments and features the practitioners and the leaders of tomorrow.Bay Area: Mar 22-23GRI Certified Training: Demand for sustainability experts is growing rapidly as companies look for proven professionals. For companies, GRI trained employees mean faster implementations and better use of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework. Join our partner ISOS group for this two day session. Early bird discounts apply!SF: Mar 26-28Cleantech Forum San Francisco: The 2012 Cleantech Forum San Francisco will mark the 10th anniversary of Cleantech Forums, the annual gathering of the global clean technology innovation community. Our theme this year is “The Power of Global Partnerships,” an exploration of how strategic relationships are playing an ever more important role in the future of clean technology. For a $300 Discount use code "VIPofTriplePundit " More Info.SF: April 10-12 Navigating the American Carbon World: The must-attend event for professionals in the carbon landscape. Over the past decade, NACW has consistently provided informative content, thoughtful discussions and outstanding opportunities for collaboration.Have your event listed here.
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