Sustainable living
« Previous Entries Next Entries »Virgin Atlantic – Flying High with Biofuels
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009Richard Branson wants to change the way you travel. As Chairman of Virgin Group Ltd. (which counts several travel companies – among them the Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, and Virgin Blue subsidiaries – under its banner) Branson’s aim is not wholly surprising. But the intrigue stems not from the what, but the how. As public [...]
Homes Go Green
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009‘It’s not easy being green.’ While this is an excellent motto for Kermit the Frog, it is also perhaps a source of confusion for current and potential homeowners in the push to embrace a philosophy of sustainability. Despite what you may have heard (i.e. increased construction costs, a scarcity of quality materials, creativity-impinging government regulations) [...]
Back to the Future with Biofuels
Monday, July 27th, 2009“Current trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable.” – International Energy Agency report, November 2008 In the final scene of 1985′s blockbuster hit, Back to the Future, Doc Brown arrives from the future in his silver DeLorean time machine, frantically filling his engine with household garbage. Garbage, at least in director Zemeckis’ cinematic [...]
Microgrids Challenge to Big Utility Goliaths
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009It is an environmentalist’s dream – harnessing the power of natural resources to provide households with cheaper, more reliable energy. For thousands of American homeowners this is a daily reality – not just a dream, as rooftop solar panels and wind turbines reduce their reliance on traditional power utilities. But for all the promise of [...]
Yvon Chouinard – Reluctant Businessman, Relentless Social Corporate Responsibility Pioneer
Saturday, July 11th, 2009Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. – Patagonia Mission Statement It is a question that is raising debate in boardrooms around the world – how do we, as a company, limit our environmental impact while still turning a profit? In a society [...]
The Case of Fabio Rosa – How Social Entrepreneurs Take on the World
Saturday, June 27th, 2009In a civilization fueled by innovation, entrepreneurial enterprise is king. This is no surprise to those of us living in the Information Age – where entrepreneurs are regular features on the covers of the glossy business weeklies – sharing their stories of translating problems into solutions, and making a mint in the process. Creativity, keen [...]
Urban Farming Takes Root
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009It’s time to redefine our concept of the concrete jungle. For decades, this term has been meant as a cautionary tale – condemning the city environment as less-than-hospitable and conjuring visions of a vast, treeless urban landscape. But recent growing awareness of the need to be more ecologically responsible, and increasing public demand for ‘green [...]
From Exurbia to Megalopolis – The Rise of Super Cities
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA may seem an odd place to look for correlations between ‘building big’ and the potential pitfalls of future urban planning. Begun in 1884, construction on the house continued around the clock – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – for 38 years, resulting in one [...]
Warren Buffett’s Test Drive into an Electric Auto Future
Saturday, May 23rd, 2009Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. The Oracle of Omaha has spoken. Warren Buffett may not be the Wizard of Oz, but considering his almost mystical track record as a powerhouse investor and one of America’s most successful businessmen, it would be easy to understand any confusion. The Berkshire Hathaway CEO is [...]
Anita Roddick – Corporate Rebel with a Cause
Thursday, May 21st, 2009“I want to work for a company that contributes to and is part of the community. I want something not just to invest in. I want something to believe in. ” – Dame Anita Roddick Dame Anita Roddick was not a wallflower. She was not timid, quiet, or dispassionate. She was not afraid of courting [...]
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