The Washington Post reports that California’s legislature approved the broadest restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions in the nation yesterday. The California bill requires a 25 percent cut in carbon dioxide pollution produced within the state’s borders by 2020 in order to bring the total down to 1990 levels. It will set up a cap-and-trade program …
In Fast Company‘s September issue of 2006, they report that in the next 12 months Wal-Mart wants to sell every one of its regular customers–100 million in all–one swirl bulb. Says Andrew Ruben, Wal-Mart’s vice president of sustainability: "We realize that we can influence big things. Energy usage. Efficiency. Dependence on foreign oil. And we …
Growing consumer awareness of the cost and environmental benefits of recycled materials for home-building projects is creating a unique market for current and emerging retailers. This article from the Denver Post, outlines some of the reasons for this growing demand and the companies, big and small, that are meeting the needs of their "greener" customers. …
In a recent article in The Guardian, John Vidal highlights a new generation of small green companies emerging with radical but proven ideas to revolutionize engineering. The article discusses giant wind turbines based on a seed, and a desalination plant that mimics a beetle, identifying the following: An aero-generator turbine, now being laboratory tested before …
Ford’s "Model T" revolutionized output efficiencies in the manufacturing processes of the Industrial Revolution. Presently, another car company may help to redefine the way we make things, measured with a more encompassing "output" co-efficient. Subaru of Indiana Automotive’s manufacturing (SIA) plant is recreating the way that cars are manufactured. The plant is so efficient that …
In the February volume of New Bottom Line Gil Friend, founder, president & CEO of Natural Logic Inc, describes 2005 as the "tipping point for ‘sustainability,’" highlighting several examples of growing momentum in 2005 including: General Electric’s Ecomagination announcement Boeing announced that its new 787 jetliner (coming in 2008) will be 20% more efficient than …
Everything About Green Building, Under One Roof. Greenbuild is the annual meeting place for the green building industry. For three days in Denver, thousands of green building industry professionals will come together to learn about the latest advancements in green building design, construction, project financing and building management. When: November 15-17, 2006 Where: The Colorado …
It is fair to say that the US economy is inefficient, with an absurdly small amount of input materials actually ending up in products. As Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry, explains, part of the solution for these inefficiencies may begin with a "conscious emulation of life’s genius." She points out that spiders make silk, as …
Go to Business Week and check out where some of these big dogs are placing their bets.
At The Inspired Economy it is our hope that as companies begin to see profit attached to sustainable business practices, innovation will follow. This article in Entrepreneur discusses how entrepreneurs are turning environmental problems into opportunities.
Developed by Paul Hawken, founder of the popular gardening store Smith and Hawken, Hunter Lovins, and Rocky Mountain Institute CEO Amory B. Lovins, Natural Capitalism is our obvious inspiration and a new business model that synergizes four major elements for the new Industrial Revolution: 1. Radically increase the productivity of resource use. Through fundamental changes …
They say that the wars of the future will not be fought over oil, but over fresh water. We all understand that water is essential for life, but, as the Financial Times reports, “many are just beginning to grasp how essential it is to everything in life – food, energy, transportation, nature, leisure, identity, culture …
David Roeder, The Chicago Sun Times, highlights the growing number of developers and commercial projects "going green": In Chicago office development, "going green" has a double meaning. It’s about environmental friendliness, yes, but especially the color of money. Builders of offices have discovered that with a little thought and upfront expense, their structures can get …
Wall Street is getting bullish, check out this article in Business Week about why some of the world’s smartest investors are betting billions on clean energy.