Greenr - Accelerate the Change!

Back in the day, MPH (Miles per Hour) was the benchmark. 0-60. 0-100. Top speed. But these days its MPG - Miles per Gallon. When I first saw the Aptera prototype last year I knew this would be the car for me, and I joined the waiting list the day they started taking deposits.

alternativeenergy.com has a couple of video interviews. Check ‘em out! If you want to find out more, AutoBlogGreen has extensive coverage. And of course you can visit the company web site at www.aptera.com.

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This week we (my wife and I) closed on a new house. Well, actually its an old house, built somewhere around the turn of the 20th century. Needless to say, we’re taking a green approach to remodeling. Perhaps the most challenging aspect is a basement that captures little natural light. We plan to use as our office - so it will be see more use than the rest of the house combined.

A novel approaches to daylighting internal rooms is “Fiber Optic Solar Lighting”. One of the first to market with a solution is Swedish company Parans. The solutions starts at over $6k, but the upside is zero running costs. I’ll keep you posted as I investigate this and other solutions.

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I read FastCompany’s guide a couple of months ago but just came across it again. Its well worth reading if, as the title suggests, you’re looking to green your business.

“Imagine asking today how the Internet affects business. It’s an absurd question, like asking how electricity changed business. Asking the same about sustainability, it turns out, is equally absurd. Like the Internet, sustainability spurs innovation in everything, from how you see your business model to whether you see your employees (why not let them work at home more?). Here are our favorite ways companies today are greening up–and saving money and making better widgets in the process.” Continued at FastCompany.

Know of other green guides? Lets me know…

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Ah, its a GREAT day when three things come together. A company that 1) leverages biomimicry, 2) was founded by a fellow Aussie (Jay Harman), and 3) funding arrives from a top silicon valley firm. Cnet reporter Stefanie Olsen covers the news:

Khosla Ventures, the venture capital firm of Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla, has invested in Pax Streamline, maker of turbines, heating and air-conditioning systems, and aerospace technologies. … Pax Streamline is a relatively recent spinoff of Pax Scientific, an 11-year-old research and development company based in San Rafael, Calif. Pax Scientific was founded on the premise that design in nature could improve the efficiency of industrial design of everything from air conditioning fans, water pumps, and computer cooling systems. Harman’s design for fans, pumps, and propellers mimic the geometries of spiraling whirlpools–and industry experts believe these designs can reduce friction, wasted energy, noise, and unwanted heat.  Continued at Cnet.

Big congrats to Jay!

Press Release.

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A great list of events care of Sustainlane:

Natural Products Expo West
The largest trade show about natural and organic products. Over 2,800 exhibitors showcase new products, and cutting-edge trends. Watch engaging speakers, and attend informative seminars amidst endless networking opportunities.
March 14 - 16
Anaheim, CA
expowest.com

Down 2 Earth
D2E is Boston’s sustainable living expo. D2E is committed to promoting a smarter, greener way of life by connecting eco-friendly businesses with eco-minded consumers.
March 28 - 30
Boston, MA
d2eboston.com

Better Living Show
A consumer show highlighting eight core topics including: lifestyle, home/garden, transportation, food/beverage, clean tech, eco-adventure, recycling and conservation with food, speakers, and more.
March 28 - 30
Portland, OR
betterlivingshow.org

Green Festival Seattle
The largest green event in the country hits Seattle for the first time!
April 12 - 13
Seattle, WA
greenfestivals.org

EcoCity 2008 World Summit
Convening an international community of inspired change-makers; courageous individuals who are addressing problems of the world’s environment with thoughtful long-range solutions that are truly sustainable, ecologically healthy and socially just.
April 22 - 26
San Francisco, CA
ecocityworldsummit.org

All Things Organic
An event focused exclusively on organic products–all products on display must be certified organic, made with certified organic ingredients or be approved for use in organic products.
April 27 - 29
Chicago, IL
organicexpo.com

Social Venture Network’s Annual Member Gathering
SVN’s 2008 Annual Member Gathering will bring together visionaries in business, economic justice, and social enterprise, and to reconnect and inspire each other.
May 1 - 4
Vernon, NJ
svn.org

Green Street Fair
To promote global interest and personal well-being, the Green Street Fair will blend companies, artisans, entertainers, and speakers together in a friendly and family-oriented outdoor environment.
May 3 - 4
Plymouth, MI
greenstreetfair.com

Green Living & Energy Education Expo
The three-day event is dedicated to demonstrating sustainable living through ideas and technologies that promote renewable energy and promote energy conservation in the Florida Keys.
May 5-9
Marathon, FL
keysglee.com

Investors Circle Spring Conference and Venture Fair
A premier meeting place for angel investors, professional venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and entrepreneurs who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable future.
May 5 - 9
San Francisco, CA
investorscircle.net

Green Car Journey

See electric, hybrids, biodiesel, and fuel cell options up close as we visit dealers and manufacturers.

May 5 - 9

Starts and ends in Olympia, WA

yellowbearjourneys.com

Greener Homes and Gardens Expo
This year’s show features Green Home Building & Remodeling; Sustainable Landscaping & Gardening; Renewable Energy & Conservation; Alternative Transportation; speakers, hands-on workshops, food, live music and more!

May 17 - 18

Portland, OR
GreenerHomesandGardens.com

Q Jam: An Environmental Sustainability Fair and Music Festival
To educate and inform the citizens of Albuquerque about the benefits of living green. We have exhibitors ranging from alternative fuels, to recycling, to green building practices and more.
May 24
Albuquerque, NM
qjam.com

Sustainable Brands ‘08
Sustainable Brands is where top brand leaders meet to discuss sustainability as the new frontier for driving revenue growth and enhancing brand equity.
June 2 - 5
Monterey, CA
SustainableLifeMedia.com

LOHAS 12 Forum
A four-day business conference that brings together leaders from Fortune 500 companies, LOHAS businesses, the entertainment industry, and celebrities to focus on how to educate, shape and influence consumer behavior and purchasing decisions while promoting lifestyles of health and sustainability.
June 18 - 21
Boulder, CO
LOHAS.com

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CNet interviews San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom:

“I get a little nervous when I show up at these conferences and everyone’s jumping all over me to give me their plans and talk in global terms. The ‘what’ is never measured, the ‘how-to’ is never measured. Everyone’s got a plan. Who cares about these damn plans? What are you doing and how did you get there? How did you really roll back your (carbon dioxide) emissions?

….A big study came out about (carbon emissions of raising) cattle and meat. At all these environmental events they’re all eating meat and drinking bottled water… Continued at Cnet.

Go Gavin!

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