Greening for Profit is brought to you by the City of San Rafael, the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and Dominican University of California’s Environmental Finance Center and Green MBA program. The workshops are conducted by Natural Capitalism Solutions, the internationally renowned business sustainability consultants founded by Hunter Lovins. Their diverse client list includes the likes of Clif Bar, Stanford University and Williams Sonoma, as well as the Government of Germany — even the US Pentagon. Thanks to a grant from Marin Community Foundation, Greening for Profit workshops are being offered at a deep discount. This one-time opportunity is available to only 36 Marin businesses. So sign up now.
We all take economic growth for granted – until it falters, as in 2008. But what if the recent economic meltdown was not just an interruption in the story of continuous economic expansion, but the first sign of the end of growth as we know it? Will the convergence of financial instability, the end of cheap oil, and climate change usher in an era of contraction? In other words, do we have to adapt to a “new normal”?
Traditional economic growth is not the best measure of human health and welfare. How might we pursue improvements in education, the arts, health, well-being, freedom, and happiness without depending upon ever-expanding consumption? What does a transition to a new economy look like that doesn’t depend on a model of growth based on cheap energy, reckless consumption and financial speculation?
EcoTuesday, a unique, structured monthly networking event for sustainable business leaders held concurrently in nine cities across the country, will feature a "Pitch Night" for 10 lucky participants this month! Come to EcoTuesday and "Pitch" your company! Have a new venture? Preparing to speak in front of investors? Looking for honest feedback?
This month, ten people will be randomly selected (via a business card entry) to present their 3 minute "pitch" or presentation of their company or initiative. This is a great way for you to share the highlights of your company, practice your "elevator pitch" and get feedback from others. EcoTuesday always attracts a roomful of supportive and motivated business leaders, so this will be a great venue to refine your company's story. Plus, we have a wonderful raffle prize that we will be giving away to one lucky person at the end of the night!
Temple SF is a beautiful and green nightclub in the heart of San Francisco. Green Temple aims to have the greatest positive impact and limit our negative impact. We achieve this through internally implementing resource conservation measures, perusing innovative and inspirational solutions and engaging in the community. As important as scientific advances and building materials are important, we also need to change the way we live and think. With over 2,000 people a week coming through our doors resource management is exponentially important. By reducing our resource consumption we not only help the planet, but save money.
What’s a trimtab?
“…there’s a tiny thing at the edge [of a ship’s] rudder called a trim tab. It's a miniature rudder. Just moving the little trim tab builds a low pressure that pulls the rudder around. Takes almost no effort at all...the little individual can be a trim tab…and change the course of history...”
~ 
TrimTab Media was co-founded by GreenMBA Alumni Mischa Hedges and Iliani Matisse. Mischa worked in Los Angeles for several years as an award-winning documentary producer and professional editor before moving to the Bay Area in 2009 to pursue a GreenMBA at Dominican University in San Rafael. Iliani has produced award-winning, national advertising campaigns, documentaries and television series for over 20 years and lives in the Bay Area. They decided to house TrimTab Media at the Venture Greenhouse in San Rafael to actively network with the sustainable business community and receive support from the Venture Greenhouse’s professional mentors.
Our vision is a world where business is the driving force for the health and sustainability of the planet and its people.
Using social video to tell authentic stories about the positive changes that businesses are bringing about develops and deepens meaningful relationships with customers who share their values. Effective use of authentic stories can serve as a trim tab for businesses, furthering their success and potential to drive innovation and inspire others. And when environmentally and socially beneficial businesses are successful, the course of history can change - for the better.
Contact:
TrimTab Media
Throughout the morning session, the dialogue on stage at Accelerating Sustainable Performance was interrupted by the roar of 700hp machines tearing down the track just fifty yards from the Panasonic Center. The deafening sound made for more than a few laughs during the summit, but also raised a serious issue. That roar, that whiney, aggressive roar defines motor sports. Do electrics stand a chance? Many of the people I spoke to asked the same question.
The opposition is an oversimplification and the summit explored many more options than electrics. Ethynol was featured quite a bit. Although I have my doubts about this option (burning the products of ariable land, low mileage), at least the cars would roar. Biodeisel, of course, is viable right now. Fascinating advanced fuel options were presented by primary sponsor, Amyris, including fermented fuels harvested from bacteria which I definitely have to learn more about.
But the real buzz was about electrics. Sitting outside were several examples including the Nissan Leaf and the all mighty Tesla Roadster. There was a two seater exotic racer and the exciting Mission Motors electric superbike, a development platform and unfortunately not yet the bike of tomorrow. I can dream though.
Here's the thing: racing is above all about performance. When it comes to electric versus gas, wow, there is no comparison. Yes, ev technology is still developing, but even now the higher performance electrics are destroying even the fastest production gas cars. Maximum instant access to torque and acceleration uninterrupted by gear changes make it no contest.
So can the sound really be that important? I conspired my way into the passenger seat of the Tesla for a couple laps around the track to find out. Right out of the gate, the acceleration was amazing. I forgot about everything else. It felt unending. You are so used to the break for gear shifts that when the force pushing you back into the lovely leather interior keeps increasing it feels ten fold. You ask about sound? Driver Paul and I heard everything, each screech and turn and bump. And the wind roaring. I have passed Teslas coming the other way on quiet country roads while riding my motorcycle and been impressed by the subtle smooth whoosh of the little car going past. But from inside, wonderful, damnable roars of air ripped around my head. It was a hell of a sound.
How that can translate to fans at the raceway, I am not sure. One clue might come from the Mission Motors demonstration while we dined on the track-side patio. The whine rose up from somewhere afar and crept up before the beautiful beast of a bike sprang into view sounding like a Lear jet. As the bike accelerated up the hill into Turn One and the pure sound of the drive train rang like a bell, I smiled. Yes, it just might come to be.
Introducing “$20 Million & Change” and Patagonia Works – A Holding Company for the Environment http://t.co/i6t3GiUUMy via @patagonia
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