The Next Industrial Revolution - McDonough & Braungart and the Birth of the Sustainable Economy

Go To: http://thenextindustrialrevolution.org/

THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION is a new 55 minute film, produced by Earthome Productions to communicate the work and vision of architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart, two leaders in a growing movement to transform the relationship between commerce and nature.  McDonough and Braungart work with corporations with over half a trillion dollars in annual sales, companies like Ford and Nike, to redesign buildings, processes, and products to work according to nature's rules.  "When we follow nature's rules, growth is good," says Bill McDonough. "The question before us is not growth versus no growth, It is: what would good growth look like? And this is a question of intent, of design. What if we grow health instead of sickness, home ownership instead of indigence, education instead of ignorance?"  Using the stories of five projects that represent a revolutionary change in the direction of the human economy, THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION inspires people to:  Click here to view The Next Industrial Revolution trailer. THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION can be purchased in DVD or VHS video formats.

Can the Solar Industry Spin Sunlight into Gold?

ClimateBiz's feature story (Lee Barken, July 9, 2008) -- Can the Solar
Industry Spin Sunlight into Gold?
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001kCLWOuu390hWuBp_XZWCjhV43p1xQaIShA0dFxKWAqot-Puk
_9GcjrkLLkLtKfNBMMJVQT3oZKFmFrQ3m5A_q-_uBu333xwRxAbSAFWaxBOIdmYIB99Dr-DF3ujO
FIUf6ltym3hFE7kSrJbqetrTID8F1didal5KACjvxEl65Mb9_A1vUX57qoJS6cRf8JhPn7KcajQ0
F0c=> -- highlights the challenges -- as well as opportunities -- faced by
players in that rapidly evolving business, as major players enter the market
with innovations and production capacity that promise to change the game
(see item on National Semiconductor's new more efficient chip for PVs).

Climate Change Conference: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions (Mar 2009)

<http://www.info-aaas.org/util/link.jsp?e=9hkWtoeqjSJbw-2wNomQH2fnDtfj1hB3GA
szNQU5ILdc.A&s=3TlgHm7CI&v=4o9sjfSxzoLWP358.A> logo

The main aim of the congress is to provide a synthesis of existing and
emerging scientific knowledge necessary in order to make intelligent
societal decisions concerning application of mitigation and adaptation
strategies in response to climate change. The congress aims to identify and
synthesise the science, technology and policy advances required in order to
ensure sustainability of global communities in the current and coming
decades. The Congress will bring together thought leaders and industry
professionals. The Danish Government as host of the UN Conference on Climate
Change (COP15) to be held in Copenhagen at the end of 2009 supports this
Congress organised by IARU as part of the run-up to the COP 15. An executive
summary with the main findings of this Congress will, after agreement with
the Danish Government, be handed over to the participants at the COP15. The
Copenhagen Congress on Climate Change, organized by ten universities in the
International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) (www.iaruni.org
<http://www.info-aaas.org/util/link.jsp?e=59NjMrf6iykdcnOKJtJ8yV99OZWHgSr9JQ
aBxZvILxuQ.A&s=3TlgHm7CI&v=4o9sjfSxzoLWP358.A> ) will be a unique congress
aiming to identify and synthesise the science, technology and policy
advances required in order to ensure sustainability of global communities in
the current and coming decades. www.climatecongress.ku.dk
<http://www.info-aaas.org/util/link.jsp?e=6isk9LxiL1JpBWJFMOUpopMSGTnzq3qs3W
ouTljHAtJw.A&s=3TlgHm7CI&v=4o9sjfSxzoLWP358.A> . Keynote Speakers: Dr.
Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chairman of the IPCC and Mr. José Manuel Barroso,
President of the European Commission. The following leading international
figures are confirmed plenary speakers and more will become part of the
programme. Please find a full list of confirmed session chairs at our web
page www.climatecongress.ku.dk
<http://www.info-aaas.org/util/link.jsp?e=7m05EBfGhHdS0bmlwPqDN7OorPQjJBsBa1
K5CjeSKTPA.A&s=3TlgHm7CI&v=4o9sjfSxzoLWP358.A>

* Professor Thomas Homer-Dixon, University of Toronto
* Professor Amanda Lynch, Monash University
* Professor Diana Liverman, University of Oxford
* Professor Nebojsa Nakicenovic, The International Institute for
Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
* Professor William D. Nordhaus, Yale University
* Professor Stefan Rahmstorf, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research
* Professor John Schellnhuber, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research

Sustainable Urbanism Slides

Download Doug Farr's slides from his APA/AICP June 2008 Webinar at
http://www.farrside.com/book/, based on his recently published book,
Sustainable Urbanism - Urban Design with Nature, A Pattern Language for LEED
Neighborhood Development.

Join the Common Wealth Club (Jeffrey Sachs - Columbia U Earth Institute)

Dear Common Wealth Club Member,

Welcome to the Common Wealth Club! Thank you for joining and for your
interest in finding solutions to the challenges of sustainable development.

Our generation's greatest challenges --in environment, demography, poverty,
and global politics--are also our most exciting opportunities. If we take
the right measures, there will be room for all on the planet to live in
peace and prosperity. We can achieve our global goals, but they won't be
reached on our current trajectory and with our current economic thinking. We
must re-think our priorities and approaches, and chart a new path together.

I am thrilled that you are involved in learning more and taking up the
challenges of sustainable development. As a member of the Common Wealth
Club, you will get regular updates on news, events and discussion forums on
the Common <http://www.sachs.earth.columbia.edu/commonwealth/forum> Wealth
Forum. Please stay engaged and keep visiting our website
<http://www.commonwealthsachs.org> .

It is through networks such as the Common Wealth Club that we together can
take on and solve the issues that we face. Please encourage your friends and
family to join the Club and help broaden our network, and our shared
commitment to solutions. Join the Common Wealth Facebook page
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Common-Wealth-Club/10587718427> , organize
Meetups <http://endpoverty.meetup.com/> and stay active!

Click here <http://www.sachs.earth.columbia.edu/commonwealth/join.php> to
invite a friend to join the Club!

I look forward to hearing from you on our Common Wealth Forum and seeing you
at events around the world!

My very best wishes,

Jeff Sachs

Dr. Larry Brillant

Presidio School of Management was honored to have Dr.
<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?PresidioSchoolofMana/ce9bcfa123/53ed9886d2/ec834ed6
17> Larry Brilliant, a Presidio Advisory Council member, as this year's
commencement speaker on June 6, 2008. Fifty-one MBA graduates received their
diplomas, including those from the December 2007 class. Dr. Brilliant, who
was recently named the World's 100 Most Influential People by TIME,
exemplifies the role our students and graduates play -- as individuals or
business leaders -- in helping solve social and environmental issues. As the
Google.org
<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?PresidioSchoolofMana/ce9bcfa123/53ed9886d2/2518cfb6
42> Executive Director, he works with Google's co-founders and oversees the
company's major initiatives aimed at reducing global poverty, improving the
health of the least advantaged and working to address the climate crisis.

About Architecture for Humanity

"Architecture for Humanity (http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/about)
represents the finest of the new breed of architectural leadership,
employing architectural skills and directing them for the larger good.
Committed, unapologetically architectural in name and mission, Architecture
for Humanity stands up for people in need." - Robert Ivy, Editor in Chief,
Architectural Record

Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that seeks
architectural solutions to humanitarian crisis and brings design services to
communities in need. We believe that where resources and expertise are
scarce, innovative, sustainable and collaborative design can make a
difference.

By tapping a network of professionals willing to lend their time and their
talents to helping those who would not otherwise be able to afford their
services, we support community development, help communities rebuild after
disaster and provide pro bono design services to community partners around
the world.

Through the power of professional design, we build safer, more sustainable
and highly innovative structures--structures that become assets to their
communities and ongoing symbols of the ability of people to come together to
envision a better future.

Our vision is one of a world where designers innovate globally to build
housing, schools, clinics and other essential infrastructure locally. We
believe that this can be achieved not by replicating a design that was
successful in one situation in another, but by encouraging locally-inspired
designs and by enabling these solutions to be shared and freely adapted by
all.

To realize this vision, Architecture for Humanity created the Open
<http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org> Architecture Network, the first
site on the Web to provide access to open source architectural plans.

Stockholm Seminars - Frontiers in Sustainability Science and Policy

Top scientists presenting their research on sustainable development! The
Stockholm Seminars cover a broad range of perspectives on sustainability
issues and are focused on the need for a sound scientific basis for
sustainable development policy. The Stockholm Seminars is arranged by seven
interdisciplinary institutes to communicate scientific results on
sustainable development. The seminars are given at the Royal Swedish Academy
of Sciences and are visited by a large audience, including scientists,
students, media and policy makers in the public and private sector. The
lectures are free of charge and open for all interested. For more
information: contact Albaeco (08 - 674 74 00) or e-mail: info@albaeco.com,
or www.albaeco.com/sthsem. Arranged by:

* The Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, the Royal Swedish
Academy of Sciences

* The Swedish Biodiversity Centre, CBM, at the Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences and Uppsala University

* The International Foundation for Science, IFS

* The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, IGBP, the Royal
Swedish Academy of Sciences

* The Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI

* The Stockholm International Water Institute, SIWI

Green Cities and Homes in Britain

Trying to Build a Greener Britain, Home by Home:   http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/world/europe/20greenhouse.html?ref=world

The T.Boone Pickens Plan

Cheap oil is gone and so is the economy and prosperity that have depended on it. The only option is shifting quickly to an unlimited source of energy -- solar and wind -- as the basis for a new economy and sustainable prosperity for all.  

From the Pickens Plan website, including a video:

America is addicted to foreign oil. It's an addiction that threatens our economy, our environment and our national security. It touches every part of our daily lives and ties our hands as a nation and a people. The addiction has worsened for decades and now it's reached a point of crisis.

In 1970, we imported 24% of our oil. Today it's nearly 70% and growing. As imports grow and world prices rise, the amount of money we send to foreign nations every year is soaring. At current oil prices, we will send $700 billion dollars out of the country this year alone — that's four times the annual cost of the Iraq war. Projected over the next 10 years the cost will be $10 trillion — it will be the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind.

America uses a lot of oil. Every day 85 million barrels of oil are produced around the world. And 21 million of those are used here in the United States. That's 25% of the world's oil demand. Used by just 4% of the world's population. Can't we just produce more oil? World oil production peaked in 2005. Despite growing demand and an unprecedented increase in prices, oil production has fallen over the last three years. Oil is getting more expensive to produce, harder to find and there just isn't enough of it to keep up with demand.

 The simple truth is that cheap and easy oil is gone. What's the good news? The United States is the Saudi Arabia of wind power. . . .  

http://www.pickensplan.com/theplan/

 Read a Newsweek article:   http://www.newsweek.com/id/145851 and watch a video.

Bike Sharing Accelerates Around the World

Read an article on bike sharing in Truckee California ( http://www.moonshineink.com/article_detail.php?is=50&id=808 ). Monitor developments on the bike-sharing blog:  http://bike-sharing.blogspot.com/.  The Bike-sharing Blog provides information on the emerging public transportation mode of bike-sharing. The Blog is provided by MetroBike, LLC , based in Washington, D.C., USA.

Odd Sustainability Bedfellow -- John Perkinss

 John Perkins, economic hit man and author, The Secret History of the American Empire and The Truth about Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and Hot to Change the World, says the following,

We're in teh process of collapsing adn history tesll ust hat all empires end up collapsing. When they do, typically you ge a void, and then you get wars, then a new empire steps in and takes over. But we don't want that to happen.

We need to break that mold, we ned to do something that's never been done in history and turn this empire into a valid model that the rest o the world can look up to and follow -- a model based on creating sustainable, just,and peaceful world for everybody on the planet.

I have a 9-month old grandson and i hae to realize that he cannont possibly epect to inerit a sustainable, just an dpeaceful world unless every chiled in Arfica, in the Middle East, in Asian, in Latin America has that same expetation. 

For the first time in hisotry, we're a very very small planet and we must recognize that we are extremely interdepnedent.

John Perkins tells stories about his years as an economic hit man and comes curiously to the fundamental challenge of sustainable development as the preeminent challenge, possibly the world's last chance, in the 21st century.

Source: Moonshine Ink, Truckee, CA, July 10 - August 13, 2008.

Trends in Sustainable Development 2008-2009

UNCSD -- The report highlights recent trends in agriculture, rural development, land, desertification and drought – five of the six themes being considered by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its 16th and 17th sessions (2008-2009). http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/publications/trends2008/index.htm 

Global City 2030 - GoogSearch Selections

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 5th August, 2008 [ME NewsWire]: Abu Dhabi's emphasis on sustainable urban development and its growing status as a global hub for business and tourism will receive a major thrust early next year when the world's top urban planners, decision-makers, mayors and international media will gather in the capital to participate in Global City Abu Dhabi 2009.  http://www.me-newswire.com/content/view/208/lang,en/

 Sustainable Sydney 2030:  For more information on  or to contribute further, visit the City of Sydney website www.sydney2030.com.au  Sydney 2030: Call for best minds to develop sustainable metropolis vision 25 September 2006

Plan New York City 2030 http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/home/home.shtml

Global City Regions - comparison between . . .

Yale Environment 360

A new publication of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies of opinion, analysis, reporting, and debate. 

FW: Autodesk Sustainable Design Webcast Series

Autodesk presents a special live webcast series on sustainable design and building for the design professional. The 6 part series features the principles of sustainable design, methods for sustainable building techniques, and building information modeling (BIM) as a means for multi-disciplinary project teams to design, analyze, coordinate and build high-performance, sustainable buildings. Participants can earn AIA continuing education credits for all the webcasts in the series! Four of the webcasts are offered for 1.0 HSW credit, and two of the webcasts are offered for 1.0 CEU credit!*  Click on the link below to register now: https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx? SN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=d0170cbaaca2377acf77a0497452dffd

Sustainable Design and the Civil Engineer
(Qualifies for 1.0 HSW Credit)
August 12th, Tuesday
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f932907e9e77fd23d0a

Sustainable Design and the MEP Engineer
(Qualifies for 1.0 HSW Credit)
Sept 16th, Tuesday
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f9382b6563b21201e98

Going Paperless and the Environmental Impact of Architectural Practices
(Qualifies for 1.0 HSW Credit)
October 14th, Tuesday
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f937f395c1b216f7827

Trends in Constructability and Waste Reduction: The Architect & General Contractor Partnership
(Qualifies for 1.0 HSW Credit)
November 11th, Tuesday
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f93ea32911afffe4f1d

The Importance of Design Visualization for Creating Renewable Designs
(Qualifies for 1.0 HSW Credit)
December 9th, Tuesday
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f9321b6a50c5cc0972b

We look forward to seeing you at the webcast!

*AIA Continuing Education Credit Qualification
In order to qualify for either AIA HSW credit or AIA CEU credit you will be asked to enter your AIA number in the requested field at the time of registration. You must also attend the full hour of the webcast. Attendance will be measured by the webcast moderator, and qualifying attendees will be submitted to the AIA for the allowed type of continuing education credit.

Learn about the entire Sustainable Design Webcast Series by clicking on the link below:
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f933060c7da6356a656

Want to learn more about Sustainability? Visit the Autodesk Sustainability Center by clicking on the link below:
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f93df3c9152f9df1c13

Join us for a series of Architecture and Design Visualization webcasts by clicking on the link below:
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f9347febcd84a61358a

Get access to free tutorials, podcasts, whitepapers and more at our Architecture Resource Center by clicking on the link below:
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=94a8a2a27efb7f939935cfeddbe7461e

To receive future Autodesk email communications, please click on the link below:
https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/Delivery/LinkTracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=d897fe30412977dd138c2335b7ffdf33

(C) 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Gore's Energy Challenge!

The Challenge to Repower America

On July 17, Al Gore challenged America to produce 100 percent of our electricity from energy sources with zero carbon emissions - and to do so within 10 years. His speech, and the resulting dialogue, is resetting the way Americans think about our energy future and the climate crisis.

A dissenting opinion, reflecting all the common sense, practicality, and real problems that appear to be barriers that render Gore's challenge a fantasy. What do you think?

CNN's coverage .    IHT coverage.   NYT Op-Ed.

Notes from a Hunter Lovins Webinar

Bob Dopple, leading change towards sustainability.

Mathew Simmons - Twighlight in the Desert

Janine Benyus, Biomimicry - how does nature do businesss? Nature as Mentor, Clean By Design

John Todd, Eco-Machine

Presidential Climate Action Project

Radical resource efficiency and whole systems design - www.natcapsolutions.org

The Climate Project - Taylor Francis

Taylor Francis
Taylor was selected to be trained personally by Al Gore in three days of a program sponsored by The Climate Project (see below). Certified by Mr Gore, he is presenting the slide show to audiences across the Bay Area. Taylor, 15, lives in Menlo Park and attends Crystal Springs Uplands School He also founded his school magazine, Vantage. Learn more at www.tavlorfrancis.org

The Climate Project
The Climate Project, a nonprofit started by the producers of An inconvenient Truth is a movement to educate and challenge citizens, and governments into action against the growing crisis of global warming. Its first initiative was the training of lecturers who will present the information delivered in An Inconvenient Truth to audiences across America.

The Climate Crisis is the most profound problem and most significant opportunity of our time. The burning of fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide, which thickens the atmosphere and throws our planet out of balance, affecting every element of our lives. We can solve the problem by seizing the opportunity to innovate and increase energy efficiency. Many believe this action could lead to the biggest economic opportunity of the twenty-first century.

Links

• To contact Taylor or set up a presentation, email tfrancis@csus.com
• To learn about The Climate Project: www.theclimateproject.org
• For a list of things you can do: www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction
• To learn more about Taylor: www.taylorfrancis.org
• Some other great resources:
• Treehugger - www.treehupcier.com
• Worldchangirig - www.worldchanging.com
• Grist - www.grist.org

What You Can Do
All of our actions can contribute to the solution of the climate crisis. Here’s an overview of how you can minimize carbon dioxide emissions.

• Install compact fluorescent lightbulbs. They use 66% less energy, last lOx longer, and are available looking like normal bulbs, in dimmable versions and for all sizes. One OFL for a year saves 264 lbs of 002.
• Go Carbon Neutral. Calculate your 002 emissions and purchase offsets that completely balance your emissions. www.terrapass.com
• Insulate your water heater by buying an insulation blanket and set it to no higher than 1200. Save 1,000 lbs. of 002
• Drive less. Take public transportation or try to minimize your transit. If you drive 20 miles less/week, you save 1,000 lbs. of 002; one mile on the road = 1 pound of 002.
• Keep your car tuned up. Keep tires fully inflated and replace your air filter. Save 250 lbs of C02 with tire inflation and 350 lbs yearly for the air filter.
• Buy energy star appliances like washing machines and computers. They use 40% less energy.
• Modify your diet. Buy locally grown products and eat less meat. Meat requires 8.5 times the fossil fuels than grain; the animals we eat contribute 21% of global greenhouse gases.
• Change the heat. Set your thermostat down 2° in the winter and up 2° in the summer. Save up to 2,000 lbs of 002 per year.
• Your purchases. Choose items with less packaging and buy recycled paper products. Recycled products use 90% less 002. Water bottle production and transportation uses 1.5 million barrels of oil/year.
• Your energy. Call your utility to ask for an energy audit to determine where you can save energy. www.energvstar.clov Ask for green power from your utility. htto://www.eere.enernv.gov/greenpower/
  

PG&E Solar

Free solar power basics classes, etc.  www.pge.com/solar

Call 415-973-2277