Sustainability Subgroup

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This group was formerly named the Energy Subgroup


Yahoo Discussion Forum

Leads

Carey King

Meetings

See March 29 Meeting Focus

The movie we will view is described at: http://www.communitysolution.org/cuba.html.

Resources/Links

AUSTIN LOCAL


GENERAL SUSTAINABILITY AND NATURAL CAPITAL

  • Rocky Mountain Institute - Consulting "do tank" organization for efficient and low impact business practices with economic gain
  • Natural Capital - General info on how to minimize impact of business upon natural resources


ENERGY EFFICIENCY


LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND EMBEDDED ENERGY ANALYSES

Charter/Mission

This subgroup is for Bootstrappers to discuss businesses, or business ideas, to engage in markets based upon sustainability. The particular interest is in businesses, or ideas, for increasing energy efficiency, decreasing resource usage, and decreasing energy usage. This is often difficult for bootstrappers considering the large scale of the largest energy users (manufacturing, utilities, etc.), but perhaps there are opportunites to provide services that minimize the ecological and energy footprints of businesses.


Possible business quesitions:

"Can bootstrappers find a way to promote, or base a business upon what is called natural capitalism - valuing the services of nature and minimizing consumption while maximizing service to a custmer?"

"What can bootstrappers do in the area of ecosystem service markets?"


Examples of this approach include:

  1. 'cradle to cradle' design in the consumer product industry
  2. providing cooling/heating services instead of just selling HVAC systems.


For more information on Natural Capitalism, see a website offshoot from the Rocky Mountain Institute

For more information on Ecosystem Service Markets, see a website Ecosystem Marketplace


If you have more ideas for discussion about sustainability, and how bootstrappers can make an impact, feel free to present them. We may also choose to meet with the Green or environmental subgroups as these ideas are inherently interlinked.

Thanks.

Carey