Jumpstarting the New Green Economy

A challenge of FDU’s Jumpstart Green Conference was the bounty of sessions that made choosing which to attend a challenge.  However, a highlight for me was Ethan Roland and Greg Landua’s outstanding presentation of edge of thinking about future investing, and not just because it included tasting carbon-negative chocolate.

Their  discussion  introduced notions of “Financial Permaculture” and “Ecosystem Investing.”   You can read Ethan’s post on his Permaculture Designs Blog that includes his “Summary of Ecosystem Investing” graphic.

Their presentation is available on Slideshare.

Attending Ethan Roland and Greg Landua’s Financial Permaculture & Ecosystem Investing session made clear sustainable business includes a  new language and concepts to be learned.

- Jenny Ambrozek

You can purchase the audio recording of the entire conference – including all the sessions you attended, and all the ones you missed – for just $49.95 + $5 shipping and handling, by sending an email to audio@jumpstartgreen.org with your address and phone number.

Even though we only made this available to people leaving the conference at the very end, we took ten orders at the time, and have received a dozen more since then; and we’re sure you’ll find this a worthwhile investment as well. 

We’ll call and take your credit card number over the phone (until we’re ready to take orders online) and have the CDs shipped to you as soon as they are available.

Saturday, May 23, 2009: A huge thank you to everyone for making our 2009 Green Ventures Conference a success. Your role and your efforts were part of a remarkable tapestry of knowledge, passion, and action that clearly indicated where we are in jumpstarting the new green economy, and where we need to go.

Of course there were some technical glitches and minor deficiencies along the way – for which I hold myself entirely responsible – but apart from these the feedback I received was almost uniformly positive. The sessions I personally attended – which I believe were representative of most others – were outstanding. And we have built an organization and network of volunteers, colleagues, and experts that I’m sure will play a role in shaping our future in many ways over the months and years to come.

I would like to be able to thank each and every one of you individually – the volunteers, the speakers, moderators, and panelists; the sponsors, co-sponsors, and exhibitors; the faculty and staff of the University; the awardees and their colleagues and families; and all of the participants – for the roles you played, the contributions you made, and the skills, patience, and commitment you brought to the event. A list of the individuals would make this email impossibly long and might not mean much except to those specifically being acknowledged, but I intend to publish something like it online.

An Invitation to Further Participation

I’d also like to express not only my appreciation for what you brought to the conference, but also my interest (and that of the Sustainable Business Incubator program and the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise) in continuing to work with you on what I know we agree are some of the most urgent and important initiatives of our time.

Here are just a few of these areas:

• Supporting entrepreneurship and “intrapreneurship” in existing organizations to bring new sustainable practices to our economy, our institutions, and our communities
• Creating good green jobs and helping in workforce training and career transition
• Educating people for sustainability at all levels, from kindergarten to post-graduate
• Promoting conservation, renewable energy, greenhouse gas reduction, waste minimization, and ecological restoration
• Supporting government policies and programs that encourage and incentivize these actions, and provide funding for education, R&D, economic development, and environmental protection
• Transforming individual and social awareness, empowering leadership and individual action, working with groups and communities, supporting vision and communication and meaningful action
• Including everyone and encouraging diversity, social and environmental justice and equality, revitalizing blighted communities, cleaning up toxic wastes and hazardous susbstances, restoring brownfields, protecting wetlands, ensuring clean air and clean water, encouraging local and natural food production, restoring urban neighborhoods and making suburban ones self-sustaining, and giving everyone the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution
• Giving people the knowledge, the skills, the tools, and the motivation to make local communities more resilient
• Using technology appropriately to create sustainable prosperity, making sufficiency the norm, discouraging waste and overconsumption
• Introducing permaculture design principles into business, education, and society

and many other specific projects that we’ve discussed and encouraged.

You can expect to hear from us soon about ways in which you can continue your involvement and you partnership in the work we’re doing. If you think we can assist you through the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise or the Sustainable Business Incubator program, please contact us through this site, or through the Sustainable Business Incubator site.

Finally, I want to invite you to purchase the audio recording of the entire conference – including all the sessions you attended, and all the ones you missed – for just $49.95 + $5 shipping and handling, by sending an email to audio@jumpstartgreen.org with your address and phone number. We invested upfront in this process, and need to sell approximately 60 sets to break even. Even though  we only made this available to people leaving the conference at the very end, we took ten orders; and we’re sure you’ll find this a worthwhile investment as well. We’ll call and take your credit card number over the phone (until we’re ready to take orders online) and have the CDs shipped to you as soon as they are available.

Thank you, Jonathan Cloud

P.S. Whether you were a speaker, a panelist, a volunteer, or a regular conference attendee, I also welcome your feedback, and have set up a free-form comment page here.

I can’t thank you all enough for your supporting the effort to spread word of the conference.  It was a pleasure meeting and collaborating with you all.

Here are a couple of conference followups:

i.  Kevin’s terrific interview with Douglas Frances Subbiondo:

http://greenventuresconference.org/?p=2918

ii. Comment on Jonathan’s conference eve post:

http://greenventuresconference.org/?p=2311&cpage=1#comment-179

iii. Twitter Posts:

FDUJSG - RT@ethanappleseed Blog & slideshow on Carbon-negative chocolate, Financial #Permaculture & Ecosystem Investing – http://bit.ly/pgu36 #fdujsg  - less than 5 seconds ago from web

FDUJSG - Must read @ greenelectron interview with chef/horticulturist Douglas Frances Subbiondo re Sustainable Food includes audio http://snurl.com/ik4vw

FDUJSG - David Grant’s outstanding conference keynote drew on his essay “In Pursuit of Sustainability” http://snurl.com/ijwbu A must read. #fdujsg

iv. Exchange with UK based Nicholas Caesar,  Head of Sustainability Consulting at a Ashridge Business School, who just  joined the Sustainable Enterprise Network:

http://sustainableenterprise.ning.com/profiles/blogs/hello-all

Please as you reflect on the conference and post take a moment to alert us, ideally through Twitter tagged #fdujsg, to your latest contributions. Then @FDUJSG can retweet.  Not all conference tweets  were tagged but Twitter search reveals the following:

 http://search.twitter.com/search?lang=en&max_id=1881219792&page=2&q=%23fdujsg

Don’t forget to point to Kent’s Flick fabulous photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sustainableenterprise.

Please also think about sharing your ongoing work through the Sustainable Enterprise Network. http://sustainableenterprise.ning.com/.

In http://sustainableenterprise.ning.com/profiles/blogs/hello-all responding  to Nicholas Caesar I referenced David Grant’s comments about the work needed to connect people working locally to address global problems and that is the network’s ambition.

I look forward to seeing what flows from your keyboards inspired by the conference (including Anna’s interviews), following your work and the opportunity to collaborate again in the future.

By Kevin Doell of Fulcrum Media & Public Relations

Meet Douglas Frances Subbiondo: gourmet chef, horticulturist, architect and educator.

I had the opportunity to meet Douglas tonight at the Green Ventures Conference through the magic of networking. I casually mentioned to a few people that in addition to being a writer, I was also a novice farmer looking for ways to make my small farm in Northwestern New Jersey more sustainable. Through some reading and research, I had heard about how some farmers connect with gourmet chefs to grow specialty herbs and vegetables. When the opportunity came up to meet a gourmet, I jumped at the chance.

Not only did Douglas turn out to be a bonafide gourmet who cooks for private households and parties, but a remarkable resource on “perennial polycultures,” a whole field of horticulture that I was entirely unaware of prior to our conversation, but one that I am looking to educate myself on promptly.

Citing David Jacke’s two-volume tome, “Edible Forest Gardens,” Douglas spoke passionately about new forest crops that can revolutionize the way we eat in our country by utilizing crops that rejuvenate the soil as they grow while strengthening the ecosystem they derive their strength from. As part of his conference involvement, Douglas partnered with the conference food service planner Jan Slotkin-Graff (who is also owner of Big Old Trees design services) to install two exhibit perennial polyculture demonstration gardens as examples of what is possible. The gardens included perennial specimens such as: Siberian pea shrub, shad bush, yarrow, chokeberry, currants, blueberry, and gooseberries, in addition to annual specimens such as peppers, eggplants, and squash. All that was in just a few square feet of garden beds!

Spoken like a true chef, however, Douglas told me, “The revolution will have to be delicious.” Meaning that he was not about to compromise taste when it comes to sustainable food crops. He flat out said that there was no need to.

To learn more about the thinking of one well-informed chef, take a listen to the short conversation I captured as Douglas gave a quick tour of the demonstration garden.

AUDIO INTERVIEW: Douglas Subbiondo discusses taking horticulture beyond sustainability

As for the future, Douglas is looking to share his expertise through a compelling program called “Green Collar Futures,” a year-long residential learning program that will train tomorrow’s leaders and workers in sustainable construction methodologies, as well as a spring curriculum inspired by permaculture, sustainable foods and regenerative design. Pretty cool.

Every human endeavor, including this one, starts with an idea. But an event that involves hundreds of people, especially one to discuss both the crisis and the opportunity of our times in an innovative way, very quickly takes on a life of its own. 

At some point, it’s important to step back from the logistics of the event and ask ourselves, “what are we building?” with this initiative. Otherwise, it’s possible that our original objectives – the real soul and purpose of the conference – will get lost in the details and in the sheer variety of topics and issues that are covered. Not to mention the budgetary challenges, given the economic meltdown that has left millions newly out of work, and caused virtually everyone to rein in their spending.

So what are these objectives, and how do we get them accomplished in the course of the conference? In the first place, the  conference is designed to support the incubator program I am working to create at the University to foster the development and support of new sustainable ventures, both for profit and nonprofit, that will begin to alter our relationship with nature. I believe we pretty much all share this objective, though we might work on it in different ways. 

Secondly, I’m part of a small group at the University that is working with large corporations to change both our own corner of the world and the broader culture so as to make it more sustainable. Once again, I think everyone here can share this goal. 

So what can the conference create?

To start with, I see it as a platform in which to carry on a large number of interrelated conversations – about technology, economics, natural ecology, human society and organizations, leadership and knowledge and vision – that are all part of what we need to reinvent in order to harmonize our actions with the needs of others and of the planet. So I want to share with you a little bit of my sense of what I think we’re trying to achieve here, because it’s obviously not something that’s easy, or that we are all that good at. We used to have a better relationship with the earth, but it was partly because they were a lot fewer of us, and we had less technology at our disposal with which to do harm to the natural environment. There was a time when we could not have imagined cutting down all the trees in the Amazon; now, it’s hard to imagine that humans won’t do it.

I don’t believe we can go back to an earlier time or an earlier way of life. We have to find a new way of life that has a set of timeless values to it, and is constructed in a way that serves the needs of future generations. This is not the way we live now, in any area of our lives: it is not the way our communities are set up, our work lives are managed, or our political and economic organizations operate. The change that we’re talking about – from an extractive economy to a renewable one, from a one-way trajectory that leads over the cliff to an upward spiral that lifts our spirits and our fellow citizens, from a crony capitalism to a genuine free market that seeks the best outcomes for the greatest number – is going to be enormously challenging, but along the way is also likely to be enormously satisfying.

The conference is, of course, just one step in this direction. It’s a moment in time; for some people, it’s just one more opportunity to come together and talk “about” things and how they are going. For other though, it may be a seminal event, and an opportunity to push forward and present to the world a series of new initiatives and opportunities.

It’s already been an incredible process to put together, with over 70 volunteers contributing time, energy, and money to keep it going and make it successful. We have more than 60 sessions, more than a hundred experts, and an enormous diversity of views, expertise, and experience. The goal, as we’ve expressed it in several places, is “to help [participants] create a vision for business and work within a new paradigm.” This may seem overly ambitious. But when you consider the absolute requirement for change if we are to restore the earth’s ecology and ability to renew itself ongoingly, it may be the only objective that makes sense.

The Jumpstarting the Green Economy Conference now has a Twitter identity FDUJSG and here’s the link:  http://twitter.com/FDUJSG

If you are a Twitterer please:

i. Take a moment to follow FDUJSG

and

ii. When you are Tweeting the conference please use hash tag #fdujsg on each of your posts so it’s easier to follow the conference stream.

Please don’t hesitate to share suggestions or questions about maximizing our conference impact through Twitter.

Following the Call for Bloggers posted to the conference site I’m delighted to announce the first 4 members of the Jumpstarting the Green Economy Conference blogging team:

• Anna Hackman, Green Building & Business Consultant, LEED AP, Real Estate Lawyer, and Editor and Founder of Green Talk,  http://www.green-talk.com/
• Kevin Doell, Principal, Fulcrum Media LLC & founder of The Green Electron Blog http://www.thegreenelectron.net/
• Janice Lee Juvrud,  Executive Coach, Organization Development Consultant. Founder of Your Search Lights http://blog.yoursearchlights.org for networking groups and guidance for people in transition
• Jason Norman, Founder, C12 Solutions,  blogs about  developing regulations and green strategies at Is the Grass Always Greener http://c12solutions.com/blog1/

Look for Anna, Kevin, Janice and Jason at the conference where they will be following these streams:

• Anna- Green building, manufacturing, and sustainable communities.
• Kevin- renewable energy and  new technologies promising alternatives to fossil fuels
• Janice- Green Jobs and sources for people in transition
• Jason- the science of  “Green” and issues of regulation

Speakers, panelists and Expo attendees please note these are important people to know if you want word of your sessions and Expo presence to reach an audience beyond the conference walls.

It’s also not too late to join the blogging team. If you are attending the conference and have a blog please alert me by joining the Jumpstarting the New Green Economy Conference Group within the Sustainable Enterprise Network

If you have any questions about blogging the conference also please don’t hesitate to post comments below this post.  The conference schedule is rich and I look forward to a bounty of nuggets to emerge through blogs and Twitter. If you are a Twitterer and attending the conference I would also appreciate connecting.  We are using #tag fdujsg.

And if you are not already registered for the conference it’s not too late. Here’s the link

~ Jenny Ambrozek

MADISON, N.J. (MAY 13, 2009) — “Jumpstarting the New Green Economy” Conference organizers will be recognizing some of New Jersey’s leading contributors and companies for “best business practices in sustainability” at the May 20 Conference Awards Dinner at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s College at Florham in Madison, N.J. Developed as a collaboration between FDU’s Institute for Sustainable Enterprise and the Morris County Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the program selected this year’s honorees based on their ability to achieve significant sustainability goals and increase long-term stakeholder value by integrating economic, environmental and social opportunities into their strategies. This year’s individual “Exceptional Achievement” Awardees include:

• Knute Jensen, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
• Philip LaRocco, E+Co
• Randall E. Solomon, Sustainable Jersey

This year’s organizational “Sustainable Enterprise Awards” will be given to:

• Alcoa Howmet
• BASF
• Lighting Science Group Corporation

“These individuals and organizations have deeply integrated sustainability into their core strategies and practices,” said Jeana Wirtenberg, co-founder of FDU’s Institute for Sustainable Enterprise. “Their work reflects the highest levels of leadership commitment and overall excellence in sustainability management resulting in real-world progress.”

About this year’s individual honorees:

Knute Jensen, Manager, Bureau of Enforcement & Compliance Services, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP)

Knute Jensen spearheaded the development of the NJ DEP’s highly successful Environmental Stewardship Initiative. Begun in January 2008, the initiative created an opportunity to be “caught” doing something positive for the environment while increasing awareness and knowledge of stewardship practices leading to sustainability.

Philip LaRocco, Former President and CEO, E+Co

For the past 15 years, Phil LaRocco’s organization has been assisting entrepreneurs in developing nations to create clean energy businesses that have a positive social and environmental impact while generating financial returns. E+Co not only invests capital but also the tools and business know-how to make clean energy businesses successful. With projects in 28 developing countries, E+Co’s innovative business model provides lasting solutions to address climate change and poverty.

Randall E. Solomon, Director, New Jersey Sustainable State Institute (NJSSI)

Randy Solomon launched Sustainable Jersey in February 2009. This statewide, community based sustainability program has already been adopted by over 100 towns and municipalities in New Jersey. The program is a certification and incentive program for municipalities that want to go green, save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term. The program designates actions that municipalities can implement to address issues such as global warming, pollution, biodiversity, local economies, green building, and sustainable agriculture.

About this year’s organizational honorees:

Alcoa Howmet, manufacturer of components for the jet aircraft, gas turbine and other advanced-technology industries

For Alcoa Howmet, sustainability is a core value that has been woven into the fabric of everything they do – capital business and financial improvements and other operational practices. The company is committed to going beyond “compliance.” Areas where Alcoa made progress in sustainability in 2008 include:

• Achieved a 36% greenhouse gas emissions reduction from a 1990 base year
• Reduced landfill waste by 52% below the 2000 base year
• Implemented community programs at 90% of its worldwide operating locations
• Invested more than $50.6 million in communities worldwide in 2008
• Secured the participation of 24% of its employees in community service projects

BASF, the world’s largest chemical company (www.basf.com)

BASF embraces sustainable development as a core strategic guideline as it looks to balance economic growth, environmental protection and social responsibility. The company’s objective is to share knowledge in the areas of environment, health, safety, and sustainability management, in order to help its customers and partners to be more successful. Some of BASF’s notable sustainability achievements include:

• Constructed the BASF Near-Zero Energy Home in Paterson, N.J., that demonstrates innovative technologies for promoting energy efficiency and ecological benefits in new housing. BASF then donated the home to a local, non-profit charitable organization
• Conducted over 500 onsite visits to assess suppliers on environmental protection, occupational safety and social responsibility standards
• Conducted mandatory compliance training of over 26,000 employees in which they are introduced to BASF’s sustainability values
• Implemented 196 sustainability projects with its customers aimed at expanding and strengthening customer relationships through sustainability via its “Success – Added Value through Sustainability” initiative
• Utilized Eco-Efficiency Analysis as an instrument for product and process optimization, providing information on the relationship between the financial value of a product and its impact on the environment

Lighting Science Group Corporation provider of new LED lighting solutions (www.lsgc.com)

Lighting Science Group is pioneering new lighting technologies in the state where, 130 years ago, the incandescent light bulb was born. The company’s work focuses on new Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting that uses 84 percent less energy than the standard incandescent lamp, lasts longer and requires less recycling than conventional light sources. LEDs do not contain mercury or other hazardous materials as compact fluorescent bulbs do so they can be handled and disposed of safely.