R.E.preneur

The Cherokee Challenge - An Environmental Business Incubator

Caught this on Tom Darden's (CEO of Cherokee Investment Partners) LinkedIn newsfeed this morning.  Looks like a great opportunity for budding environmental entrepreneurs to get connected to a well-funded, eco-conscious company like Cherokee Investment Partners.  

The Cherokee Challenge

The Cherokee Challenge is an opportunity for a limited number of teams to develop a business plan and receive feedback, and possibly funding from Cherokee and their partners such as Bill McDonough of Cradle to Cradle fame.  

Like I always say, "Time to stop wishing, stop wanting, and start acting."

 

REpreneur Vents: Green Skeptics & McCantonomics

Green Skeptics
Have you heard a Green Skeptic lately?  Although they are becoming an endangered species, it still astonishes me when I hear people start spouting about how this is all just a fad that will blow over soon.

To cure this disease, send your most vocal skeptic the United Nations Report that in 2007 "global investment flows into renewable energy companies reached $100 billion."  The report establishes RE as no longer a fringe investment or industry. RE is a mainstream legitimate industry with attractive investment opportunities.  Any investor not paying attention, is missing out.

Then tell them to enjoy paying $6 per gallon in their Suburban Assault Vehicle when crude oil hits $200/barrel between six and twenty-four months from now.

You really have to laugh when Senator McCain proposes a gas tax relief plan to save us of 18 cents per gallon for three months.  Apparently, Economics 200 was not a required course at the Naval Academy in 1958. 

Thanks John, I'll take that $30 and donate it to Barack Obama's campaign for President of the United States of America.

Oh wait, I just remembered that McCain doesn't have the clout, energy, or authority to pass such ludicrous legislation that panders to the uneducated.  Looks like McCain's 26 years in Congress really taught him a lot about how to create real positive change. 

The man has been in Washington D.C. longer than I've been alive and these are the type of solutions he authors and stands firmly in support of?  No thanks, John.  I'm voting for Barack Obama.

 

REpreneur Vents!

The 2030 Challenge: An Achievable Solution for Global Warming

In this short video, the award-winning and inspirational architect Ed Mazria briefly summarizes one of the clearest paths to fighting global warming I have ever seen.  Its called the 2030 Challenge and it has been adopted by the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

 

There is an even better video here, click on the Ed Mazria Plenary link.  There he lays out in more detail how by 2030, 3/4 of all built square feet will be new or renovated from today's built environment. 

I haven't blogged much about green building, partially because I believe green building projects get tons of coverage.  However, even with all of the momentum moving in the press, the total number of green buildings being built is quite small. 

Ed makes a great point about the fact that building is a local issue, and we don't need federal mandates in order to achieve our goals.  I believe that's true, but I have a bit of an issue with Ed's contention that we need "only a little bit of help" from the federal government.  He calls for raising tax credits from 30% to 50% and lifting caps on the amount, increasing tax deductions from $1.80 to $2.75/sf if you meet the challenge, and he goes on.  While I would love for the federal government to basically double all tax credits and incentives for efficiency and renewable energy, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I think renewable energy will get a few small victories in 2008, and hopefully see greatly increased support under a new presidency (hopefully Obama!).

Now, although I don't write about green building as often, let me stress that I believe green building (to the degree of the 2030 challenge) should be adopted immediately.  To put it blatantly, I basically think not doing it is just plain stupid. 

When I think about how many of these green issues are local, it makes me encouraged that there are great strides being made by local politicians in pockets of the country.  Hopefully, this will spread across the nation.  And maybe someday I will be in one of their positions... maybe not.

Green Building Market Research - Picture Post

For your enjoyment, less words more pictures.  These graphs and charts are part of some research I've been doing about the size of the green building market.  Let me know if you like the Picture Post. 

The Green Building boom is just beginning.  P.S. If you are doing something unique in this industry, I'd love to hear about it.

See, green buildings don't cost that much more than regular buildings.

This one might be my favorite. 

Source: Energy.gov