Last night’s topic was, obviously, greening your small business.  I had prepared a dozen questions and answers and was expecting to field additional questions. But what happened, and here’s the beauty of Twitter and why this kind of event is Twitter at its best, is that a real dialogue occurred.  I didn’t have much chance to interject, mostly because several people had perfectly good answers that came from their day to day operations. For example, when question #2 was posted:

I, as planned, posted my 140 character response:

Its a perfectly fine answer, but the chat took off and many other terrific “definitions” kept popping up.

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Burning Torch has long been a pioneer in recycling clothing. Karyn has been buying up old cashmere sweaters, having them cleaned, sorted, cut up and re-sewn into new sweaters here in Los Angeles for many years. Over the years, she has expanded her recycled offerings to include army fatigues and even beaded antique gowns, to great effect. She also has some organic cotton pieces. One might think I’m biased because I occasionally freelance for her, but I freelance only for the designers whose clothes I want to wear. Those employee discounts can go a long way.

Your Daily Thread, a blog focused on the greener side of LA, recently profiled Karyn here.

The details of the sale are as follows:

Luxurious cashmere!
Beautiful leathers, silks and knits!
Stock up for the Holidays!

Friday, November 20, 10 am to 7 pm
Saturday, November 21, 10 am to 3 pm
1738 Cordova Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Exit 10 Fwy. at Vermont. North on Vermont. Left on Cordova.
Additional parking lot located just east of us, signs will direct you.

Every person who brings a donation for our holiday food drive will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win an amazing Burning Torch gift basket overflowing with goodies!

Any non-perishable goods or unopened personal care items are accepted.
Benefiting the LA Regional Food Bank.

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and cash only

Emma explains that it’s like a small environmentally-friendly version of eBay. Yet the merchandise is strictly apparel with three categories of men, women, kids. Love the tailored coat offering pictured.

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A Place to Feel Eco-Fabulous

The  ecofabulous lounge at Opportunity Green was appointed with gorgeous sustainable furniture used throughout the conference space, and is a flawless manifestation of Opportunity Green’s commitment to design. I’ve been to a few sustainability-oriented conferences in my time, and this is the only one that celebrates sustainable design, and helps designers and clients alike to better understand sustainable design. It was so uplifting to see so much creative talent using sustainable principles to make gorgeous clothes and accessories.

The ecofabulous lounge is that chic yet welcoming boutique where you want to just hang out and be surrounded by gorgeousness. The lounge has a corner dedicated to Vie Bungalow, another corner for Arcona facials and product sampling, and the uber-eco PACT underwear, repping for the men, with his & hers boy-cut briefs.The Ekla sofas were gorgeous and seemed a great place to relax and chat with people.

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This event hosted by ecostiletto.com at Environment Furniture looks like a great opportunity to meet our comrades at arms here in the eco blogosphere. I’ll be there for sure. It’s the day before the Opportunity Green conference, so if you’re in town for the conference anyway, be sure to check this out. There will also be a fashion show of vegan clothing modeled by the Project Green Search finalists.

Most regions in the US have some style of yurt company these days, so what’s the big deal? The answer is rental and setup services.

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I’m especially happy its happening virtually because my favorite CEO, Jeff Schwartz of Timberland, is giving the keynote. If you, like me are out of town, you do not to have to miss it.

It makes sense that a summit on new models of social responsibility should take place making use of a new model of communications. And the event is environmentally friendly as well. By utilizing web conferencing technology, the live summit’s carbon footprint is minimized (because large events can have significant environmental impacts).  According to the organizers:

This is a ground-breaking summit that is using the latest communications technology to reach everyone who can help add to the knowledge necessary to to make social responsibility the way all organizations conduct business.

The summit has all the makings of a must-attend event:

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If I could sum up last week’s conference on electric vehicles in a single sentence, it would be this: I’m now certain that my kids will grow up driving electric cars.

Advocates have been saying it for a while, but now all sides of the debate—including automakers, utilities, venture capitalists, and policymakers—are saying it too: electric-powered automobiles are the real deal, and we’re on the cusp of the biggest transformation in automotive history since the invention of the internal combustion engine.

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During the Thursday morning breakfast, Zhang Yue, chairman and CEO of China-based Broad Air Conditioning woke the crowd up as he spoke through an interpreter. A few minutes before that, I found myself asking a colleague “Who is this guy?” After 10 minutes, I changed my mind. More people should listen to this guy. True, I haven’t done due diligence on his company but if his company does half the things that he says they do then I’m on board. Yue created China’s first “non-electric chiller” and insists on showing consumers how triple paned windows will reduce their need to use air conditioners. Consider that their business revolves around making air conditioners.

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Good start — as we walked in and registered the staff handed me a recyclable, biodegradable, compostable lanyard.

The theme for this year’s conference - Sustainability in a Reset World

After admiring our lanyards and breakfast we jumped into packed conversation with Pamela Passman of Microsoft. Of course we considered today’s launch of Windows 7.

The discussion centered on the sustainability of Microsoft. Now, most people will admit that the technology business isn’t the least sustainable or “dirtiest” business. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t press a heavy carbon footprint. Passman discussed that companies need software to track their own carbon footprint.Microsoft may have many ideas for other comanies but they need to look in the mirror as well.

She admitted the two most pressing issues that Microsoft needs to improve in so far as reducing their carbon footprint that includes:

1- Traveling (lots of it)

2 – Data centers — The data centers continue to be electric and water intensive.
Microsoft claims to be attempting reduce the footprint of these data centers.

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Yoga Journal is pleased to offer a scholarship program for those that need assistance attending this winter yoga conference in San Francisco. This scholarship program is intended for yoga teachers, with limited income, who currently teach (and volunteer) yoga to underserved populations within their community.

Yoga Journal shares how practicing yoga changes lives daily. These upcoming “Share Your Yoga” conference scholarships are intended to support the participation of yoga instructors that earn a low-income that is active in contributing their unique teaching abilities to those that can not afford it. Below are the application instructions.

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The 2009 Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) Conference begins today and runs through Friday in San Francisco.  The theme this year is Reset Economy, Reset World and focuses on a “trio of global crises - the worldwide recession, accelerating climate change, and a collapse of trust in business.”

Nearly 500 businesses, non-profits, universities and other organizations are expected to attend.  Speakers from major corporations such as Nike, eBay, Chevron, Wal-Mart, Gap, Microsoft, PepsiCo and Monsanto will join speakers from Oxfam America, Mercy Corps, Global Fund for Women and the International Labour Organization to discuss everything from stakeholder engagement and public policy to supply chain transparency and human rights.  So does all this networking and talking actually inspire change and make a difference?

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Shown above is eco style maven Linda Loudermilk and one of her stunning designs. Part of her mission as a successful entrepreneur is to educate others on world water issues.

This is a quick reminder to drop by Clary Sage Organics this Thursday to meet Linda Loudermilk.

Below are more of her enchanting designs:

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• What? Ms. Loudermilk will be at my favorite SF One Stop Eco Shop: Clary Sage Organics showcasing her lovely Fall and Holiday Collections!
• When? 6-8pm on Thursday, October 22nd
• Who? Linda Loudermilk, “Visionary couture and Eco-Designer, has been named by “W” Magazine as one of the top 20 innovators to watch. Coined as the “Vivienne Westwood of eco” by Elle Magazine.”

Check out these catwalk shots from Loudermilk fans.

Clary Sage says that Linda has spearheaded the creation of a new, luxury eco lifestyle, blowing old concepts of environmental living out of the water. Just look at these great examples.

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Then look no further than the Traverse City area which boasts beautiful resorts, wineries, and bed and breakfasts-many that have gone green.

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Even a year gone since the failure of Lehman, fundamental questions remain regarding the core underlying assumptions of our financial system. Though currently derivatives trading and black boxes appear out of favour, what will replace them in terms of helpful and productive uses of capital still has yet to be determined. This question was what the Conference on Social Capital Market’s, or SoCap09 tried to give some structure to; while the trend towards sustainable investments and long-term ROI seems to have taken the place of actively managed funds seeking 20x returns.

So what does this world presently look like? For one, It is not as easy to quantify as the Deloitte’s of the world would want it to be. In fact, Christopher Park from the company referred to standard accounting metrics as “a warm blanket” when compared with the confused and nascent metrics which provide assessment in this space.  Secondly, these markets are not as tested as traditional investment options. The oldest of these players, Calvert Foundation has only been around for ten years in it’s current form. The new-kid-on-the-block-phenomenon is both Social Capital’s largest asset, since apparently Wall Street pre-2008 logic wasn’t exactly perfect, as well as being it’s biggest challenge. Though the perception of Social Capital investments as a novelty, coupled with a palpable unfamiliarity with the valuations make this space seem unlikely to attract traditional capital, maybe ‘Social Investing’ is just a new word for a very old idea.

From the start of capitalism there have been players whose goals were multiple. From the massive endowments of the Rockerfellers and Carnegies to the educational scholarships committed by what today are called ‘high net-worth individuals.’ These acts of philanthropy were the yin to the yang of free-market capitalism. The question now is whether metrics and forcastable, and market-rate ROI can be properly delivered by such investments. Fittingly, Rockerfeller Foundation and Deliotte among others are behind the current push to bring the metrics of high finance down into the social sphere. One such project, called IRIS for ‘Impact Reporting and Investing Standard’s’ goal is to set agreeable metrics so comparing between these investments will be simpler. These metrics will require reporting of data such as: job’s created, revenue, etc., and are the underlying piece to developing the GIIRS, or ‘Global Impact Investing Rating System’, which will be similar to rating agencies in other asset classes. These new elements will undoubtedly smooth the road between capital and investments, if only just through the process itself introducing these actors to one another. There will have to be strong deliberative processes since the space constitutes of everyone from hedge funds to single social entrepreneurs.

While metrics and ratings are one solution to the problem of moving capital into the social sphere, other problems remain. One refrain at the conference was that investors feel comfortable either maximizing their investment returns or giving away money to charity. Oddly enough investors who were asked to invest in these blended value products had so much difficulty bridging these two worlds that they often wanted to  offer the money as a charitable donation. Though there are some reasons for making donations above proper investments due to tax laws, by-in-large this kind of response is nonsensical. Social funds not only infuse money towards inherently sustainable models, which need seed or growth funds, but they can often provide returns on the investments which in some cases exceed market-rate.

To combat this cultural wall, members of the Social Capitorati made the case that in order to attract capital, would-be ambassadors must use only the language of traditional finance. Jed Emerson of Uruhu Capital, who has espoused such social investments for many years discussed how at his fund he only speaks in phrases like ‘risk management’ and ‘qualitative assessment’ which, while they might seem euphemistic, could succeed in bringing down the barriers present for capital infusion into the space.

What is unclear still is how these investments will fit into the traditional investment paradigm-if they eventually are seen as being reasonable options for investors. One way to frame this comes from Skoll Foundation’s Dan Chrisafulli, who said that small and medium enterprises are “durable assets which are very good as part of a blended portfolio.” This seems to be the view of many with regard to the micro-finance space already. What was said as a goal for the sector at the conference is an eventual infusion of between 5 and 15 percent of total assets under management. My question is, what are the distinct borders of the space? As companies large and small begin to analyze more of their unintended consequences, and non-profits find that relying on grants limits their growth possibilities, aren’t we all moving closer to the middle by default?

Lastly, more capital will not mean that social entrepreneurs will have any less challenges- quite the contrary. Just as venture capital creates a few winners (in the neighborhood of ten percent of funded companies really find those 20x returns which fuel the industry), so too will social ventures find challenges along the road to high impact. Juggling multiple goals makes reaching each one infinitely more complex, and without the simplicity of singular attention on profits, running either a business or social enterprises now will  be a much more multifaceted endeavor. This hearkens true for the supply-side of capital as well. While old investments really could boil down to ROI over the short-term, liabilities are everywhere for companies making an impact ( which is inherently larger at scale). The days of only focusing on the bottom line are done. The flip side is that we are no longer living in a bifurcated world where money and meaning are painted as mutually exclusive. While definitions of value will have to become hammered out through intense deliberative processes, only two eventualities could possibly exist: either irreconcilable challenges will emerge, or reasonable fusions are going to be found.

One thing is sure, when the convener of the conference Kevin Jones called Social Markets “the intersection of money and meaning” a year ago at the first SoCap conference, a nebulous middle-path emerged which could-with enough work-make the science of economics just a little less dismal.

Image courtesy Flikr user Sociate via creative commons licensing.

Garage-Built Car Gets 105 MPG, Cost $2,500 To Build

Frustrated with the price of filling up his Toyota, Jory Squibb built the Moonbeam. It has been to the Altwheels Festival in Boston twice and has traveled over 10,000 miles. It is powered by a 150 cc gas engine and carries two passengers “if they are on good terms,” he says.

15 Students Turn A ‘76 Porsche Into A Fully Electric Car

The car was converted into a electric vehicle using 18 U-Charge® XP Lithium Phosphate batteries…and 15 MIT students. The electric version has similar driving performance to the original vehicle, with the added advantage of regenerative braking. It has a range of about 100 miles on a full charge.

Hybrid Trike Uses Diesel, Electric, And Pedal-Power

The Tri-Hybrid Stealth is a two seat, 3-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a diesel engine, an electric motor and the driver’s legs. For reals. It’s also the first hybrid trike to offer exclusive hand controls and an automated extendable seat for handicapped drivers.

Biomass Powered Truck Runs On Wood And Cardboard

Dave Nichols , a 42-year-old home builder and auto shop owner from eastern Connecticut, modified his 1989 Ford F-150 pickup truck to run on wood, leaves, cardboard and other “biomass” with a fuel system that he says expels virtually no pollution. Dave’s entry was the only truck in the competition.

Diesel-Powered Trike Built Almost Entirely Of Aluminum

The super-light Roopod, built by an Industrial Designer from western Massachusetts, is powered by a 2-cylinder diesel engine. Inspiration for the car came when he realized his V-dub weighed 3,000 pounds. “For every gallon of gas that I put in, 90 percent of it is being used to drive the car, and 10 percent to drive me, and that’s just stupid,’’ he said.

Three-Wheeled Green Grand Prix Winner

Built by Bill Buchholz, the Dirigo is a three-wheeled diesel two passenger vehicle that has a top speed of 72mph and does 0-60 about 30 seconds. It recently won its class in the Green Grand Prix, averaging 90 MPG. Um, can you tell it was designed by boat builders?

Gaia, The 300 MPG Trike

Built by Ken Fry, he says the vehicle will deliver 300 mpge with an electric range of about 30 miles and a top-speed of 90 mph. How? Well the car only weighs 540 pounds.

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What? 100 Million Trees: A Party to Stop Junk Mail in San Francisco

When? Thursday, September 10, 2009

• 6:00 pm VIP Reception
• 7:00 pm Cocktail Reception (with event details below)
• 8:00 pm Program & Live Auction

Where? Under the Canopied Terrace, W San Francisco - 181 Third Street (downtown SF)

How? Buy tickets for 100 Million Trees online.

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At the wheel will be tri-national Charles Burnett III, a multimillionaire born in England to a Canadian mother and American father. The car, which looks like an over sized rocket on wheels, is nicknamed the “fastest kettle in the world”.

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