Rocky Mountain Institute/volume xviii #1/Spring 2002

newsletterRMIRMISolutionsSolutions TIME FOR A SWITCH RMI Helps Reframe U.S. Energy Policy At Airlie House in Warrenton, Virginia, on 1–3 February, RMI convened two dozen of America’s most distinguished and thoughtful energy experts from the private and public sectors (but not including advo- cacy groups or serving public officials). Their deep experience embraced all energy sectors and phases—supply, delivery, con- sumption, technology, R&D, competition, and regulation. These politically diverse luminaries came NEP Initiative facilitator Larry Susskind, far right, leads the Expert Group together to rethink U.S. energy policy at a through a discussion of transportation. Photos: Norm Clasen time when Congressional debate has become so polarized that agreement on By Cameron M. Burns but-narrow constituencies promoting their favorite energy technologies. Largely absent continued on next page hat kind of world are we is a clear sense of what nearly everyone leaving for our children, agrees about, and how to incorporate those Wgrandchildren, and great- consensus elements into a balanced port- grandchildren? Will it be better, safer, and folio that can deliver to the American CONTENTS fairer? And will U.S. energy policy help get people (and help to deliver to all people us there? everywhere) desired energy services in SUSTAINABLE SETTLEMENTS ....page 4 Today, all but the terminally uninformed ways that are secure, reliable, healthful, MAYOR BROWN INTERVIEW .....page 8 realize that the number of miles per gallon affordable, fair, durable, flexible, and inno- our SUVs achieve and how we power our vation-friendly. DRIVING CHINA ...... page 12 factories and homes is directly related to Throughout those three decades, RMI and RMI NEWS ...... page 14 the health of our planet—the science is no its founders have been helping steer energy EAR OCKY ...... page 19 longer an argument; how best and soonest policy, warning of the consequences of D R to stabilize the climate, preferably at a poor energy choices and explaining the GREEN DEVELOPMENTS 2.0 ....page 20 profit, is the new debate. And relying more strength of efficient use, diversified supply, on dwindling oil from fewer places looks and truly competitive energy markets. In CHOOSING PAPER ...... page 22 unwise in a dangerous world. We should February 2002, these efforts achieved a DONOR SPOT:DOUG LINNEY ....page 26 chart a course, as energy innovators new level when RMI and the Cambridge, remarked a quarter-century ago, “between Massachusetts-based Consensus Building BOARD SPOT:RUTH ADAMS ....page 27 a forecast and a fantasy” and “between the Institute (CBI) assembled the Expert Group WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ...... page 29 unavoidable and the miraculous.” of our National Energy Policy Initiative, or For three decades, U.S. energy policy has “NEP Initiative”—possibly the single most THANKYOU DONORS ...... page 31 been driven by battles between powerful- important project in RMI’s 20-year history. TRIBUTETO FARLEY ...... page 38 The NEP Initiative ‘Dream Team’ meeting at Airlie House (Warrenton, Va.), included, from left to right, Gary Simon,Tom Casten, Jim Sweeney, Jack Riggs, Henry Kelly, Jack Gibbons, Rose McKinney-James, Dan Kammen, Bill Nitze, Jack Edwards, Amory Lovins, Mike Davis, Stephen DeCanio, Bill Moomaw (staff), Mike Ming, Peter Bradford, Ernie Moniz, Larry Susskind (facilitator), Reid Detchon, Victor Gilinsky and (not pictured) Bruce Smart, Sandy Thomas, and Bill White.

effective solutions seems difficult or impos- Arctic National Wildlife refuge—options whole policy framework has typically been sible; yet a frustrating gridlock would leave largely unattractive to the public and to opaquely designed by Washington players serious problems unresolved. The NEP Wall Street. (See RMI Solutions, Spring whose self-interests do not always coincide Initiative therefore seeks to articulate a and Summer 2001.) with the public’s desires. hidden consensus and fresh ideas that can Several concerned individuals asked RMI if The NEP Initiative began with two main command wide support and whose adop- we could help create a new energy policy steps. CBI’s Initial Assessment, based on in- tion would make contentious issues less for the country—one that built on the past depth off-the-record interviews with 75 important. It seeks to build a coherent and 30 years’ experience, could command diverse constituency leaders, identified balanced policy framework from clear wide support, and would strengthen com- points of consensus. Those then informed objectives and principles, rather than petitive markets and grassroots democracy. the Expert Group’s deliberations, producing adopting competing constituencies’ wish- After consulting with many advisors, RMI a succinct-but-direct 22-page statement on lists. And its process is inclusive and trans- partnered with CBI, obtained foundation U.S. energy policy for delivery to bipartisan parent: by design, its sponsors (including funding (see box), and launched the NEP political “customers.” The statement’s RMI) and its funders cannot affect the Initiative last autumn. unique features could enable it to exert a outcome. The average American, of course, cares salutary influence as Congress debates com- peting energy bills for several reasons. THE NEP INITIATIVE STORY little about energy, let alone energy policy. We flip a switch, a light goes on. We twist First, as mentioned, the policy statement is The NEP Initiative started to take shape in a knob to heat up dinner. We spin a dial to a consensus document. It was not negoti- the spring of 2001. In California, black- enjoy hot showers. We drive to the pump ated by horse-trading between constituency outs, soaring wholesale electricity prices, and tank up. And at the end of each representatives. Rather, it was crafted by spiking gasoline prices, and spot shortages month, we pay the bills. For most diverse and deeply experienced energy of natural gas were expected by many to Americans, this is all simple and accepted. policy experts working in an open forum, presage similar problems nationwide. Less obvious, most of the time, is that the each with an equal voice. The document President George W. Bush’s National physical systems that supply our energy are was written collaboratively during the 1–3 Energy Plan, released in May, strongly vulnerable to terrorism and accidents, the Feb. meeting in Virginia, then fine-tuned by emphasized supply expansion, chiefly from regulations that govern energy supply and and with the consent of the entire group. fossil fuels and nuclear power. It called for distribution often entrench self-interested 1,300–1,900 new power plants (more Second, the ideas presented in the NEP monopolies, the consumer can’t choose than one a week for 20 years), plus 38,000 Initiative are usefully specific on strategy how energy dollars get spent, many energy miles of gas pipelines and 255,000 miles of but don’t try to overspecify the tactics that sources are polluting or unreliable, and the powerlines, as well as oil drilling in the policymakers will need to tweak.

page 2 Third, the Expert Group reasoned from each area, it lists overarching long-term clear objectives and principles to craft its policy aims and suggests short-term goals Spreading the Word policy recommendations, rather than and policy instruments. In recent months, RMI has made available on our starting with desired outcomes and then website some important pieces of energy-related The centerpiece of the NEP Initiative’s material, which we recommend to readers. First grafting on post-hoc justifications. suggestions for transportation (which con- published in The American Prospect, RMI co- Fourth, rejecting the conventional view sumes 27 percent of U.S. energy—97 per- CEOs Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins’s two-part “Mobilizing Energy Solutions” is a compelling, that cleaner and safer energy services will cent of it as oil) is much more efficient contemporary overview of U.S. energy policy and cost more, the Group found practical “an vehicles, including aircraft. The document the nation’s exciting energy opportunities. (See energy system that is much more secure, suggests tools ranging from revenue-neu- www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid171.php#LibEnergyPol.) much more affordable, and much less envi- tral feebates (which encourage buying effi- Second, Brittle Power, the ground-breaking 1982 Pentagon study on domestic energy vulnerability ronmentally damaging”—simultaneously. cient and scrapping inefficient vehicles) to by Lovins and Lovins, has been loaded onto our And fifth, while reading public policy allowing high-efficiency vehicles to use website, at www.rmi.org/sitepages/art7095.php. high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, regardless With current concerns about energy security and papers is usually for the recreationally chal- terrorism, Brittle Power is a compelling read. lenged, and the consensus process is the of passenger load. The NEP Initiative also enemy of perfect prose, the NEP Initiative* supports the ongoing shift to hydrogen to deliver energy services [, possibly at is refreshingly bold compared to previous fuel-cell vehicles, cellulosic biomass fuels, lower cost] … A prudent public policy attempts. It announces: “The United internalized costs, and land-use reforms to would start now to address the problem ... States, and the world, must begin a achieve better access with less travel. Over time, we need to make a systematic, decades-long transition to an energy Electricity generation was perhaps more orderly, and fair transition from a carbon- system that won’t run out, can’t be cut off, straightforward, and the NEP Initiative’s dominated energy system to a significantly safeguards our health and the climate, many specific recommendations would less carbon-intensive system”—one far stewards our world, and supports a vibrant uproot the United States’ centralized more reliant on hydrogen and renewables. economy. Today’s patterns of energy pro- powerplant mentality. It urges that all The NEP Initiative may prove very impor- duction and consumption will not deliver ways to make and save electricity, and to tant. As you read this, the report is being these benefits for our children and grand- coproduce heat, should compete fairly, distributed on a bipartisan basis to children. The way we produce and use whatever their technology and scale. Senators, Representatives, and political energy wastes money, threatens our envi- (Nuclear power would be held to the leaders at the national and regional level. It ronment, raises our vulnerability to acci- same tough economic, environmental, is being distributed to major news media, dent and terrorism, and contributes to and security standards as its competitors.) and it is being posted at its own website instability around the globe. With 39 percent of total U.S. primary (www.nepinitiative.org), where updates “We must create a new energy system that energy use coming from oil, just over half and news about the NEP Initiative will be makes our country and the world more of it imported, energy security is a key available. In a nation where energy policy secure. It must be less susceptible to major component of the NEP Initiative. It calls is taken for granted yet is eroding social, disruptions and meet the needs of people for the development of a “diversified, economic and environmental goals, we today and of generations to come—pro- resilient, and environmentally sound expect it may make waves on Capitol Hill. viding adequate, affordable, and healthful energy system,” which means lessening And, hopefully, the next time you flip that energy services, for all, forever. The oppor- oil dependence, designing more dispersed switch and make a powerplant turn money tunity to create this new energy future is supply systems, and immediately pro- and fuel into climate change, you’ll know here and now. New technologies, which tecting risky energy chokepoints. that RMI is helping the American political seemed visionary only a few years ago, In the area of climate change, the NEP process create a smarter, brighter energy today provide energy services to millions Initiative states: “The fossil fuel era has future. and demonstrate that this energy future is created the abundance and mobility that not only possible but commercially viable.” many people in industrialized countries The NEP Initiative offers policies in five now enjoy. To make these same benefits * The NEP Initiative was funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Gordon and Betty specific areas: transportation and mobility, available to billions of people around the Moore Foundation, the Wallace Global Fund, the Steve electricity services, climate change, energy world who do not yet enjoy them, and to and Michele Kirsch Foundation, the Belfer Family security, and energy research, develop- future generations, we must find less Foundation, the GAG Charitable Corp., the Janelia ment, and government procurement. In carbon-intensive and more efficient ways Foundation.

RMISolutions page 3 Spring 2002 A Camp to Save the World? RMI Takes on the Challenge of Refugee Settlements

and technological to seek ways to manage refugee settle- gaps and mishaps. ments more effectively. Often problems In mid-February arise from well-meant but dis-integrated 2002, Rocky solutions. At a camp in Africa, for Mountain Institute example, one aid agency delivered and Dr. Eric drinking water from wells or trucks via Rasmussen, a Navy two-inch spouts, while another agency officer and former provided plastic distribution containers Fleet Surgeon for with one-inch holes. Those particular the U.S. Navy’s refugees weren’t familiar with funnels, so Third Fleet, joined the mismatch spilled thousands of gallons. forces with an The resulting mudhole was “fixed” by array of organiza- laying a cement slab with a sump to col- tions working on lect the spillage. The result, however, was these issues—the that refugees getting their water could also United Nations get malaria. This is a design problem. High Commission- Technologies, organizational patterns, and er for Refugees collaborative thinking between the aid (UNHCR), agencies and experts in design for sustain- text and photos by Hunter Lovins Refugees Inter- ability can solve or, better yet, avoid such and Cameron M. Burns national, the UN problems. Development A REFUGEE PRIMER onfucius said, “Real knowledge Programme, the World Food Programme, is to know the extent of one’s the U.S. State Department, the Organized refugee care is a fairly new phe- Cignorance.” Not understanding Departments of Energy and Defense, and nomenon. In modern times, it was at the large systems can cause major problems others—to rethink refugee-and-displaced- end of World War II—when an estimated across a wide range of pursuits, from the persons settlements from scratch. 40 million Europeans were displaced— that the world community began looking purely selfish and extractive to the most The event, officially called the “Sustainable at and understanding the plight of the dis- humanitarian-minded of endeavors— Settlements” charrette**, took place at El possessed. In 1951, a UN meeting in including the care and support of refugees. Capitan Canyon, a rustic camp and retreat Geneva wrote an international treaty, the Every year, millions of people are displaced center near Santa Barbara, California. Use 1951 Refugee Convention, which defined from their homes and become “refugees.” of El Capitan Canyon was donated and the a refugee and outlined “the minimum The UN estimates that there are some 35 event generously hosted by co-owner humanitarian standards for the treatment million refugees today, nearly half of them Chuck Blitz. Other costs were borne by of refugees.” unrecognized under international law. generous grants from private donors, Some are displaced by natural disaster, chiefly Betty Williams, John and Judy Officially, a refugee is a person who “is out- some by war, others by drought or other Harding, Kathleen Barry and Bob Burnett, side her/his country of origin (or habitual resource shortages. The flickering images and Adam and Rachel Albright. residence, in the case of stateless persons) and who, owing to a well-founded fear of on CNN mask vast diversity of needs, The purpose of the charrette was to bring desires, and preferences. This presents an together leaders from the aid community enormous challenge for humanitarian with some of the best integrative design ** Charrette: a very intensive, highly integrative, trans- agencies, who have seen many relief disciplinary, roundtable workshop that brings together practitioners for sustainable development stakeholders and experts at the very outset of a design efforts fail due to cultural, environmental, or problem-solving process. It yields an ambitious design product, typically conceptual with some exten- page 4 sion into early schematic design. persecution for reasons of race, religion, According to Refugees International’s nationality, membership of a particular Thompson, a typical refugee camp can social group or political opinion, is unable house 10,000 people, but camps may have or unwilling to avail herself/himself of the hundreds of thousands of residents, as was protection to which s/he is entitled.” the case with Rwandan camps in the The problem with the 1951 Convention Congo in the mid-1990s—one of which definition, according to David Stone of the grew to 600,000. Refugee camps are sup- UNHCR and Larry Thompson of Refugees posed to be temporary, but unresolved International—both of whom made pre- conflicts often make it difficult for refugees sentations at the Sustainable Settlements Above: Dr. Eric Rasmussen and to go home, and the camps can remain for RMI’s Bill Browning, co-leaders of decades. charrette—is that this UN definition leaves the Sustainable Settlements out quite a few folks, notably people charrette. It was Dr. Rasmussen’s uprooted within their own countries, so- extensive work in refugee camps THE CHALLENGE OF DESIGN that prompted him to question called “internally displaced persons” how they are conceived, created, Conventional wisdom frequently leads to (IDPs). Further confusing matters in and managed. design choices that may make the problem Afghanistan—where RMI’s sustainable worse. Conversely, there is much experi- designs might first be applied—there are rorize refugees; violence against women, ence from sustainable development “old” and “new” refugees, Thompson children, and other vulnerable people is experts that can prompt one solution to explained. An estimated four million “old” common. Sometimes those hired to run leverage others. Latrines, for instance, are refugees resulted from the Russian occupa- the camps come from a local population usually located in the driest part of the tion and war of the late 1970s and 1980s; that has been at war with the refugees, site. RMI’s biological design colleagues, the new refugees were displaced by more prompting severe mistreatment. Locals however, are quick to point out that by recent fighting and a 1999–2001 drought. outside the camp often resent the interna- using the wettest part of the site, one can In late 2001, a vast new flood of refugees tional aid the refugees receive, and steal create ponds under the latrines, add a mix- was feared in the wake of U.S. military whatever they can from the camp inhabi- ture of organisms (a “biological starter action, but international efforts to deliver tants. Sometimes the refugees themselves kit”), and a week or two later a highly pro- relief aid inside Afghanistan, enabling don’t trust the aid—as workers in Sudan ductive ecosystem will be processing the Afghans to remain in their homes, were found when refugee mothers refused to human wastes into pathogen-free nutri- relatively successful. feed their starving children because they ents. Those in turn can be used to create Not all “refugees” are created equal. The feared the food was poisoned. Refugees are excellent and culturally appropriate high- roughly one million Afghan IDPs who sometimes inadvertently given food, sup- protein foods—some of which specifically could not cross international borders in plies, and fuels that break cultural or reli- boost human immune competence. So 2000 and 2001 (partly because neigh- gious mores. Sometimes they’re given food hooking up two seemingly unrelated linear boring countries closed their borders) don’t that requires considerable cooking, needs—food in and waste out—can help have the same rights as international prompting energy-related problems like meet both at lower cost. refugees, and are often aided in only a deforestation. Properly combined, today’s best innovative minimal fashion or not at all. Moreover, Even local governments can throw up practices can often provide for basic many refugees are overlooked by the main obstacles. At one African camp, the UN human needs—clean water, food, sanita- humanitarian efforts because they inte- wanted to initiate several environmental tion, shelter, security, light, refrigeration, grate quickly into local populations, as projects. The national government—which telecommunications, medical care, and have many Afghan refugees who fled to had been charging rich Western humani- education—in ways that support prior pop- Iran and Pakistan. tarian groups big money simply to gain ulations, check the spread of poverty- The camps that refugees wind up in are access to refugees within its borders— inducing conditions, and restore vital usually in poor nations, and they enor- demanded $20 million from the UN to habitat and infrastructure. Moreover, mously burden local societies, economies, begin work. The UN refused and eventu- applying key insights from other disciplines and ecosystems, leading to a swarm of ally gained access to the camp, but such can even help to create a sound sociology, problems. Armed militia and guerrilla fac- extortion adds one more complex problem an entrepreneurial micro-economy, and a tions sometimes infiltrate camps and ter- to the mix. sense of dignity and self-worth. Combining

RMISolutions page 5 Spring 2002 Left: Jason Elliot, author of An Unexpected Light and RMI board member Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry. The two authors inspired charrette participants with stories of the Afghan people and nature’s adaptations to specific situations, respectively. Right: Afghan refugees Zieba Shamley of the Women’s Alliance for Peace and Human Rights, Sima Wali of Women & Refugees, and Fauzia Assifi, who escaped Afghanistan by riding 18 hours in a truck’s false gas tank with her two-month-old daughter.The three shared moving cultural insights into Afghanistan. many proven solutions, normally deployed many other settings.) refugees themselves, by building self- only singly, should yield very important Some of the results were revolutionary. esteem and getting them involved with synergies. Making the skills and tech- Take for example, food. It arrives in all camp projects. It also helps prepare them niques scaleable and portable—so refugees sorts of packaging, most of which is dis- for their return home. And if the inventory can take them home to help with carded. But boxes of aid materials, for goes on a smart card rather than a simpler rebuilding—could make repatriation more example, could be impregnated with crop ID card, it can also represent an unsteal- likely, more successful, and a nucleus for seeds and spores of fungi that help them able personal store of value (set up with national development. And if this can be gather nutrients and hold soil. Each box microcredit when you register) to jump- done in refugee camps, it should also help panel can fit a region and season, ready to start local commerce. some two billion or more other people plant and create a kitchen or market AN ENERGETIC FLOW seeking to create sustainable settlement in garden just by putting it on the ground OF IDEAS austere conditions. and watering it. Charrette participant Paul Stamets of Fungi Perfecti is already talking The individual projects the charrette pro- DEVELOPING PROJECTS to packaging firms about making such duced were impressive; greater details will So what would you do, if, say, you had a boxes. soon be available on RMI’s website and in sudden three- or four-month-long influx of a soon-to-be-released charrette report— How about education? Such a “seed box” 100,000 people into your community, all of www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid560.php. But could deliver a “School-in-a-Box”— whom needed your immediate help? Or it was the way in which complementary another charrette idea, supplying refugees 200,000 people? How about half a million? knowledge and experience was connected with camp information, learning materials and woven together that made this design The 84 attendees at the charrette formed and school curriculum, gardening supplies, process unique. A poignant example of this working groups covering all the issues of solar toys, solar-power information, you came from the charrette’s Energy Group, concern to UNHCR—energy, site, water name it. and sanitation, communications, educa- which comprised technology and fuels Even some of the simplest—but currently tion, health, economic development, food experts, solar and adobe experts, and unapplied—ideas could be helpful in and nutrition, construction and shelter— experienced aid workers. camps. “The first project our group devel- and were charged to envision three proj- On their first day, group members pon- oped was an assessment of the refugees ects that could be implemented within 60 dered how to get the most heat and light themselves, an inventory of the human days. They were also given a theoretical from various fuels, and which fuels were resources,” noted RMI’s Michael Kinsley, location for their efforts: the community of appropriate. They came up with some Economic Group facilitator. “There’s a lot Spin Boldak, near the Afghan-Pakistan good ideas, but the arrival of Afghan of brainpower that comes into these border, where there is the possibility of refugee Fauzia Assifi and an Afghan-experi- camps, and camp organizers should be tap- using ideas from the charrette in a real-life enced nurse-anthropologist caused the ping into that resource.” Not only does an setting. (Ideas generated from this char- group to refine good ideas into great ones. assessment provide humanitarian agencies rette might also be applied along the U.S.- Afghan families, Assifi explained, are with information about the population, Mexico border, in rebuilding Kabul, and in accustomed to heating their feet and lower Kinsley noted, it could empower the page 6 legs by sitting together (sandelei) around a pondered their projects, it table, covered with a heavy quilt, with a became apparent that small charcoal brazier (manqal) under- there are several larger neath—an arrangement similar to the ideals humanitarian agen- Japanese kotatsu. The brazier, containing cies must follow. First, coals covered with ash, stays hot for many refugees themselves hours. Afghans cook, eat, and share each should be encouraged to other’s company around the manqal and lead efforts to help them- often go to sleep in the same positions by selves. They know their leaving their legs under the brazier- cultures, their religions warmed quilt and stretching out on their and regions and desires sleeping mats. better than any Western

Building on Fauzia’s information, the aid worker. Second, the ‘In tents’ amounts of information: an ocean of lap- Energy Group decided that a new type of help must be appro- tops prompted ongoing commentary from all par- priate—culturally, reli- ticipants. Here, RMI’s Ben Shepherd makes a few brazier insert might be in order. Fueling lunchtime comments. it—and an efficient stove/pot combination giously, economically, logues born of four modest days in the for cooking—with LPG (bottled gas) could technologically, geographically, and in California woods. greatly decrease the environmental damage terms of resources. And finally, aid should resulting from cooking with fuelwood (and be coordinated from the start, and Already several participants are pursuing then trying to heat people with the same throughout the displacement period of the both the technological projects generated cooking fire). It could free up the vast fuel- refugees in all areas. It is such a lack of and the design process that shows humani- wood gathering time required of women coordination that prompted RMI’s char- tarian workers how to approach refugee and children, so they could further their rette in the first place. settlements. Whatever comes next, RMI education or earn more, and could avoid and Dr. Rasmussen will be heavily WHERE DO WE GO landmines and attackers while foraging for involved in the continuing dialogue. FROM HERE? firewood. It would also eliminate indoor Sadly, RMI’s work on refugee issues repre- The Sustainable Settlements charrette was smoke, and therefore eye damage, which is sents some depressing realities. If climate not undertaken to produce floorplans for chronic in Afghanistan, without many of change raises sea levels enough to force camp buildings and design drawings for the risks of kerosene. A trickle brazier that out poor lowland populations, if the deser- new cooking devices; rather, its purpose uses only a tiny amount of LPG would thus tification of sub-Saharan Africa continues was to create a settlement design method- provide personal warmth to family groups unabated, if other resource-related prob- ology and template for quickly helping dis- in the evening and at night in cold cli- lems continue to push the world’s bur- placed people—in short, a primer for aid mates, in a way that reinforces family cohe- geoning population from place to place workers. A report from the charrette will sion and traditional practices. and to exacerbate conflict, then RMI’s soon be published in several formats The Energy Group took the discussion work on refugee settlements will become (paper, web, etc.) and shared with humani- even further by hypothesizing that such more important in the future, not less. tarian organizations, aid workers, and new technology might stir the interest of Reversing those trends is another key part local, regional and national government gas, oil, and LPG companies—such as of the responsibility we take together for a agencies. But the real benefit of the char- those now emerging in Afghanistan— safer world. rette will be the ongoing healthy, rich dia- which could see new markets created through technologies introduced for Recommended Resources: refugees. The discussion was rich and www.rmi.org/sitepages/art7206.php deep. www.thesustainablevillage.com/refugee_camps/index.html The roughly two dozen projects developed www.cmi.arizona.edu/home.htm were then considered on an integrated www.unhcr.ch basis, taking cultural, and technological www.refugeesinternational.org appropriateness, and resource preservation www.wapha.org into account. Yet, as the working groups www.villageearth.org

RMISolutions page 7 Spring 2002 Here Comes the Sun! Mayor Brown $100 million on alternative cranking up production of solar cells and & RMI See the energy. wind generators. The existing San Francisco Sunny Side of Proposition B, which garnered Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), San Francisco 73 percent of the vote, allows appointed by Mayor Willie Brown, Jr., will the city to issue a $100 mil- run the new renewable energy programs. lion revenue bond to finance Members of RMI’s renowned energy team, construction of solar and working with Ed Smeloff of the SFPUC, wind-power systems. A second recently helped the City craft an Energy complementary measure, Resources Investment Strategy, which will Proposition H—which gained guide San Francisco’s energy future and 54 percent of the vote—will determine the best ways to use the $100 allow city officials to issue million in bond money. In this special inter- future bonds for renewable view, RMI Solutions talked to the Mayor energy projects without voter about his city’s new leadership role in alter- approval. native, secure energy systems. Now, San Francisco—a city RMI: Mr. Mayor, suddenly San Francisco is often shrouded in fog—is set a world leader in solar energy, and in fact, to become the nation’s largest in alternative energy in general. Obviously, municipal producer of sun- you’re glad? By Cameron M. Burns generated electricity. The city’s Mayor Brown: San Francisco has long had new energy supply will not a reputation as a city that embraces environ- only be environmentally benign, it will be n 6 November, San Franciscans mental quality. One of the reasons that San voted to make their air cleaner, immune to most types of grid/delivery fail- Francisco is a premier destination for Otheir utility bills more stable, and ures, monopolistic behavior by suppliers, tourists throughout the world is its natural their electricity supplies more reliable and and terrorist attacks. Moreover, the City’s beauty and its reputation for clean air and secure when they approved two ballot venture is of a size that should help cut water. It is only natural that San Francisco’s measures that call for the city to spend renewable electricity costs for everyone by voters would support an initiative to make solar power happen on rooftops throughout Stop Press the city. As a dense urban environment, it is a challenge to develop new sources of elec- On 28 January, after this interview was conducted, Mayor Brown took his city’s tric power while protecting environmental commitment to a clean future one step further when he introduced a resolution quality. I am proud that San Francisco will to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors that calls for San Francisco to reduce be a leader in the development of solar its overall greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by the year energy. We need to do so in a sustained, 2012. The Mayor’s plan would entail an overall reduction of about 35 percent of orderly manner that is cost-effective. I have current greenhouse gas emissions, and far outstrips the target of seven percent put together a team of well-qualified experts below 1990 levels first proposed by the federal government before the United at the Department of the Environment and States withdrew from the United Nations Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. the San Francisco Public Utilities The proposed resolution would also ensure the City’s place at the forefront of Commission that will lead this effort. global warming solutions nationally and worldwide. RMI: Were citizens reacting to last “Global warming is real, and it presents a bona fide threat to the quality of life in summer’s electricity crisis, or was there San Francisco,” said the Mayor in a statement. “We need to act now if we’re more to it than that? going to keep San Francisco and the Bay Area a viable place to live for future Mayor Brown: Certainly, last year’s energy generations.” crisis drew public attention to the need to

page 8 develop new, clean sources of electricity as RMI: Proponents have said that within a well as using existing resources more effi- year San Francisco could produce up to 20 ciently. However, San Francisco has long megawatts of sun-driven electricity—more been aware that it is particularly susceptible than any other city in the country—by to power disruptions. In December 1998 a placing solar panels on the rooftops of city- severe problem at an electrical substation owned buildings and schools. Is that a real- knocked out power for hours for most of San istic time-frame? Francisco and nearby communities. It has Mayor Brown: I don’t believe that trying been a goal of my administration to make to install 20 megawatts in one year is real- San Francisco more self-sufficient in power istic. If we try to do too much too fast we generation. Solar power fits in well with a will likely end up increasing the cost of balanced energy strategy that includes a solar installations. Instead, we need to come diverse mix of resources to assure reliable up with a long-term plan that will increase electric service. I am convinced that the the nationwide manufacturing capacity for voters of San Francisco agree that we need solar modules, hopefully with some of those to be more energy independent as a city. new facilities being located in the San RMI: It appears solar power hasn’t been as Francisco Bay Area. By doing that, the cost Mayor Willie Brown much of a long-term public goal in of solar units will decline and reduce the California as some might like to think. The need for public subsidies to create a market sites in this area and elsewhere in the Bay AP recently reported, “In sunny California, for solar energy. For 2002, we are looking at Area for the installation of new wind tur- less than five percent of the state’s elec- a high profile solar project on the Moscone bines. In addition, I understand that private tricity comes from solar power, though resi- Center, where many of the major conven- developers are considering installing wind dents have nearly used up millions of tions are held in San Francisco. The San turbines near Candlestick Park, one of the dollars in state rebates that slash the cost Francisco Public Utilities Commission is windiest areas in the city. It is possible that, of installing solar panels almost in half.” investigating dozens of other potential sites, some day, wind turbines along Highway Your thoughts now, as the “sunniest and they will be proposing installations on 101 at the entrance to San Francisco could mayor” in America? other city-owned facilities. I particularly be a landmark for the city, just like the Mayor Brown: California likes to think of want some of the first facilities to be acces- Golden Gate Bridge and Coit Tower are itself as being the most innovative of the sible to students so they can get first-hand now. I am not surprised that wind power is states. Back in the 1980s when I was experience with a technology that will be less costly than coal-generated energy. That Speaker of the State Assembly, California critically important in the 21st century. explains why nobody is proposing to build was on the cutting edge in promoting RMI: Prop B also calls for an additional 30 any coal plants in California. renewable energy technologies. California megawatts to come from wind turbines RMI: A megawatt is enough electricity to still leads the nation in the amount of placed elsewhere in the Bay area. Where is power roughly 750 homes. I’ve read that installed generation of solar, wind, geo- the wind strong enough for that? (By the the plan so far calls for 50 megawatts all thermal and biomass technologies. way, did you know two Californians, Mark told (20 solar, 30 wind), which would Unfortunately, under the administration of Jacobson and Prof. Gil Masters of Stanford, power roughly 38,000 homes. What about former Gov. Pete Wilson, the state recently did the math on electricity-gener- pushing the solar and wind programs even embarked on a misguided experiment with ated energy versus coal-generated energy further and generating more “green” electricity deregulation [restructuring]. As a and, when health programs for coal miners power? result of policies put in place in 1994, the are factored into the equation, wind comes Mayor Brown: A key goal of my adminis- state’s commitment to renewable energy up cheaper? See Science magazine, 24 tration is the closure of the 40-year-old began to decline. However, it is my expecta- August 2001.) Hunters Point power plant, which is a tion that with the efforts we are making in Mayor Brown: Anyone who has driven major source of air pollution in the south- San Francisco, coupled with that of other from the Central Valley to the Bay Area east section of San Francisco. The two fossil- forward-looking cities like Sacramento and through Livermore on Interstate 280 cannot fueled units located at Hunters Point can Oakland, solar energy will be back on the miss the hundreds of wind turbines that produce 215 megawatts of power. So we public agenda as a long-term solution to our have been installed on the hills of Altamont need to develop within the city limits of San energy needs. Pass. The SFPUC is currently investigating

RMISolutions page 9 Spring 2002 Francisco at least that amount of reliable riers. The city has ample sites available for this is an especially valuable attribute? new power generation. I am in favor of solar manufacturing and is eager to work Mayor Brown: An inflation-proof source of developing clean and renewable energy in with solar companies interested in locating energy is an investment that is not only the city as part of a portfolio of resources here. As a major financial center, San valuable for today’s consumers but can be that results in the certain closure of the Francisco has the talent to grow the market passed on to future generations. We have Hunters Point plant. San Francisco needs to for solar power by making credit more seen a lot of volatility in energy markets in have sufficient supplies of power whenever widely available to homeowners and busi- the past year. While prices have settled peak demand for electricity occurs—which nesses. And San Francisco’s educational down recently, there is no reason to believe can be on a winter evening as well as institutions can meet the challenge of that we won’t see more price spikes in the during a summer afternoon. Therefore, our training a solar workforce. future. The more power that we are able to renewable energy commitment needs to be RMI: Some lawmakers are obviously urging get from God-given resources like solar and part of a larger energy plan that includes the independence from foreign oil and a wind, the less exposure we will have to less development of state-of-the art gas-fired diverse array of fuel sources. Late last year, predictable energy commodities like oil and power plants along with investments in Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Gordon natural gas. energy efficiency programs. Smith (R-Ore.) introduced legislation to RMI: With last year’s reported terrorist RMI: Though nearly half of all solar panels renew the federal tax credit for wind power threat to the Golden Gate and other in use around the world are made in the and expand it to include solar, biomass, bridges, do you think your constituents may United States, domestic customers make geothermal, and other renewable energies. have in mind that solar power is more up only 15 percent of the market because Have you or has the city become involved secure than power delivered from far away fossil-fuel-powered electricity in the United in other community and/or national alter- by vulnerable power lines? States is touted as being cheaper—mostly native energy initiatives? Mayor Brown: Since 11 September, secu- due to how the math is done. (Last year, it Mayor Brown: San Francisco is supportive rity has been a major concern of San was reported [AP, 7 November] that of federal and state legislation that provides Franciscans. We are seeking ways to Germany and Japan, whose governments incentives for the development of renew- become more secure while maintaining the heavily subsidize solar panel purchases, able energy technologies. I have worked openness that makes San Francisco such a consume 55 percent of the world’s solar with California’s Congressional delegation in special place for people from all over the power.) Is there any interest in developing addressing California’s energy crisis, and I world. Increasing our energy self-reliance other aspects of the solar and wind look forward to working with them to make through developing modern new facilities in industry in San Francisco—say, for San Francisco’s solar initiative a success. San Francisco is one important way we can example, helping photovoltaic manufac- Certainly, our over-dependence on oil, increase our security. turers set up shop there (as Sacramento wherever it is produced, is a major vulnera- did)—becoming America’s “Solar City” or RMI: Will renewable energy help improve bility for the United States and we need to something like that? If so, have there been “environmental justice” in your community? take steps as a nation to lessen this depend- any estimates as to what that might do for Mayor Brown: Yes, as I mentioned earlier, ence. San Francisco has been a national the SF economy? I am committed to replacing the aging, leader in lessening reliance on oil by devel- highly polluting power plants that are Mayor Brown: Clearly, based on the vote oping a transportation infrastructure that located in African-American and Latino in San Francisco, there is great potential for largely uses electricity rather than oil for neighborhoods of San Francisco as quickly growing the market for solar power in the moving people around the city. Not only is as possible. Since these neighborhoods are United States. I am interested in San San Francisco served by BART (Bay Area also where the high voltage transmission Francisco tapping into that market potential. Rapid Transit), but we have also developed system is located, we need to assure that San Francisco has a talented work force and an extensive system of electric buses, trol- any power plants that are located there take a reputation for innovation in incubating leys and light rail. All of this rolling stock advantage of the most advanced technolo- new businesses. Solar energy faces a can be powered by renewable sources of gies available. Also, as new jobs are created number of barriers including insufficient electricity in the future. manufacturing capacity, a weak financing by the introduction of renewable energy RMI: Renewable electricity has a constant infrastructure, and the lack of well-trained technologies, it is my goal the residents of price once the equipment is installed, systems installers. San Francisco is well-situ- these neighborhoods be the first in line in because the “God utility” never raises the ated to help overcome each of these bar- getting their benefits. price of wind and sunbeams. Do you think

page 10 What Does Security Life at RMI Mean to You? By Marty Pickett, Executive Director

n the past few months, RMI’s work in on a foundation of cost-effective energy effi- resource and energy efficiency, whole- ciency. If implemented, the policy recom- Isystems thinking, and the principles of mendations in the NEP Initiative would natural capitalism have become as pressing make supply failures impossible, mitigate cli- as ever. While 11 September precipitated a mate change, support local economies, and war and highlighted major world problems, free international policy from dependence it also reinforced for Americans that security on foreign oil. is a privilege. Americans aren’t the only ones dealing with Thus, RMI is being called upon to step up insecurity. Every year, tens of millions of our work in most of our core interest areas people are displaced by natural disasters, (energy, water, communities, climate war caused by ethnic and religious differ- change, etc.) because they are inherently ences, and resource shortages. These are related to security. As with our past activi- massive populations and they move fast. In ties, our current and future projects are April 1994, for example, 250,000 headed in some very important directions. Rwandans—fleeing ethnic violence— These projects not only address energy inse- crossed the border into remote curity created by the terrorist attacks; they Northwestern Tanzania in two days! And also address insecurity at many levels—from even though it appears America’s war on working independently of the latrine people, economic insecurity in small communities terrorism is mostly over, more than 50,000 the housing structure people working inde- across America and around the world to the Afghans have crossed the border into pendently of the transportation people. insecurity being felt by the millions who will Pakistan since 1 January as they flee probably end up in refugee camps across ongoing ethnic violence. Possibly RMI’s most important humanitarian work ever is its current involvement in a Central Asia. The settlements that refugees come to series of workshops to design “sustainable Because of the now-heightened concerns inhabit can have a devastating impact on settlements” for refugees that will provide about security, I want to describe to you the environments, communities, and soci- more livable and humane communities that briefly two of our latest and most important eties within which they are located. won’t be massive burdens on the areas in projects. Incoming populations are often fed, clothed, which they’re situated. We’ve partnered and sheltered with non-local food and mate- Our energy team has been called upon from with Dr. Eric Rasmussen of the U.S. Navy, rials, oftentimes generating problems from many sectors of private industry and the who has extensive experience working with packaging and shipping materials. government to help ascertain the best refugee settlements. RMI’s recent design Sometimes the incoming population strips energy future for the United States. RMI charrette on refugee camps (see story, p. 4) the local forests for fuel and building mate- founders Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins developed some great ideas and a unique rials. Often the inhabitants require costly have helped the energy industry understand process, and already we’re seeing interest support from the local communities. Wastes, demand and supply for over 20 years—since from aid agencies whom we hope to advise. the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo. Now, our both human and otherwise, generated by The feedback we’re getting from many energy team (Amory Lovins, Hunter Lovins, inhabitants can have tremendous impacts on Institute supporters seems to be that RMI’s Tom Feiler, Karl Rábago, and Joel Swisher) is local ecosystems. Many refugee “camps” efforts to improve the lives of refugees, as mobilizing to disseminate the policy recom- designed to last weeks and months end up well as guide energy experts to think mendations generated in our “NEP being “settlements,” remaining in place for through and execute a viable national energy Initiative” (see p. 1). The ideas contained in years. When repatriation occurs, often the security policy, constitute our most impor- the document would reduce domestic host country is left with a devastated site. tant work at the moment. And yes, it’s a energy vulnerability by shifting the architec- Why is that? Much of the problem is attrib- “teachable moment,” a time when RMI is at ture of the national energy system to more utable to poor design. Usually the camps are its best. diverse, dispersed, renewable sources, based established piecemeal—the water people

RMISolutions page 11 Spring 2002 Driving Sustainability in China Editor’s note: At the end of October 2001, our new Mandarin-speaking public information officer, Thammy Evans, took a trip to Beijing and Shanghai to promote the Hypercar TM concept. For more on the Hypercar TM concept, please visit www. hypercar.com.

waste industrial park. If it succeeds, it will be the first in the world. Since Beijing won the bid to hold the

Thammy Evans (second from left) with Hou Yanli and Zhang Olympics in 2008, renewed vigor in Ruiying of China Sustainable Energy Program, and Krista Durlas learning about sustainability abounds, not and Christiana Lawson of Building Green Bridges. least because Beijing has pledged to make these Olympics the most technologically By Thammy Evans degree that it is understood in the West. As advanced and environmentally sustainable a result, implementation of sustainable ever. The “Green Olympics,” as China calls y recent trip to China was practices in China tends to be either simple it, is attracting a lot of interest and invest- prompted by an invitation from or superficial. For instance, 60 percent of ment from the rest of the world, which is Mthe newly formed U.S.-based Shanghai’s taxis (of which there are eager to have a slice of China’s growing non-profit “Building Green Bridges.” BGB’s 40,000, serving a population of 13 million) economy. The World Bank approved a mandate is to bring environmental manage- run on liquid petroleum gas (LPG), but $349 million loan this year to the city of ment education to Chinese business leaders other mechanisms for saving energy and Beijing to help environmental cleanup, and in both China and abroad. In so doing, resources—such as double-glazing and the European Union and Japan have prom- BGB is heavily promoting the book Natural insulation—are considered too expensive ised another $17 million in aid for sustain- Capitalism in China, especially to univer- for the return on investment. able development. sity business schools. This bodes well for Lifecycle analysis and design for the envi- There is a conference at least once a week our Chinese version of the book, which ronment were brand-new concepts to the in China related to sustainable develop- will go into its third printing in June 2002. great majority of students, professors, and ment and environmental protection. Many China is very open to the message of sus- researchers whom I met, never mind con- of the participants are non-Chinese, and tainable development, and has known for cepts like biomimicry or the third natural many have little to do with green or sus- well over half a century that it cannot sup- capitalism principle of shifting to a service- tainable development. Since China is so port a population of 1.3 billion people if based economy. This is in part due to the inexperienced with sustainable develop- they consume and waste resources as fast as lack of materials available in Chinese, and ment, the nation will need to take care in Westerners. China is keen, therefore, to also to the wholesale lack of Chinese exam- avoiding “paper tiger” or “white elephant” implement super-resource-efficient practices, ples to which government and business consultants. As a result, the Energy and knows that these resources must be leaders can relate. Individual municipalities Foundation, in partnership with the replenished—if not augmented—in order to are moving towards government-led imple- Packard Foundation, has set up the China maintain sustainable economic growth. mentation of sustainable development, Sustainable Energy Program to assist the with Tianjin’s Ecocity being a prime nation’s transition to a sustainable future by Despite the prevalence of the phrase “envi- example. Building on RMI’s Alexis promoting efficiency and renewables. As ronmental protection” in China, it appears Karolides’s meeting a year ago with the my position at RMI is partly funded by the that the world’s largest nation is well Tianjin Environmental Protection Bureau, I Energy Foundation, I took the opportunity behind the West in the percentage of met with TEPB’s Ms. Yang Jienan to discuss to meet CSEP’s Transportation Officer, Mr. movers and shakers who actually under- Ecocity, which is envisioned as a zero- He Dongquan, and its Sustainable stand sustainable development to the

page 12 China boasts 1.3 billion people and an estimated billion bicycles (Shanghai alone has over six million). With a high demand for automobiles, but limited oil and polluted air, China is a perfect opportunity for the Hypercar strategy.

Development Officer, Ms. Zhang Ruiying. larger, especially as China does not have a oil production in the world today by 18 China recognized long ago the need to well-established advanced composites percent. China is already heading on a path move to alternative fuels. China imports 20 industry, but it is an intriguing comparison. toward importing half of its oil by 2010, percent of its oil already, yet has a fleet of Despite a population of 1.3 billion and a and possibly 75 percent if its oil by 2020. only 15.5 million vehicles. That’s one car growing economy eagerly consuming the At 225 million tons of oil per annum, that for every 84 people, compared to one car latest goods, China still manages to emit is about as much oil as OPEC currently pro- for every 1.3 people in the United States, less carbon dioxide than the United States, duces in two months. and China’s vehicle fleet is growing at an and lies in third place in global carbon The economic and security advantages of annual rate of 3.8 percent. If China had dioxide emissions behind India. China’s fast- being able to reduce China’s dependence one car for every 1.3 people, China would growing car population is also likely to be on foreign oil by a third are not lost on the have a fleet of some 970 million cars, the nation’s fastest-growing source of carbon Chinese. Nor is the advantage of learning which is almost 50 percent more than dioxide emission. The advantages, there- from RMI lost on Beijing University’s today’s worldwide fleet. fore, of adopting the Hypercar model as its Institute of Environmental Engineering. My main reason to go to China was thus to future automobile paradigm are significant. After my presentation to the Institute, the bring the HypercarTM concept to Chinese If the Hypercar design captured just half of Head of the Institute, Professor Ni, not only research groups, universities, and busi- China’s rapidly expanding auto market after presented RMI with ten copies of Factor nesses. The concept won a warm recep- 2005 and conventional cars saw a 25-per- Four translated into Chinese by the tion, and every group to whom I intro- cent improvement in fuel efficiency, there Institute, but also offered RMI a three- duced it wanted to know more. Perhaps would be a large reduction in greenhouse month visiting scholar position at the more exciting still is that the Chinese gases emitted by cars in China. Under this Institute of Environmental Engineering. In realize the Hypercar concept might bolster scenario, by 2020, even with the expected the interest of whole-systems thinking, RMI China’s ailing auto industry to the point of 50 percent increase in vehicle-miles trav- is working on putting together a three- leapfrogging the West. Chinese auto eled, there would be a 33 percent reduc- month program whereby several of our experts are already hotly debating the need tion in fleet carbon dioxide emissions research staff would provide the Institute for China to build its own auto brand. The compared to the conventional car equiva- with insights into our many areas of work groups to whom I spoke did not seem lent. Without Hypercar vehicles, carbon and how they interact. In return, RMI is entirely confident that China could achieve dioxide vehicle emissions in China would seeking to arrange international funding to this—certainly not on her own. At each rise by 450 percent, despite the improve- offer Beijing University’s Institute of show of hesitation, I made a comparison of ments in conventional cars. Environmental Engineering a fellowship position at RMI. The future holds many China’s present widespread use of mobile Were current trends to continue and exciting opportunities for RMI and China. phones and DVDs to the West’s slow adop- China’s per capita oil consumption ulti- tion of these technologies. Admittedly, the mately to equal the current U.S. rate, leap to advanced automotive technology is Chinese demand alone would exceed total

RMISolutions page 13 Spring 2002 RMI News

RMI Releases present costs, if users can capitalize on demand it is running again this semester Cleaner Energy, their advantages as distributed sources. under the title “Being Green, Being Happy, Supported by a grant from the W. Alton Making Money: Taking the Next Steps Greener Profits Jones Foundation, Cleaner Energy, Greener Toward Sustainability in Our Personal and The January announcement Profits will be distributed to media Work Lives.” The course has also spawned by the Bush Administration and to organizations, a “discussion/action salon”— a group of that it will back a plan by researchers, agencies, and valley residents that’s meeting on a regular the Energy Department and various firms in energy- basis to discuss issues related to sustain- the auto industry to related fields. The paper is ability (recent topics have included recy- develop hydrogen-based available to the public for cling, winter habitat, hunting, and fuel cells for autos bodes $15 plus $5.50 for shipping community elders). well for RMI’s latest and handling. To request “RMI has long wanted to be more involved research paper, Cleaner copies, call RMI at 970-927- locally,” said RMI Executive Director Marty Energy, Greener Profits: 3851, email [email protected], or Pickett, “and this class is proving to be a Fuel Cells as Cost- write to Publications, Rocky great venue for broad local interaction. Effective Distributed Mountain Institute, 1739 Besides, Dave is really passionate about Energy Resources. Snowmass Creek Road, teaching and I’m sure his enthusiasm The paper came off the printing press at Snowmass, CO 81654. The docu- shines through.” the end of January. Cleaner Energy, ment can also be downloaded from the The course provides a non-adversarial intro- Greener Profits, by RMI researcher Joel N. energy pages of RMI’s website duction to modern environmentalism and Swisher, PE, examines the role of fuel cells (www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid171.php). whole-systems approaches to global chal- as a source of electric power in the compet- lenges and related opportunities. It begins itive energy economy of the near future. Being Green, with a review of the health of the planet, Fuel cells convert hydrogen fuel to elec- Being Happy, from climate change to toxic buildup, and a tricity at high efficiency through a chemical survey of the policies and technologies that reaction, without combustion and with neg- Making Money show the best hope for success. A cross-sec- ligible emissions. They can be used to tion of leading environmental thinkers— RMI’s educational activities recently went a power vehicles or to provide electric power from the “left” and the “right”—gets new direction when RMI researcher/con- and useful heat for domestic, commercial introduced and their ideas are debated. The sultant David Payne began teaching a and industrial use. In the latter role, they relationship between spiritualism and envi- Colorado Mountain College-Aspen campus are considered “distributed” power sources, ronmentalism is explored, as is the course, “Be Green, Be Happy, Make because, unlike a large power plant, they emerging alignment of business and the Money.” The can be placed near where power is needed environment. course explores and they can be added in small increments Also, the class identifies real issues that are the intersections as needed. Other advantages are that they relevant to local residents, discussing ways of environmen- provide extremely consistent power, and are to improve our lives while preserving and talism, spiritu- not particularly subject to failure due to sab- restoring the world around us. alism, and otage or accidents. capitalism, and “Teaching this course has been invigor- Swisher, who earned his Ph.D. in energy helps steer ating,” said Payne. “Connecting with mem- and environmental engineering from bers of the community in a creative would-be entre- David Payne Stanford University, concludes that fuel preneurs, among dialogue about sustainability has really per- cells can be cost-effective even at their others, onto green paths. The course sonalized the message of Natural kicked off in the fall of 2001 with over- Capitalism for all of us, while helping RMI capacity enrollment, and in response to to refine and ‘ground’ its message at the community level.”

page 14 RMI Helping the Cutting Edge of RMI News “Turbo-machinery” Although RMI’s Amory Lovins is perhaps best known for his role as a cross-fertilizer of energy and resource efficiency, he’s also a recovering experimental physicist and likes to stay abreast of the latest technical developments in efficiency. Recently he became an advisor to Pax Fluid Systems, Inc., of San Rafael, California. Founder Jayden Harman is “an Australian naturalist who is an avid diver, and a cut- ting-edge designer using biomimicry,” according to Lovins. Two Pax impeller prototypes. Fluid is drawn into the center of the spiral After decades of study of the plant and before being pushed out smoothly along its axis. animal kingdom, including thousands of hours underwater, Harman developed and tually no cavitation (causing flow so turbu- rediscovery of nature’s genius—fulfills its patented a completely new type of impeller lent that the water is torn apart and bub- promise, it could be one of the greatest (a spinning shape that moves the fluid bles form). While design optimization technical breakthroughs in energy effi- around it). Lovins suspects it could revolu- continues, Harman has already found that ciency in a long time.” tionize such fluid-moving machinery as an impeller based on a recessive spiral can pumps, fans, propellers, mixers, and tur- spin at 6,000 rpm underwater with no cav- bines. Pax’s impeller design is based on a itation. “You can’t do that even with a logarithmic spiral known as a Phi Ratio, smooth cylinder because of the surface Fibonacci Sequence, or Equiangular Spiral. drag!” Lovins said. Dear RMI Readers and In three dimensions, these patterns are Supporters, called recessive spirals. They occur in many Harman has also been exploring some places in nature, yet few designers have counterintuitive applications. When one of As you’ve probably read, we are now ever mimicked them. (“To visualize a his impellers is attached to the front of a asking for a $20 donation in return for an annual subscription to our recessive spiral, picture the inside of a submarine hull, rather than slowing down newsletter (three issues). You can read conch shell,” Harman noted). Two of the the craft due to increased surface area, it the newsletter online anytime at many such shapes are shown above. makes it go about 11 percent faster. www.rmi.org without a subscription. Lovins has been advising Harman infor- When rotated in water or air, the impeller However, if you enjoy it, we hope makes the fluid flow smoothly in a vortex, mally for several years and is now an inau- you’ll contribute anyway. gural member of Pax’s Advisory Board, like water exiting a bathtub. In contrast, Also, we apologize if you received helping get the concept widely applied. Pax the most common kinds of conventional your copy of RMI Solutions at the pumps and fans sling the fluid outward and has also supplied prototype impellers to a wrong address, or if you requested an bounce it off a curved wall to make some natural design exhibit at Nike headquarters email notification and instead received of it move in the desired direction. This organized by RMI board member Janine a hard copy in the mail. Please, if you more violent and indirect method causes Benyus, the author of Biomimicry. would like changes made in your turbulence and hence is inherently less effi- “Not only are impellers of this shape poten- mailing address or in how you receive cient than laminar flow. tially far more efficient,” noted Lovins, RMI information, contact Ruth Klock “they are remarkably quiet, and gentle on at 970-927-3851, or email her at By smoothly accelerating the fluid cen- [email protected]. tripetally (towards the center) with very anything that goes through them—like, say, little turbulence, Pax’s impellers lessen fish through a hydroelectric turbine. This vibration and reduce or even reverse heat could be very big, and has many obvious gain, while delivering more thrust with vir- applications. If this invention—or rather,

RMISolutions page 15 Spring 2002 RMI News

the award for CRS’s innovative Green-e Certification program,” he said, “but tricity labeling––informational labels pro- RMI’s Rábago hearing that they have now adopted the vided by utilities to customers with their electricity labeling concept is a real treat!” Helps Austrian electric bills. “With the responsibility of Consumers choice comes the need for information,” he Upper Austria is the first part of Europe to Know Their said, “and most customers get more infor- create such a scheme, but we’re optimistic mation from the label on bottled water that others will follow their lead. Certainly, Power than they get with their electric bills.” The Rábago will keep showing off his bottled Senior RMI energy staffer and former Texas idea for electricity labeling is an outgrowth water at meetings. Public Utility Commissioner and former of other policy changes designed to give For more information, see www.esv.or.at/ U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy customers more information power in the cinformation/energie_ooe/elwog_e.htm. Karl R. Rábago played a key role in helping marketplace. Not too long ago, the Food & citizens of Upper Austria learn more about Drug Administration required that all food their electricity usage. Recently, the in the United States be labeled with ingre- NatCap in Your regional parliament of Upper Austria dients and nutrients, so that consumers School? adopted an electricity service labeling would know exactly what they were put- Are you using Natural Capitalism in a requirement that will ensure customers ting into their bodies. class? Know someone who is? If so, we’d know how their electricity was generated. Electricity labeling is similar, though not like to know about it. RMI is currently The idea gained momentum when Rábago quite the same. Because no one can tell compiling a database of university aca- explained the importance of consumer you exactly where the electrons in your demics and teachers (undergraduate and information at a conference in Wels, socket come from, electricity labeling tells graduate level) working in the areas of busi- Austria, in March 2001. Rábago was in you the supplier’s shares of generation from ness, architecture, engineering, and envi- Austria to speak at a conference and accept coal, gas, nuclear or renewable (solar, ronmental science who are either using an Energy Globe Award for the Green-e wind, biomass, geothermal, or small Natural Capitalism case stories or would Certification Program (www.green-e.org) hydropower) resources. “A major barrier to like to. The Institute is beginning to he helped develop. It’s run by the Center customer participation in energy issues is explore ways to have “NatCap” courses for Resource Solutions, a non-profit organi- lack of accurate information about how added to university curricula, to create zation based in San Francisco, California. electricity is made,” he said, “and surveys executive education programs, and to Rábago sits on the board of CRS and chairs reveal most people don’t know or have develop a Corporate University based on the Green Power Board that oversees the incorrect beliefs about the mix of resources the concepts of sustainability and corporate Green-e Program. used to generate their electricity.” social responsibility. Rábago has long been a champion of elec- For more than seven years, Rábago has RMI has already begun discussions with been advocating labeling representatives at the University of for electricity. The Green- Colorado at Boulder, where one of the pro- e Program requires fessors from the Business School is looking labeling for green power at developing a “Sustainable Business products, and Rábago has Venturing” class. taken his message to If you know of anyone using Natural three continents and Capitalism (the book) or natural capitalism dozens of community (the philosophy) in the classroom, or of and national leaders, anyone who would like to, please contact often holding up bottled Randi Lowenthal at [email protected]. water at meetings to illus- Please include your contact information trate the basic labeling Like water for electricity: RMI’s Karl Rábago, and a brief description of the way in which concept. touting electricity labeling—with his ever-present you’ve been using Natural Capitalism. water bottle—in Austria. “I was honored to receive

page 16 RMI News The Genome Institute Takes Off The summer issue of RMI Solutions The Genome Institute creating a “Genetic described a new project RMI was under- fora are unique events. Controversy and taking with the Global Academy. Called the Following the inaugural Environmental Ethics” Genome Institute, it hosts multi-stake- conference held in conference in June. The holder dialogues in the United States and 2000 at Peking Center for Theology and internationally on key issues of genetic University in China, the Natural Sciences technology, and disseminates information Jiang Zemin, President asked us to co-create this and ideas on diverse related topics. of the People’s Republic public conference (to be In 2001, GI held major international fora in of China, wrote: held at U.C. Berkeley) to [ London and Paris. Additionally, it co-spon- “…The Global bring together teaching sored conferences with the Association of Academy] forum on faculty from a variety of Native American Physicians and the Mayo genetics held in cooper- disciplines to draw an Clinic, focusing on the changing patterns of ation with Peking integrative picture of our University was a suc- The new Global Planet Earth from a cancer in American Indian and Alaskan Academy website. Native Communities. The emerging debate cess. The forum variety of perspectives. on the human genome and the conse- explored the impact of “This partnership with Global Academy is quences of its manipulation is one of the genetic engineering on man from the per- enabling RMI to work in an area that primary issues being considered within spective of the humanities, which will con- Amory and I have long been concerned indigenous peoples’ health care. tribute to human development in the new about, much more effectively than if we century.” tried to do this work alone,” said Hunter “The [Global Academy] “The Global Academy is happy to invite Lovins, RMI’s co-CEO (Strategy). “Genetic RMI to join the Genome Institute as an manipulation has the potential to do an forum explored the equal partner to build on our earlier suc- enormous amount of good; it might also do impact of genetic cesses,” said Walter Link, chair of the a lot of harm. It is vital in a democratic Global Academy. “This addition to our society that the public take an active role in engineering on man team will strengthen the Genome making the decisions that will determine from the perspective of Institute’s unique mission to convene in- the future of all of us.” depth dialogues that go beyond the usual the humanities, which And, finally, in the coming months we will attack–counterattack communication style launch our website (www.genomeinstitute. will contribute to human and deep into these challenging issues. Our info). generation bears the responsibility to development in the “The website will describe many of the decide what we want to do in regard to exiting events that the Genome Institute new century.” this groundbreaking technology that has, has already hosted and will include a literally, eternal consequences. We would resource center/library where visitors can —Jiang Zemin, President of the be well advised to find deeply considered People’s Republic of China download PDF files of papers and articles and commonly acceptable solutions.” relating to genomics issues,” noted Jane In 2002, we will develop a program to Shea, Project Director. The Genome Institute also worked with keep the dialogue meetings going. As it The Genome Institute website will be the Cleveland Marshall Law School to host looks now, these will probably be held in accessed through its own URL, the Global a groundbreaking conference focusing on key communities throughout the United Academy homepage (www.theglobal genetic discrimination in employment and States and around the globe. The format is academy.org), or RMI’s website insurance. The conference, called “Genes likely to be that of a typical town hall (www.rmi.org). and Justice,” saw some remarkable meeting—orderly yet inclusive. discussion. Also for this year, we are in the process of

RMISolutions page 17 Spring 2002 RMI News Texas SEED Coalition, an Austin-based environmental group. “It was a pleasure to be part of the renewed it.) The interview has been added to our public debate on the important issue of website, at www.rmi.org/sitepages/ global climate change,” Rábago noted. pid513.php, and a transcript is available The broadcast is available online at online at www.rmi.org/sitepages/ http://realserver.bu.edu:8080/ramgen/w/ art7232.php and www.pbs.org/now/tran- b/wbur/oneunionstation/2002/02/spc_0 script/transcript_full.html (scroll down). 218b.rm. Meanwhile, on 6 February, RMI’s co-CEO (Research) Amory Lovins appeared on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation. RMI Website The subject of the broadcast was U.S. Growing Like RMI’s Hunter Lovins being inter- viewed by Bill Moyers on Now. dependence on foreign oil. NPR’s Neil a Weed Conan interviewed some of the big players As most supporters know, our website is in the current oil/energy debate, including RMItes Getting growing quickly—indeed, faster than we Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), a leading know how to feed it. It is the repository for Lots of proponent of drilling in the Arctic National everything RMItes do, and is becoming a Bigtime Air Wildlife Refuge and the ranking member of key reference for academics, policymakers the Energy & Natural Resources No—we’ve not been snowboarding in the and educators. Recently, we gathered the Committee. John Podesta of the Natural Olympics. Rather, RMI has been receiving a numbers on the website, and found out a Resources Defense Council and Charlene gratifying amount of broadcast press cov- few statistics about www.rmi.org. erage in recent months, primarily because Coon of The Heritage Foundation also “During the first week of 2002, RMI’s work in energy, security, and appeared on the broadcast. It can be heard www.rmi.org averaged over 1900 visitors resource efficiency has become more at http://search.npr.org/cf/ per day!” said RMI Webmaster Bill Simon. important that ever. cmn/cmnpd01fm.cfm?PrgDate=02/06/20 02&PrgID=5. “Our visitors are primarily from North “The recent media interest in RMI is a great America and Europe, but with our website, Amory had been featured on the same pro- indication of the quality of our work and RMI’s information is reaching users in gram on 3 January, talking about our ability to speak about it,” said Jenny Japan, India, Malaysia, China, Belgium, HypercarsTM . Constable, RMI Media Director. “All of Poland, Turkey, and Korea—to name a few these recent interviews are available on the Finally, on 20 February, RMI’s Karl Rábago countries. web, and are well worth checking out.” appeared on WBUR (Boston University) “The site is chock-full of information about radio’s On Point show, hosted by Jack Bill Moyers, PBS’s veteran journalist anchor everything RMI: research, staff, facilities. Beatty. The topic was President Bush’s recently launched a new show, Now, and Currently it’s at 555 pages, but it’s growing recent climate change policy, and the dis- RMI’s co-CEO (Strategy), Hunter Lovins, every week. Some sections worth noting cussion is excellent (especially Karl’s was one of his first guests. are: the ‘Library’ of free downloadable points). “Under the Bush plan, companies Moyers’s topic for the 18 January broadcast PDFs; the ‘Bookstore’ of RMI publications; would be given tax breaks and other incen- was President Bush’s energy plan. Lovins ‘Newsletter(s)’ (current and back issues); tives to cut back on emissions,” explains was featured shortly after interviews with our ‘Calendar of Events’ page; the ‘RMI for WBUR’s website. “Rather than focusing on Larry Klayman of Judicial Watch, Dan Kids’ page; and how to ‘Support RMI’. Wait cutting overall greenhouse emissions, the Becker of the Sierra Club, and environmen- until you see what we’ve got planned for Bush plan seeks to cut ‘greenhouse gas talist Tom Smith, and with typical panache, 2002!” intensity,’ or the amount of gases emitted explained clearly and concisely how U.S. Between 1 and 20 December 2001, energy policy lacks common sense. per million dollars of economic output.” Along with Rábago, Beatty interviews Vijay www.rmi.org averaged 1,631 visitors per (Indeed, Hunter was so effective that sev- day. The ten highest ranking pages were: eral broadcast viewers sent accolades for Vaitheeswaran, environment and energy The Economist 1. “Recent Hypercar News,” with 1,980 her “voice of reason,” as one supporter put correspondent with in London, and Peter Altman, Director of the visitors; 2. “Energy,” with 1,766 visitors; 3.

page 18 Dear Rocky NEWS (CONT’D) M

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“Natural Capitalism Research and Consulting Overview,” with 1,755 visi- tors; 4. “About RMI,” with 1,605 visi- Dear Rocky Mountain Institute, by Amory B. tors; 5. “Fall/Winter 2001 Newsletter Having just read your paper “A Strategy Lovins PDF,” with 1,604 downloads; 6. “The for the Hydrogen Transition,” my wife Hypercar Concept,” with 1,412 visitors; Karen and I have a couple of questions 7. “Library/Energy,” with 1,227 visi- about hydrogen. What are the environ- tors; 8. “Current Newsletter,” with mental repercussions of large-scale electrolyzed water (in which case the 1,179 visitors; 9. “Buildings and Land,” hydrogen production? with 1,153 visitors; and 10. “Education water is simply returning to the hydrologic and Outreach,” with 1,088 visitors. Virtually none negative (using a climate- cycle from whence it came). As for Brittle Power, the remarkable, safe method) and many positive. It could be Globally, more than two-thirds of the fossil- out-of-print 1982 work on energy inse- environmentally bad if done in a dumb fuel atoms being burned today are not curity by Amory and Hunter Lovins, it way, such as splitting water with electricity carbon but hydrogen, and that fraction is saw a rather large number of downloads from coal-fired or nuclear power plants, but rising as part of the normal “decarboniza- in the roughly three-week period in those are typically uneconomic. tion” of the fuel mix as the mix shifts. The December—539. nominal formulae are C2H to CH for coal, CH2 for oil, CH4 for natural gas, and H2 for pure hydrogen, so you can work this out RMI Books Still What are the environmental repercussions from the respective tonnages of fuel burned. Selling Well of adding large amounts of water to our ecosystem due to Hypercar vehicle As of early Fall, Natural Capitalism had exhaust? sold a whopping 42,500 hardcover How much water per mile would be pro- copies (with publisher Little, Brown and Favorable net, because burning gasoline in duced by a Hypercar vehicle? Co. reporting 5,500 left in stock) in the present cars adds a lot more water. Since John Sheridan, via email United States, along with 22,500 paper- gasoline has a formula close to CH2, every backs. In the United Kingdom, carbon atom burned also yields one water The Revolution concept SUV as currently Earthscan, the British publisher, said molecule. Fuel cells are more than twice— designed would use 7.5 pounds of H to go recently that figures for UK sales are 2 nearer 3–4 times—as efficient as internal 330 miles, or 0.0227 pounds of H /mile. 4,570 (hardback) and 4,010 (paperback) 2 combustion engines (fuel to wheels), so Since hydrogen has a molecular weight of to date. It is also in Chinese, Danish, water emissions go down. Moreover, the one and oxygen 16, 0.0227 pounds of H German, Italian, Japanese, and 2 kinds of cars we favor (www.hypercar.com) in the form of water weighs 0.0227 x 18/2 Portuguese, with more languages on are also several times more efficient. For = 0.204 pounds of H O/mile, or 0.093 the way. 2 example, Hypercar, Inc.’s Revolution con- liter/mile, or 0.0245 U.S. gallons/mile— “Both are still continuing to sell well cept car is 5–5.5 times as efficient as a less however much you turn into coffee in and we are promoting it at every oppor- normal midsize SUV in its class, so they’d the proposed dashboard dispenser and tunity,” said Earthscan’s Nim Moorthy reduce water emissions by at least 2.5 drink! recently. “I think it is well on its way to times. And of course the water released by —Amory Lovins becoming an Earthscan classic!” a fuel cell comes from either natural gas (in Editor’s note: There will be a quiz on Meanwhile, Green Development: which case the oxygen was already in the Monday! Integrating Ecology and Real Estate, atmosphere and the H2 in the ground) or RMI’s classic 1998 work on the subject, has sold 4,527 copies and is in its sixth printing.

RMISolutions page 19 Spring 2002 Unique Green Building and Compiled by Ben Shepherd and Development Projects Lauren Yarmuth

Now on CD-ROM

Editor’s note: RMI’s Green Development Services recently released Green Developments 2.0 CD-ROM, a well-organized and beautifully illustrated work by GDS’s Ben Shepherd and Lauren Yarmuth (with additional review by other GDS staffers). It includes project descriptions, information on financing, marketing, and returns on green building projects around the world. To order your copy, send check or money order for $25.50 (which includes postage) to RMI, 1739 Snowmass Creek Road, Snowmass CO 81654-9199 or visit www.rmi.org. In this issue of RMI Solutions, we highlight a

few of the more unusual and interesting projects featured in Green Developments 2.0. Photo: Ecolonia

CHESAPEAKE BAY Environmental Center is the Chesapeake Building Type: New Construction FOUNDATION Bay Foundation’s new headquarters and Project Size: 87,500 square feet the first building to receive the U.S. Green Location: Annapolis, Maryland Project Description: Ecolonia is an eco- Building Council’s highest LEED rating of Country: USA logical housing project developed to influ- platinum. In design, construction and oper- ence the integration of sustainable design Owner/developer: Chesapeake Bay ation, the Center reflects the Foundation’s and building into the Dutch market. The Foundation mission to protect and restore the Bay and main focus is on energy, materials, and Architect: Smith Group is a valuable resource not only for the 100 organic design based on the Dutch National people who work there, but also for the Completion Date: 2000 Environmental Policy Plan. The design nearly 100,000 members and volunteers of Project Type: Commercial/Office team included Novem (Netherlands Agency the Foundation. Building Type: New Construction for Energy and the Environment), CBF built the Center on a “cradle-to- Bouwfonds—the largest developer of Project Size: 32,000 square feet cradle” philosophy, ensuring that all mate- housing in the country, and Lucien Kroll, a Project Description: The Philip Merrill rials are made of recycled materials or Belgian designer, to devise the urban devel- created through processes that do not opment plan. damage the environment. When materials The project encompasses 101 homes that within the building wear out, they are are one, two and three stories, semi- recycled. The developers have certainly detached, and with a small lake in the undertaken extensive materials research center of the project that serves for recre- and selection, and the Merrill Center may ation and storage. The homes reduce be the world’s “greenest” office building. energy consumption through minimizing heat losses, utilizing passive solar energy ECOLONIA with east/west building orientations, and Location: Alphen aan den Rijn underfloor heating. Country: Netherlands Owner/developer: Bouwfonds CONDÉ NAST BUILDING AT Woningbouw bv, Delft FOUR TIMES SQUARE Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Location: New York, New York Philip Merrill Environmental Completion Date: 1992 Center Project Type: Residential Country: USA page 20 Owner/developer: The Durst Country: USA Organization Owner/developer: Albanese Completion Date: 1999 Development Corporation Project Type: Commercial/Office Completion Date: 2002 Building Type: New Construction Project Type: Residential Project Size: 1,600,000 square feet Building Type: New Construction Location Description: On Times Square Project Size: 92 acres in Manhattan Location Description: In New York City, Project Description: A cornerstone of overlooking the Hudson River redevelopment in New York’s famous Project Description: Manhattan’s Battery Times Square, the Condé Nast Building at Park City will be the first green multifamily Four Times Square is a 47-story office high-rise. The first of six buildings slated for tower with ground floor retail and enter- the area by the Battery Park City Authority tainment space that’s also green and built at (BPCA) is a 25-story, 337,000 square-foot The Heinz Center market rate. The office tower has two dis- apartment building, which broke ground in tinct orientations: the side facing Broadway March of 2001. Project Type: Education takes on the active and dynamic character of Times Square, while the side facing Building Type: New Construction 42nd Street offers more sober characteris- Project Size: 16,520 square feet tics of the mid-town Manhattan business Project Description: The John Heinz community. The building top reflects the Cusano Environmental Center is both a vis- principal structural support system, and it itor center and educational facility. The expresses, in a high-technology style, the Center is located in one of the most urban project’s location at the intersection of settings of the over 500 wildlife refuges in Broadway and 42nd Street—“The the U.S. Fish & Wildlife system. Crossroads of the World.” The major sustainable design features of the The office tower features efficient gas-fired Heinz Cusano Center focus on energy, con- absorption chillers, two fuel cells, and a struction materials and water use. Energy Battery Park City state-of-the-art curtain wall that incorpo- efficiency is helped by a design that maxi- rates photovoltaic panels. The air delivery mizes daylighting, natural ventilation, and The building is expected to be 30 percent system provides 50 percent more fresh air solar heating. Interior lighting is energy-effi- more energy-efficient than state codes than industry codes, setting new standards cient. Added insulation and a geothermal require. A technological approach pushed for interior air quality. A network of recy- heating system will further reduce the up building costs by about 15 percent com- cling chutes serves the whole building. This building’s environmental impact. pared with similar apartments. An average project exemplifies a new standard for con- An ecological wastewater treatment system, apartment is expected to rent for $3,000 a struction processes as well as for the use of the Marsh Machine, will demonstrate the month. The privately financed $95 million sustainable materials. cleaning power of wetlands and make a building will overlook the Hudson River strong statement about the preciousness of and face the Statue of Liberty. The 250 our water resources. In addition, parking units should be completed in late 2002. JOHN HEINZ NATIONAL will be on a porous paving system for The green guidelines were developed for WILDLIFE REFUGE improved stormwater management, and BPCA, Fox & Fowle Architects, Flack & Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rainwater will be harvested for irrigation. Kurtz, RMI, and NRDC. These will cover Country: USA energy efficiency, indoor environmental Owner/developer: U.S. Fish and Wildlife quality, resource conservation, operation Service BATTERY PARK CITY and maintenance, water conservation, and site management. Completion Date: 2000 Location: New York, New York

RMISolutions page 21 Spring 2002 Resources

Choosing Environmentally Preferable Paper By Chris Lotspeich

nd so it is written: paper has been a universal symbol of civi- Alization since ancient cultures pounded and wove reeds into sheets of papyrus. For millennia it has served as a conveyor of knowledge, carrier of ideas and dreams, herald of our triumphs and tragedies, and repository of history. Today most of the world’s paper products are made from trees that are harvested, pulped, and processed in facilities that can cost upwards of a billion dollars each. Paper consumption continues to rise despite increased recycling and the used in the workplace. In 2000, Americans grades and categories, and mixing them Electronic Age promise of the “paperless recovered 48 percent of the paper we use can reduce their value and recyclability. office.” Concerns have also grown about for recycling, totaling roughly 50 million Non-wood fibers are used to make an the environmental impacts associated with tons, an all-time record. We still trail such increasing amount of paper. Which is best, paper production: air and water pollution, countries as Japan and Germany, each of and what are the tradeoffs? lost biodiversity, fire risks, and declining which boasts paper recycling rates in the RMI is regularly asked about the environ- forest and stream health. Yet trees are a low-to mid-50-percent range. mental aspects of paper use and recycling. renewable resource, and many kinds of Paper does not lend itself well to general- I faced many of these same questions paper are recyclable. Efforts to reconcile ization. There are many varied types of when I researched environmentally- the economic benefits and environmental paper for a range of uses. Office paper is friendly paper for printing the book effects of papermaking continue world- made with different fibers, fillers, and Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken, wide. processes than newspaper; newsprint dif- Amory Lovins, and Hunter Lovins. With Americans—especially on the job—use fers from cardboard; and cardboard is the help of our publisher Little, Brown and paper as if it grew on trees, so to speak. A made with techniques and ingredients that Co. and New Leaf Paper company typical office worker goes through roughly differ from those of paperboard (the stuff (www.newleaf.com), we selected New 100–200 pounds of paper annually. The in cereal boxes). Tissue papers, such as Leaf EcoBook 100, an uncoated book United States leads the world in paper use, paper towels and toilet rolls, are in their paper made with 100 percent post-con- but not in recycling (although we’re own category. And for understandable rea- sumer waste, and processed chlorine-free. improving). According to the EPA, paper in sons there isn’t much interest in recycling This product offers environmental benefits, its various forms accounts for 40 percent of them after use. Characteristics including high quality, and cost-competitiveness. all U.S. solid waste. Office paper consti- basis weight, opacity, and brightness differ- This article attempts to address a few of tutes one quarter of that; we still throw entiate paper, even for stationary and the issues involved and to provide a rough away more than 80 percent of the paper printing uses alone. “Waste” or scrap guide for purchasing and managing paper paper is also segregated into differing

page 22 for office and printing applications, consid- paper, in descending order from most to “According to the ering both environmental and economic least environmentally preferable. Cost factors. These opinions are mine, but I varies, and depends on how much paper EPA, paper in its hope you find them useful. you buy. various forms REDUCE,REUSE,RECYCLE 1. Agricultural residues (e.g., straw, accounts for 40 This familiar refrain provides a good guide sugarcane bagasse, banana fiber, etc.). to using resources, including paper. Agricultural residues are byproducts of percent of all U.S. Reducing paper use is always the best first crops grown for other purposes rather step. There are many ways to do this than specifically as pulp and paper feed- solid waste without sacrificing the services that we stocks, but they can be used to produce want from paper: information display and high-quality paper. In this sense, such generated.” storage, portability, and convenience. A residues are considered a “waste” few suggestions include: print and copy product. U.S. agricultural residues alone chased and paper type; typically, the on both sides of office paper. Share sub- could produce enough paper to meet the higher the postconsumer content, the scriptions and use services that help keep world’s needs if fully utilized. Such paper’s higher the cost. Often the cost is competi- you off mailing lists to help reduce junk cost may vary significantly, and is often tive with primary-fiber paper when it is mail and cut costs. You can contact the higher than more common wood-based purchased in larger quantities. Direct Marketing Association and ask to paper because these are newer “specialty” be removed from mailing lists. (Mail products, and are made in smaller lots. (Some analysts prefer post-consumer paper Preference Service, c/o DMA, P.O. Box Unfortunately, some small-scale non-wood to agricultural byproducts, arguing that 9008, Farmingdale NY 11735. The papermaking in poorer countries uses making paper from waste paper is more Center for a New American Dream offers processes that pollute local groundwater. resource-efficient. Both approaches are a similar service—see www.newdream. 2. Postconsumer (wood fiber) recy- important, and I leave it up to you to org/junkmail.) Use email and electronic cled paper. This refers to recycled paper choose. Indeed, mixing recycled fiber document storage rather than printing that has been used by a consumer (person with nonwood fiber for strengthening can out. Perhaps you are reading this RMI or organization), then collected and yield a good blend.) newsletter online, rather than having a returned to a mill to make more paper. In 3. Certified sustainably-harvested paper copy printed out and mailed to you. this sense, postconsumer residues are a wood fiber. This is wood fiber harvested Reuse the blank sides of paper for draft waste product. The “postconsumer” desig- in an environmentally sensitive manner. print jobs or memo pads. Some cardboard nation is important because many paper In some cases the industry concentrates boxes (especially those with a burst companies return presale paper cuttings on making paper from tree species that strength of 200 pounds or more) are and scraps (often called “mill broke”) into are relatively plentiful, and avoids species worth more reused than recycled. the process and call it recycling. This is a that are rare or have high ecological value. positive and desirable practice, but limited The definition of “environmentally sensi- Recycle paper to the fullest extent practi- in its potential scope for reducing use of tive” varies depending upon conditions, as cable. Keep different types of paper sepa- primary or virgin fiber (and thereby there is no official or global standard. rate, as defined by your local recycling reducing tree harvesting), and is not as Various organizations provide certification program or vendor. Purchase paper with ecologically preferable as postconsumer of this process; certain standards and certi- recyclability in mind; for example, reduce paper. Paper cannot be recycled over and fiers are more rigorous and respected than the variety of paper types you buy, and over ad infinitum. A certain percentage of others. The Forest Stewardship Council avoid colored or glossy paper. Buy recy- the wood fibers in postconsumer paper (www.fscoax.org), the Certified Forest cled paper to “close the loop” of recycling. break in the recycling process, so new Products Council (www.certified If you can’t find a local recycling center, fiber is often added over time to maintain wood.org), and the Smartwood Alliance consider shredding paper for animal bed- strength (the quantity and type depending (www.smartwood.org) are among the cer- ding, insulation, or compost. on the paper product). Use the highest tification organizations. Cost varies, but is PURCHASING PREFERENCES percentage of postconsumer fiber content often competitive.

This is a subjective guide to purchasing possible. Cost varies with quantity pur- continued on next page

RMISolutions page 23 Spring 2002 fiber and paper more productively. I rec- Resources: ommend avoiding the purchase of geneti- For an overview of these issues and solutions, see Natural Capitalism’s cally modified organisms (GMOs). Chapter Nine, “Nature’s Filaments” (www.natcap.org). Basis weight. This refers, in effect, to the • Conservatree offers information on environmentally preferable paper issues: weight and thickness of each sheet of paper. Reducing basis weight can save www.conservatree.com paper without changing the number of • Co-op America’s WoodWise consumer guide: www.woodwise.org pages you are using, essentially by “light- • Environmental Defense’s “Action Guide to Greener Paper”: weighting” each piece. But before you put www.ed.org/pubs/Brochures/GreenerPaper/ your paper on a diet, consult with your colleagues and clients to be sure that the • Rainforest Action Network’s “Cut Waste, Not Trees” and “The Wood strength, opacity, and other factors you all User’s Guide”: www.ran.org desire or require are satisfied. • Resource Conservation Alliance offers paper and wood waste reduction Environmental Defense changed its information: www.rca-info.org newsletter from 61-pound basis weight paper to lighter 47-pound stock, a 25 per- • The SimpleLife “Guide to Tree-Free, Recycled, and Certified Papers”: cent reduction in paper used to provide www.simplelife.com the same number of pages—or, put another way, to provide the same surface area for communicating the desired 4. Purpose-grown non-wood fiber from plantation trees over paper made number of words and images. Johnson & crops (e.g., hemp, kenaf, bamboo). from hemp or kenaf. I believe that some Johnson reduced one product’s packaging These non-tree plants are grown to pro- high-yield tree species—even in planta- basis weight from 30-pound to 28-pound duce fibers for making paper. (These are tions—provide greater ecological services paper, saving 230,000 pounds of paper and not “waste” fibers, in contrast to agricul- than a comparable acreage of high-fiber $450,000 per year. In another product tural residues, which are byproducts of non-wood crops such as hemp or kenaf. group, carton sizes were reduced, parti- plants grown for other purposes). Cost But many [if not most] tree plantations are tions eliminated, and printed inserts down- varies but is typically higher than wood- not managed in an environmentally sized, saving 132,750 pounds of folding fiber paper, due to smaller-scale produc- optimal manner.) cardboard, 523,000 pounds of corrugated tion, less investment in harvesting and A FEW OTHER FACTORS FOR cardboard, and about $990,000 annually. processing technologies, and other factors. CONSIDERATION Buy in quantity. The more paper of any Organizations that offer further informa- Chlorine. Paper of any fiber source should type you buy at a time, the less each unit tion include Fiber Futures to be as chlorine-free as possible. Chlorine will cost you and the easier it will be to (www.FiberFutures.org), Agripulp is used to bleach paper to make it white, specify (and afford) particular characteris- (www.agripulp.com ), and Vision Paper but its use produces such toxic substances tics such as recycled content or nonwood (for kenaf) (www.visionpaper.com). as dioxins. Oxygen and ozone are two fiber. Consider working with other compa- (Non-wood fiber papers are not easily com- alternative methods for whitening paper. nies and organizations to coordinate bulk pared to wood-based paper, because the Choose unbleached paper wherever buys of environmentally preferable paper. specifics of each situation determine which possible. Agreeing upon the many factors such as approach is more or less environmentally Genetic manipulation. Forest products roll size, brightness, basis weight, and preferable. Such comparisons can be diffi- companies are increasing research on and storage may not be easy, but such coordi- cult and controversial. I suggest that you use of genetically modified tree species to nation can save money and maximize do your homework and decide for your- increase, for example, the rate and amount environmental benefit. Consult with a self. I generally prefer using non-wood of growth. In general I don’t think it is broker, who may be able to help arrange fibers where they have been grown in a worth the risk to create new species and larger-volume purchases, as well as more benign way than fiber from even sus- propagate them into the environment, as research specialty paper providers. tainably-managed forests. However, in cer- there are safer alternatives such as using tain circumstances I prefer paper made

page 24 a ton of newsprint, and roughly 2–3 tons of wood to make a ton of office copier or printer paper. Each Sunday edition of The New York Times uses about 75,000 trees; a large paper mill can consume about 75 acres of clearcut trees per day. World paper demand is growing steadily. However, this does not mean that trees and forests cannot be saved, nor that a deforested future is fate. Rather, it implies that the future is choice, not fate, and that the choice can be made with great flexi- RMI ON PAPER bility. The more systematic, pervasive, and comprehensive are the savings, the more As a leader in promoting resource effi- forest extraction will be avoided regardless ciency, RMI is making every effort to of the reallocation of demand pressures support those companies producing the and supply flows. If you want to make a very best in recycled papers. We have balloon smaller, don’t just squeeze it one made a major commitment to using place and make it bulge somewhere else; recycled papers that are manufactured rather, let out some air. More efficient and chlorine-free. We use soy-based inks productive use of wood fiber at every stage whenever possible, and printers that are of the forest products sector—from the environmentally committed. As you tree through the mills to the consumer and may have noticed, RMI is now identi- recycler—could allow us to reduce the fying the paper style and company on all world’s wood consumption cost-effectively our printed materials where it is appli- by 50 percent, and possibly by as much as cable. In the case of this newsletter, we 80 percent or more. Every twig’s worth of found that New Leaf’s 60-pound Eco- paper we conserve adds up to help reduce Offset paper best suited our needs. the demand for more logging. By using more smarts and less stuff, each of us can pitch in at home and at work to help Paper rolling through the Glenwood Springs Post-Independent’s press. supply the services people want from A typical five-edition-per-week newspaper, with a circulation of 12,000, wood with less harm to our environment. uses roughly 4,039 pounds of newsprint per day. Photo: Jeremy Heiman

Conserving paper saves trees. A pri- In a basic sense, most forest products com- Chris Lotspeich, an independent con- mary motivation of paper recycling and panies use wood quite efficiently; a tree sultant and former RMI Senior Associate, conservation is to reduce logging. But it is might be cut for lumber, with smaller researched and negotiated the use of the hard to equate quantities of paper saved to pieces and chips going to paper produc- paper in the book Natural Capitalism. He quantities of wood or acres of forest pre- tion, and sawdust powering the sawmill or also conducted the research that formed served. There are many variables involved: paper mill. Non-fiber byproducts of pulp the basis for Natural Capitalism’s Chapter supply and demand dynamics, multiple and paper production, such as “black Nine, “Nature’s Filaments” (see potential uses for a given tree (e.g., many liquor” delignification wastes, are often www.natcap.org). He can be reached at paper or lumber products), co- and by- burned at the mill for energy. [email protected]. products, differing paper production Still, the less paper we use, the fewer trees methods and ingredients, wood moisture will be harvested. In general, it takes a content, etc. little more than one ton of wood to make

RMISolutions page 25 Spring 2002 Donor Spotlight

environmental matters crystallized through his creation of The Next Generation (see Doug Linney: a Truly www.nextgeneration.org/), which he founded in 1996 to assist in the political Concerned Citizen aspects of environmental fights. “I enjoy the energy and the finality of campaigns,” hen you read ment. “We urge voters to he notes. “You work really hard, make your about Doug elect Linney for EBMUD best case to the voters, and on a date cer- Linney on his Ward 5.” The list of com- W tain, a decision is made. Then you get to website (www.nextgener munity leaders who sup- move onto the next campaign. It’s real ation.org/linneyforeb ported Linney includes time, and real world. It keeps me in touch mud/) for the November dozens of leaders and organ- with how people are thinking and feeling 2000 East Bay Municipal izations from the Bay Area about the environment. Utility District’s (EBMUD) and the state government. Ward 5 board of directors Although he had two oppo- “One of the most exciting campaigns I’ve election, two things nents in the race, Linney been involved in lately was managing the quickly spring to mind. still managed to pull in a effort to pass a $100 million solar and First, Linney knows what he’s doing. whopping 55 percent of the vote. After his renewable energy bond for the City of San Second, Californians know Linney knows first year, he said, “While EBMUD already Francisco [see page 8]. It was supported what he’s doing, and they support him. has a great environmental ethic, I think very enthusiastically by every sector of the San Francisco community and won with 73 A longtime clean water and clean air advo- there is much more it can do in both the percent. There is now interest from many cate (among other things), Linney has been energy and water efficiency areas. other cities in passing similar measures.” up to his eyes in politics for over 20 years, “I’ve always been very political,” he said the last six of those as head of The Next recently. “In high school, one of my pas- Linney also keeps himself in touch through Generation (TNG), a Bay Area-based polit- sions was politics—I would go to political his hobbies, which reflect his great love of ical campaign management firm. TNG rallies for presidential candidates and walk the outdoors and his passion for action. “I helps individuals, organizations, and busi- precincts before I was old enough to vote. regularly bicycle to work—15 miles round- nesses in political campaigns with cam- I gradually became an environmentalist in trip,” he notes, “And I ride centuries (100 paign management, political and college during the mid-70s, inspired by my miles) three or four times a year. I’m also a communications strategies, and grassroots professors in environmental studies and by very avid guitar player and whitewater organizing. The organization has success- environmental leaders such as David rafter.” fully worked on campaigns to protect nat- Brower, Amory Lovins, and Mark DuBois.” Before his work with TNG and EBMUD, ural areas of California, slow global Most Californians who’ve had any interest Linney was Political Director for the warming and pollution, conserve and clean in environmental issues in the last half cen- California League of Conservation Voters up water, and a raft of other political and tury have found themselves attracted to (CLCV). He currently serves on the board environmental issues. But Linney has the activities of the late David Brower, a of directors for CLCV, the Planning and always kept himself out of political office— former RMI board member. Although Conservation League, and the Coalition for at least until the EBMUD seat came along. many never make the connection between Clean Air. Linney has been married for 17 “I thought it would be a great chance for energy and the environmental benefits of years and with his wife Susan has two chil- me to help shape environmental policies efficiency, Linney did, and he’s been a fan dren, Olivia (12) and Spenser (8). They live from a slightly different perspective,” of Brower protégé Amory Lovins ever since in Alameda. Linney said in a recent interview. the latter wrote Soft Energy Paths (1977). “As environmentalists, it’s our role not only “… As an avowed environmentalist, we Linney grew up in San Jose, California, and to point out the many environmental prob- believe Linney will constantly prod the dis- has always lived in the Golden State. He lems that are wreaking havoc with our trict to continue placing water conserva- received his BS from U.C. Davis in envi- planet,” he said, “but to craft elegant and tion measures at the top of its priority list,” ronmental science and public policy. politically acceptable solutions to solve wrote the Oakland Tribune in an endorse- Linney’s long-standing interest and work in these problems.”

page 26 Board Spotlight

Ruth Adams RMI Board Member

MI Board member Ruth Adams believes that current events portend an active future for RMI, in energy and Rsecurity issues. Adams was elected to RMI’s Board of Directors in 1997 on the strength of a career full of contributions in the field of world secu- rity. Energy security is inextricably intertwined with U.S. involve- ment in the Middle East, she said, and the events of 2001 will draw RMI deeper into the national and international discussion of security. “RMI has a busy future,” Adams said, “because energy is the overwhelming issue in our present situation.” Now retired, Adams is the former editor of Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, “a magazine of science and world affairs.” She first met Amory Lovins when she published one of his articles in the Bulletin. Though she doesn’t work for the publication any more, Adams is still quite active in the security arena. In addition to serving on RMI’s Board, she’s on the Federation of Atomic Italian Pugwash Group has a special focus on youth, with many of Scientists’ National Council, and she’s active in work to eliminate its participants in their 20s. the threat of nuclear weapons. “It remains a very serious matter,” And just recently, Adams stepped down from her post as Board she said. Chairwoman at the Institute for Policy Studies, a group that does Adams also continues to participate in other global security research and exerts influence in the areas of global economic jus- forums. She has for many years participated in an ongoing series of tice, sustainable communities, economic and social rights, security, world security discussions called the International Conferences of and culture. Scientists on World Affairs, better known as the Pugwash Adams was also program director for the MacArthur Foundation, Conferences, held since 1957. The purpose of the Pugwash which has provided support to RMI. (Amory Lovins is the recip- Conferences is to bring together, from around the world, influen- ient of a MacArthur Fellowship.) tial scholars and public figures concerned with reducing the Though energy security, and global security generally, are impor- danger of armed conflict and seeking cooperative solutions for tant issues for RMI, other aspects of the Institute’s work are global problems. The Pugwash Conferences take their name from equally important, Adams asserts. Instituting the concepts laid out the location of the first meeting, the village of Pugwash, Nova in the 1999 book Natural Capitalism could have a huge influence Scotia, Canada. Adams is now involved in organizing the 51st on the use of resources worldwide. Pugwash Conference, now scheduled for San Diego in August. “One of the most dynamic moves RMI has made has been the She is also a course director for Isodarco, the International School publication of Natural Capitalism,” she said. on Disarmament and Research on Conflicts, also known as the Italian Pugwash Group. This is an Italian-based NGO that brings —Jeremy Heiman together people with a great variety of experiences and approaches relating to security problems. Isodarco held sessions and published books relating to terrorism as early as the 1970s, long before this subject became fashionable with mainstream security analysts. The

RMISolutions page 27 Spring 2002 Education RMI’s Distance- Learning Project Unfolds By David Payne oped an educational system for use over a special format that allows portions of it to great distances—much like telecommuting link to a website. The website has up-to- n Business Dynamics: Systems systems used by college students. date information, recent case studies, Thinking and Modeling for a Complex updated links to other websites, download- World, author John Sterman wrote, The subject matter for our “distance- I able documents, and discussion servers. “Accelerating economic, technological, learning” project is natural capitalism, the Interactive programs in support of the social and environmental change challenge rapidly-spreading business philosophy. module, including videoconferencing and managers and policymakers to learn at “NatCap” provides many models for live web chat sessions, will be offered on a increasing rates, while at the same time the enhancing profits while solving problems case-by-case basis. complexity of the systems in which we live and increasing competitive advantage, as is growing. Many of the problems we now well as a framework for moving toward an The module will be tested at an executive economy that takes into account the true training center in São Paulo, Brazil, called value of these resources. Our initial audi- the Amana-Key Institute. Amana-Key has ences are in Brazil, where RMI has been over 4,000 corporate executives in its working with diverse organizations for sev- active alumni group. RMI will also dis- eral years. tribute the program through various execu- NATURAL CAPITALISM AND tive education and university graduate WHOLE-SYSTEMS THINKING school programs as well as directly through the RMI website. The always far-sighted Simply put, whole-systems thinking is Farley Sheldon, our late Development about seeing the big picture—all the Director, really believed in this program players in a system and how they fit and felt its potential was vast. together. It’s also about understanding how Undoubtedly, she’ll be right once again. and why impacts on one part of the system affect other parts of the system. Whole-sys- NEXT STEPS Dave Payne, the consummate tems thinking also allows us to identify the The UWS project is the first initiative in teacher, with schoolkids at RMI’s “high-leverage points” in systems, avoiding RMI’s emerging educational program, the headquarters. It was RMI’s extensive educational activities costly, superficial, symptom-oriented solu- Natural Capitalism Academy. In the from which the distance learning tions that often cause more problems than coming year, the NatCap Academy’s dis- project grew. Photo: Cameron M. Burns they solve. tance-learning program will offer modules So how do you apply whole-systems on a broad range of topics—appropriate for face arise as unanticipated side effects of thinking to your business, your home, and audiences with interests and expertise in our own past actions. All too often, policies your life? These questions are answered in business, government, and civil society. we implement to solve important problems the Understanding Whole Systems (UWS) The modules will include introductions to fail, make the problem worse, or create learning module, a self-directed interactive the environmental, social, and financial new problems.” learning program. The UWS learning implications of natural capitalism, along It’s important to know our past so we can module will take the combined form of a with practical tools and exercises for imple- avoid problems in our future. In a nutshell, CD-ROM and website. menting NatCap. Ultimately, the NatCap that means education. Much of RMI’s mis- Academy will develop active “learning The CD-ROM features readings and case sion has traditionally focused on educa- communities” focused on issues related to stories, video and audio clips, and sup- tion—from individual homeowners who natural capitalism. The Understanding porting tools and exercises. Case studies as want to go off the grid to world leaders Whole Systems project is the first step on diverse as Hypercar, Inc. and Midwestern looking for sensible energy policies. Now, this exciting new path. Come join in and corn farming are used to teach the subject we’re going farther, so to speak. With gen- learn with us by surfing over to www.nat and demonstrate its relevance. erous support from the Overbrook and capacademy.org/uws/! Summit Foundations and from R.E.M. (yes, Additionally, because CD-ROMs can the rock band), RMI has recently devel- become obsolete quickly, ours will come in

page 28 What Are You Doing? BOB WILKINSON From watershed management to cli- mate change, the logic of multiple benefits based on JENNY JOANIE existing technolo- Bob Wilkinson CONSTABLE HENDERSON gies and sound I’m charged with I have been working investment is increasingly becoming a promoting RMI’s with Hunter Lovins theme in my work. An EPA-sponsored work to the on her next book, project I’m running for RMI is exploring media—from The Human the multiple benefits of air pollution pre- national television Dimensions of vention and the reduction of greenhouse to small town news- Natural Capitalism, gas emissions. We’re exploring exciting Jenny Constable Joanie papers. Just keeping Henderson which is the sequel opportunities ranging from intelligent land- track of the many projects going on in the to Natural Capitalism: Creating The Next use planning (like Village Homes in Davis, building is a big task, but it’s important Industrial Revolution. By exploring California) and green building strategies because I have to explain our complex motives, such as that which would compel (see GDS’s work) to energy efficiency, ideas to members of the media—some- a person to help someone on a neighbor- renewable energy options, and transporta- times to folks who’ve never heard of us. hood street corner or make a powerful CEO tion alternatives. (Check out the Lovinses’ decide she will turn her company upside- 1997 climate paper on RMI’s website.) In the past, RMI’s media work has been down to become socially responsible, this Similar multiple benefits approaches are very reactive, only responding to inquiries new work guides the reader through the appearing in the RMI work I’m doing with that we receive. As part of an effort to get human facets of the movement toward sus- the Inland Empire Utilities Agency in our word out to different audiences around tainability. Southern California. Local water manage- the world, I’m working on ways to make it ment options, including efficiency more proactive. This starts with simple I have also been working on the develop- improvements, local groundwater research and a well-organized database, so ment of the Natural Capitalism Academy. recharge, and pollution prevention, are we’ll know who might be interested in This is a joint endeavor of RMI and The being linked together in ways that save sig- doing stories on RMI’s specialties. I also Global Academy to bring the principles of nificant amounts of energy, water, and follow up with timely information for inter- natural capitalism to the forefront as the wastewater, as well as greenhouse gas ested media outlets and work on long-term central organizing principle of business. emissions. All of these opportunities are relationships with our best contacts. Additionally, until recently I’ve been cost-effective, technically feasible, and Eventually, I hope that our work with the laboring away on the Oberlin College: environmentally beneficial. The common media and other public outreach efforts Climate Neutral by 2020 project. This is a theme in this work is sound investment in will make RMI a household name and a very exciting and ambitious undertaking. technologies and techniques that are source that reporters turn to for high- All sources of greenhouse gases were inven- designed to achieve more than one ben- quality, cutting-edge information. toried within the college boundaries, reduc- efit. An important opportunity in this work tion scenarios designed, and methods of is to develop both information and policy mitigating the remaining emissions devel- strategies that support, encourage, and oped as a means of making Oberlin College incentivize these investments. a climate neutral campus by the year 2020.

RMISolutions page 29 Spring 2002 rewards only asking rather than solid work A Hearty Thanks to All • reasons that individual giving is disorgan- Dale Levy, Development Director ized: individual donors are ashamed of the little amount they give; donors are disillu- everal years ago I witnessed a changes he or she sioned about effectiveness of charities and woman’s joy when she gave $1 wants. Concepts don’t know how to establish a smart, Smillion to an organization from the book organized plan; people are overwhelmed helping people in developing nations. This include: with the sheer number of requests; and woman knew what she wanted to do with • when you donate many are unsure of how much they can her money, she was intentional, and the money to a cause afford to give—it’s important to find out result was purposefulness, power, and hap- you believe in, • creating a giving plan will not only make piness. Such joy isn’t limited to the you’re giving power you a more effective giver, it will make you wealthy. • write a check that doesn’t break the an inspired giver Inspired Philanthropy: Creating a Giving bank; you’ll be lighter on your feet • the ability to respond to crises is one of Plan, by Tracy Gary and Melissa Kohner, • seven out of ten Americans—a far greater traditional philanthropy’s strongest assets. provides suggestions for giving. The percentage than Americans who vote—give Progressive philanthropy, on the other authors’ basic premise is that by learning away money to nonprofits hand, analyzes and responds more to cause how to match your giving with your than effect. And, last but not least values, you can make your charitable giving • impulsive giving is not good stewardship • knowing what you feel passionate about catalytic. They supply narrative as well as of resources, probably does not promote is the first step. exercises to help a person bring about the the deepest values of the donor, and

Staff Spotlight Michael Kinsley

talent for painting is not generally a résumé require- Kinsley rarely spends more than two hours ment for economic development consultants. But on an outdoor painting, but often paints AMichael Kinsley, co-founder of Rocky Mountain larger canvases based on his smaller out- Institute’s Economic Renewal department, re-creates scenes door efforts. He maintains a studio in a around his Colorado home in vibrantly colored oil paintings, char- corner of his living room, where he touches up acterized by brushwork reminiscent of the impressionist or post- his field paintings and executes the larger works. His painting, like impressionist schools of painting. every artist’s, has changed and evolved. His medium went from Kinsley, now 54, started painting at the age of 40. “I just had a pastels to oil paints. His compositions, at first landscape fragments hankering to do it,” he said. He had no training in art, but his or studies, evolved into more sweeping, complete scenes. His father was a hobby painter, as was one of his more influential brush strokes have gotten stronger and his technique has loos- teachers in school. ened up. “Some people would call it impressionist,” he said of his style. Painting has an important place Kinsley’s life, though he is also an “But it’s not impressionist in the strict sense of the definition.” His enthusiastic skier, hiker, and whitewater kayaker. He’s received work, he said, is influenced by the painting of Paul Cézanne and recognition in the form of awards at the Glenwood Springs Fall Edgar Payne, a California impressionist. He’s also learned a lot Art Festival, and he sells perhaps three paintings per year. He’s from his friendship and study with three Russian artist-teachers had paintings in several local art shows, and in the past has who regularly visit the Aspen area to teach and show their work. shown work in two Aspen galleries. His paintings have also graced the covers of RMI’s annual reports and adorn the walls of Self-taught at first, Kinsley has attended a number of workshops RMI’s Southeast Annex. that have sharpened his technique. He paints in oils, going straight to the canvas without a preliminary sketch. His paintings Kinsley’s decision to take up painting was colored in one way by are almost always landscapes, though he occasionally paints a still- his work at RMI. “I think one of the reasons I do it is that what life or a portrait. Carrying a compact paint set, he paints along we do here is to create long-term, broad-scale change,” he said. hiking trails and roadsides. He prefers the low-angle light of “You don’t get to see the immediate results of your work. In con- morning or evening, looking for man-made elements, such as a trast, a painter sees immediate results from each brush stroke. In road, a house, or a ruin to bring harder lines into a composition. that way, it’s unambiguous.” page 30 —Jeremy Heiman Institute Supporters RMISolutions

RMI Solutions is published three times a year and Our sincere distributed to more than 10,000 readers (by mail appreciation is Edward L. Bakewell, III Jan & Robert K. Kuramoto and online) in the United States and throughout offered to these friends Leslie & Rutgers Barclay Tim Lane, Peak Experiences Int’l, who have contributed to the world. © 2002 Rocky Mountain Institute. All Inc. RMI between 1 Septem- Carol & William Beale rights reserved. Laura & Gary M. Lauder ber and 31 December 2001. Annie & Mac Stewart Bell Letters to the Editor Numbers in parentheses Susanne B.Bush Ann M. Lawler indicate multiple dona- Nancy & Robert H. Campbell Elaine & Robert Le Buhn Foundation We want to hear your comments. Please address tions. Please let us know Marion E. Cass & Stephen J. Doig The Leighty Foundation all correspondence to: if your name has been Robin & Dan W. Catlin Charles W. Lemke Cameron M. Burns, Editor omitted or misspelled so Robin & Dan W. Catlin & The Howard Ann Lennartz “B” Rocky Mountain Institute it can be corrected in the P.Colhoun Family Foundation Susan & Arthur S. Lloyd 1739 Snowmass Creek Road next issue. Maxwell O.B. Caulkins Gerald Lovins, in memory of Farley Snowmass, CO 81654-9199 Ralph Cavanagh & Deborah Rhodes Sheldon BENEFACTORS tel: (970) 927-3851 Betsy & James J. Chaffin, Jr. Amory Lovins, in loving memory of $10,000+ Farley fax: (970) 927-3420 Yvon Chouinard Rachel & Adam Albright L. Hunter Lovins & Robert W. Noiles [email protected] Sandy & Albert Christensen, in www.rmi.org Anonymous (4) memory of Leda & Nephi Elizabeth Anne McCleary & W. ARIA Foundation Christensen Michael Fagen As a leader in promoting resource efficiency, RMI Joan & Robert Arnow Nancy Clanton, Clanton & Assoc., Inc. James McGreen is making every effort to support those companies Laurence D. Belfer Anne K. Clare Leslie & Mac A. McQuown producing the very best in recycled papers by Caulkins Family Foundation Sarah R. Cole Gail Merrill using it for all our printed materials. This publica- The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Virginia M. Collier, in memory of Roy Hideo Miki, in memory of Eric tion is printed on New Leaf EcoOffset (100% Konheim Gap Foundation W. Collier post-consumer waste, processed chlorine-free). Nancy Milliken & Sergei Smirnoff, Jr. Margie & John Haley,in memory of Anne S. Cooke Contact New Leaf Paper for more information, Margaret Dickard Jackson Arthur & Barbara M. Crocker Helen & James T.Mills 1-888-989-5323. No new trees were used in the Heineman Foundation Cathryn & Thomas F.Crum Barbara Mitchell & Robert Boyar production of this newsletter, and we offer paper- William and Flora Hewlett Mary & Myron Curzan Cyndi & Jerry M. Mix less electronic delivery via our website. Foundation Daniel Family Foundation, Inc. Money/Arenz Foundation, Inc. W.Alton Jones Foundation Kevin J. Moriarity About the Institute Amy & J. Matthew Davidson J.M. Kaplan Fund, Inc. Martha H. Davis David Muckenhirn Rocky Mountain Institute is an entrepreneurial Patricia & William H. Kleh Michael Edesess & Dyan Zaslowsky, Reuben Munger nonprofit organization that fosters the efficient Matt A. Klein & the Kwyjibo in memory of Farley Sheldon Joan & Carter Norris and restorative use of resources to create a Charitable Foundation Marshall Field Prof. & Mrs. Richard L. Ottinger secure, prosperous, and life-sustaining world. Adam Lewis & Christie Interlante (2) Angela & Jeremy Foster PacificCorp Alida R. Messinger Charitable Lead Fox Family Foundation PAJwell Foundation Our staff shows corporations, communities, indi- Trust No. 1 Fred Fritschel & Carol R. Langner Betty & Anthony P.Pennock viduals, and governments how to create more The Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore G.A.G. Charitable Corporation, Inc. Marty Pickett & Edgell Pyles, in wealth and employment, protect and enhance Foundation John B. Gilpin (2) honor of RMI staff natural and human capital, increase profit and Overbrook Foundation GiveForChange & eGrants.Org Franz P.Reichsman & Judith Bellamy competitive advantage, and enjoy many other The Cissy Patterson Foundation Ted L. Goudvis Caroline & Nelson B. Robinson benefits—largely by doing what they do more Place Fund Jerry Greenfield & Elizabeth Skarie Suzanne & Phillip Ronniger efficiently. Tara Fund Hildegarde & Hunter Hannum Diana & Jonathan F.P.Rose Turner Foundation, Inc. Our work is independent, nonadversarial, and Marcia & John R. Harter Sarah & Edwin M. Roth Jason & Donna Weiss transideological, with a strong emphasis on mar- John Hirschi, in honor of Joanna Mathew Rubin Betty Williams, in memory of Farley ket-based solutions. Hirschi Arent H. Schuyler, Jr. Rampa & Tom Hormel Seymour Schwartz Founded in 1982, Rocky Mountain Institute is a PATRONS Ivan Hull Abigail Seixas & Mark Horowitz §501(c)(3)/509(a)(1) public charity. It has a staff $1,000–$9,999 Charles N. Jaffee & Marvina Adele Simmons of approximately 50. The Institute focuses its Peter B.Adler Lepianka Srinija Srinivasan work in several main areas—business practices, Sharman & David Altshuler Janelia Foundation Alice & Fred Stanback climate, community economic development, American Conservation Association, Kelly & Robert E. Jones Hope & Robert T.Stevens, Jr. energy, real-estate development, security, trans- Inc. Moira & Ward T.Kane Donald Strachan portation, and water—and carries on internation- Anonymous (6) Charles Kaplan Cathie Sullivan & Chris Mechels al outreach and technical-exchange programs. Robert F.Arenz, Jr. Inga & Nicholas J. Karolides (2) Sunheart RMISolutions page 31 Spring 2002 Institute

Supporters Pamela & Ronald B. Castle Richard Fagerstrom Maxwell O.B. Caulkins Mark Falcone Bruce M. Chetty Marcia Feldkamp & Chuck Norlin Robert W. Child, in memory of Tee Child Joseph L. Fernandez Paulett & Ganson P.Taggart Maurice A. Benoit Ziska Childs James & Renate Fernandez Elizabeth & Michael J.Thele Ed Berg Patricia & John W. Christensen Frances & Thomas Fike (2) Etel & Joseph B.Thomas, IV Sue & Charles Bergen Heidi J. Christiansen First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto, CA Andrew Tobias Carol Bertucci Spindler & Henry Carlton Atlee F.Clapp, in honor of Christine H. Jane & John E. Fisher The Walton Family Foundation, Inc. Spindler Clapp, & Robert & Lisa DeFonte.A Donald J. Fleisher gift to the future & to peace. James V.Walzel Alan K. Betts & Karen James Ewan W. Fletcher Linda Cleek Gray & Thomas O. Gray (2), Biomass Energy Resource Ctr. Nancy E. Flint Greene & Joseph W. Stephen F.Wilder in honor of Andy & Barbara Cleek, Greene David Douglas Wilson & Melody Wilder Kurt Bittner Susan & Michael Azar, Sarah Cleek & Working Assets Robert Black, Robert Black Assoc. Chris Gilmore, & Jane & Ed Dingivan Karen Florini Barbara & Gilbert Wynn Mary & Keith Blackmore Carole & Peter Clum Judy & Kenneth G. Foot William C. Blake Jean & John B. Cobb, Jr. Nancy Ford-Cihak, in memory of Daniel Cihak SPONSORS $100–$999 William J. Bliss, in honor of Bob & Harriet Sy Coleman Bliss, Regis Bliss,Ty Bliss,Teresa & Paige & Jeff Forster Jennifer & Paul R.Adams Jonathan Corbet & Laura Compagnoni Bob Bagshaw, & Jeanne & Jerry Gloria & Robert F.Fox Kate L.Adler Marcia A. Corbin Lebsack Ken Fox Henry & Edith E.Allen (2) Janet & William Cordua Jabe Blumenthal & Julie Edsforth Kevin K. Frank Clinton J.Andrews Brownlee Cote Joan & Kevin Bockman Tom Franks & Katherine Hayes Peter Andreyuk Paul Cote John L. Boehne Martha & Ralph E. Frede Anonymous (18) Ellen & David H. Crandall Daniel Bolser Karen Freedman & Roger E.Weisberg Janie Arnold David Crane James A. Boorstein Alison C. Fuller Lloyd Arnold Robert M. Culbert Mr. & Mrs.Allen L. Boorstein Edith Mary & Williamson W. Fuller Barbara A.Askin & J. Kevin Roche Jean Booth Pieretti Marion P.Culhane, in honor of Georgia Pollack Robert H. Gardiner, Jr. Arthur H.Atkinson, in memory of Kenneth David W. Bostrom Atkinson John N. Cunningham David M. Garrett Christie Boulding Graham, Graham Jill & Walter P.Auburn Conrad M. Dahl Amy J. Gerber & Mordie Weintraub, in Contracting, Inc. honor & appreciation of our Tel- Lois-Ellin Datta (4) James A. Babson Paula Bowker Affinity Corporation clients Luan & Donald D. Davis Peter Bacchetti Brian P.Boyer Karen & Kendall A. Gerdes Mary Dale & James E. Deacon Daniel A. Bach Sarah J. Boykin Marian & A. Robert Gerecke, Jr. Rosamond A. Dean, in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Catherine Badgley Steve Brant Ray V.D. Gerhart Walter S. Baer & Jeri L.Weiss Richard Neel, Mr. & Mrs. George George Bremser, Jr. Hoguet, & Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Dean Katherine & Paul W. Gerke Margo Baldwin, in memory of Dana Eleanor Brickham Constance & Al Getman Meadows Mary Alice DeBolt Daniel J. Brimm Frances & John C. Gillin M. Banuazizi, in honor of Karen William Decker Marilyn & Allan F.Brown Fredrickson Katherine Deerwester, in memory of John Theresa & Ben Gleason (2) Betsy S. Brown Judith Barnard & Michael Fain Denver Alice Jean & George E. Gless Alan & Susan Buckley Charles Barth Ruth & Dennis Demmel Prof. & Mrs. Richard H. Goodwin Jonathan W. & Gertrude O. Bulkley Teresa & Don K. Barth Gary Denny Victoria B. Gordon & Robert L. Bradley William C. Bumgarner Mary Louise & Joseph C. Bates Design Group Architects Kira L. Gould Patti & Jules D. Burgevin Jacque Battle & David Frank Libby Dietrich & David Boorkman Daniel Greenberg Shelley Burke (3), in honor of Alison & E. Richard Baugh & Betty Jett Jean & John A. Distler P.A. Greenberg Burke Miller, Cathy & Scott Miller, Eric Lin Doub, Ecofutures Bldg., Inc. Sadja Greenwood Caroline Blair Bauhaus & Mark A. Lara Miller, & Derek Miller Bauhaus Christina E. Duthie Marie A. Grosshuesch & John Mead Louise & Thomas G. Burns Franz Baumann Robert P.Easland, III Richard L. Grossman Stephen Burns Suzanne Bazin Mrs. Charles B. Edison, in honor of Farley Sarah Groves Judi & Bill Burwell A. Jonathan Becker, in honor of Justin Sheldon Margaret B. Gruger (2), in honor of Mr. & William D. Busick Israel, Betsy & Steven Becker, George Ehrhardt Mrs. Raymond S. Havens, Paul F. Nadejda & Yanni Stancroft, Robert & Barbara & David Butler Priscilla Elder & Robert M. Lorenzen, II Harrison, the MacDermotts, & Chuck & Melissa Harrison Sonia Woldow, & Sigrid & Greg Meiris. Judith A. Byrns & Joe L. Bergquist Jason Elliot Kathy & Robert H. Gurland Ruth & David Becker Sally Ann & Thomas J. Cahill Thomas D. Erickson Michelle Gustin-Jones & LeRoy A. Jones Ed Begley,Jr. Louise Candelaria Mark G. Ericson Kay & Robert T.Haines Jeanie & Francis L. Bengtson (2), in Mr. & Mrs. Daniel J. Caplan Margaret & Charles D. Evans honor of Joyce & Joe Murphy Jeff Hanna, Meridian Arts Deborah A. Carapezza Thammy Evans, in memory of Farley Maureen & Joe S. Benincasa Joan & Rob Carne Sheldon Katharine & Goodwin W. Harding, in memory of Philip & Anne Weld Cecelia & William A. Bennett Barbara & Bruce N. Carney Sylvia & William Everett page 32 Institute

John A. Harris, IV Christopher Juniper Supporters Elizabeth B. Hart & Chris Coulling Michelle A. Kahan & Robert M. Fagan Marcia & John R. Harter Marion & Alexander G. Karczmar David Bell Hartwell Kathleen & John D. Kauffman, in memory John Denver Marian & Glenn Head, in honor of Geneva Dolores & Thomas M. Marsh Carol & Richard A. Parrish Group Duncan M. Kaufmann Robert & Siri S. Marshall, in memory of David S. Payne Irene T.Hedstrand Betty Kehler & Bob Pizey Phillip Austin Semmer Bev & David Payne Erica Heftmann & Thomas A. Kraemer John W. Kehoe Marilyn D. Mc Nabb Richard A. Pearl, in memory of Dagmar Colleen & Thomas Heinemann Leslie A. Kelley,in memory of David Tice Jeremy McBryan Scharn Susan & Robert L. Helm Sybil Kelly Susan & Robert J. McCarty Glenda C. Pehrson Edward H. Helm & Dora H. Chu, in Jane Kenyon Patricia B. McClearn Claire & Eugene M. Perricelli memory of Edward L. Helm Charles F.Kettering, III Jean & Joel E. McCormack Hensley & James D. Peterson (2) Joe Henry Ruth & Robert A. Kevan Julie & David McCulloch John C. Peterson Richard & Valerie Hervey Richard & Marianne Kipper Roger McDaniel & Joan F.Morgan The Philanthropic Collaborative, Inc. Molly K. Hiatt Julia & Howard Klee, Jr. J. Michael McGean, in memory of Lois Susan S-H Phillips Anne Hillman & George E. Comstock Ellen & Bill Klenn McGean Jean & James F.Pletcher Nancy Hirshberg Ruth Komanoff Underwood, in honor of Helen & Randall P.McIntyre Dale L. Ponikvar, in memory of Eric Darcy Hitchcock & Dale Graham Hunter Lovins Warren P.McNaughton Konheim Olivia & Harrison Hoblitzelle Douglas A. Kramer, in honor of Patricia Timothy H. McNerney & Laura I. Mazza- Harriet & Edward Everett Post Kramer Jorg & Helga Hoffmann McNerney Sandra L. Postel Kreinberg Foundation Jim Holland Craig A. Melby,The Melby Group, Inc. (4) Simone & William B. Potter Shelly & Scott M. Kruse Jan & Harris Richard Holt Linda & Jonathan A. Menkis Dr. & Mrs. Robert H. Potts, Jr. Lorene T.Kuimelis Carolyn & John B. Holton Margarita & Donald J. Metzger Chuck Pratt Colleen & Michael Kunkel, Lifestream Michele A. Houdek & Douglas N. Koplow Gail & Andrew L. Meyer Diana Prechter & Kent Cole Water Systems, Inc. John R. Houghton Candice Miller & Kevin L. Markey Karen & Kent H. Pressman Andrew Paul Kurtzig Donald R. Houze Peter H. Miller Carol & William R. Price Jean & Walter Lamb Alice Q. Howard Murray A. Milne Rebecca R. Pritchard David Lamb Jonathan Howard, in memory of Saul, Peg Betty & Robert B. Moore Christopher R. Purvis & Joan Buxbaum Carol & Thomas M. Lamm Benjamin C. Moore, Moore II Architects Letitia Quinn Deborah & Fisher Howe Celeste Landry & Eric Cornell Betty & Kenneth Moore Helen & Dan J. Quinn, Riskfocus, Inc. (2) Carolyn & C.T.Lange, in honor of Kathy Howe-Kerr Theresa Moore Panziera & Tony Marianne Hanna Mary B.Ratcliff Pat & Lance Howell (2) Panziera Malia & James D. Larson Arno A. Rayner & Suzanne Weil, Rayner Richard J. Hruby Mary & Herman J. Muenchen Foundation Jean & Larry Le Jeune Margaret & William D. Hummon Molly Murfee,Audubon Expedition, Inc. Gertrude & Daryl Reagan Erika Leaf & Christopher P.Meeker James Hunt, in honor of Joyce & Harry Linda A. Muschenheim Joanna Reese Hunt Nell F.LePla Marjory M. Musgrave & Frank S. Peters Frances M. Rehwald Sandra & David W. Hunter Mimi & Dan Leslie Tina Naugle Andrea & Kelly Reiman Logan L. Hurst Michael Leuck Herminia & Thomas R. Neet, Jr. Sharon Kay Ricketts Michael P.Hydro Linda & Dale F.Levy Stephen W. & Robin L. Newberg Lisa M. Rideout & Michael J. Foley Dan Innamorato, In memory of Margaret G. R. Lewis Bonnie & Joel Neymark (2) Kathleen & Marc Ringel Rawson John P.Linderman (2) Daniel Nichols Leonard Roark Dana Lee Jackson Leslie Phillips Livingston & David Dawes Georgiana & Kenneth Nielsen Jody & John N. Roberts, in honor of David Nancy Jackson & Eberhard Ramm Miller, in loving memory of H. Gregg Miller, DVM George S. Nolte, Jr. Roberts Charles N. Jaffee & Marvina Lepianka Ed Nystrom Laurance S. Rockefeller with love and deep appreciation for Darcy & Steven Lober family and friends and our collective Ann Lockhart & Edward Crocker Nancy & Clifford O’Neill Alexander Rosaen ability to reach out and share. Dianna Lopez Barnett & John W. Barnett Carol & Richard Oakes Anna & Jonathan M. Rosen Rochelle & William L. Jobes Linda Lorenz (2), in honor of George W. Patricia & Paul O’Connor Virginia & Walter N. Rothschild Roger L. Johnson Bush Avis R. Ogilvy Kathryn & Barry L. Rountree Kathleen & F.Reed Johnson Ethel Lossing & Randy Reynolds Carolyn Sloan Oglesby Monica L. Russell Carolyn & Peter T.Johnson Henry J. Louis Chris Osborne Ann Marie & Gary D. Sabula Marsha Haner & Dennis Johnson Frances & Robert F.Ludwig John Osgood Samsung Austin Semiconductor, LP Diane & Kurt Johnston Robert F.Lussky,Jr. & Melissa Wafer Karen L. Ososki & Karl J. Ottenstein Hope J. Sass Florence & R. Michael Jones Michael L. MacDonald, Mobil Wax Alice & Mark F.Palmer David A. Schaller Andrew P.Jones & Anne Fitten Jones Systems Louise & William Pape Meyer Scharlack Maggie Jones Myron A. Mann (2) Paradigm Design, LC Kathryn & Robert J. Schauer Russell C. Jordan, Jr. Randall L. Mann Edwin B. Parker Shelley & Greg H. Schlender

RMISolutions page 33 Spring 2002 Institute

Supporters David K.Whitney,in memory of John Richard E. Baruch Denver Mary Louise & Joseph C. Bates Beth Whitney-Teeple & Robert A. Richard M. Beamish Whitney Jean Harrington & Allan Beek Judson V.Wilder, Jr. Paul Schneider Earle Taylor R.Allen Beers, Robert L.Yeager Health Billie Ann & Sam K.Williams Ctr Daniel V. Schroeder Textron Charitable Trust Vicki Willis, in honor of Elizabeth Laura Benedict Cathleen & Peter Schwartz Nickolas John Themelis Kretchman Mildred & Edward L. Bennett Doug Schwartz H.Virginia Thompson Edith J.Wilson Mark Bennett Elizabeth & Gary M. Schwarzman Grant P.Thompson Herbert R.Wiser Clurie W. Bennis (2), in honor of Chris Joyce & Paul T.Schwer Marjorie Thompson Dorothy & John Wolfe Friedenberg Betty Schwimmer & John Rubel, in Linda & John A.Thornton Susan D.Woolf & Steven P.Price Frank W. Benson memory of David Schwimmer, MD Phyllis & Robert H.Throm Carol Woolfe Robert J. Berman Kathleen & Jon T.Scott Dorothy & Richard H.Tice, in honor of John M.Woolsey,Jr. Sheila Bernard SEED Organization of Northwestern David Tice Ralph J.Wrons & Susan Reinhart-Wrons Annalisa M. Berns, in memory of John University & individual participants John B.Traweek of Philfest, in memory of Phillip Barbara Wylan Denver Darla M.Tupper (2) Austin Semmer Conradine G. Zarndt Jeff Bernstein & Jean Stevens Anna Ruthe Tyson, in honor of Charles Sherman Selden Debra & Peter J. Zauner Barbara & Geoffrey Berresford Jaffee, Marvina Lepianka & Darla Joan & Phillip G. Semmer, in memory of Tupper Gabriel Zimmerman Thomas Berry Phillip Austin Semmer J. Jeffrey Van Barbara Zinn Lisa Bianco Michael W. Serant & Gail Glauser Serant Gretchen Van Reyper John S. Zinner Sandra & Archie L. Bickling Jason Servetar Sally & John H. van Schaick Stephen W. Blessman, in memory of Elinor & John W. Severinghaus Phillip Austin Semmer Henry K.Vandermark ASSOCIATES $1–$99 Joanie Sexauer, in honor of Ann, Bill, and Bob & Harriet Bliss Nina Veregge Margaret L. Kallsen Joe Sexauer Regis Bliss Amy Vickers, in memory of Caralyn Robert S.Abbott Toby Sharp Shapiro Brett Abramson, in honor of Lorne Ty Biss Marcus B. Sheffer, Energy Opportunities Jane & David C.Villa Abramson Margaret B. Bodtke Mr. & Mrs. Dwight K. Shellman, Jr. Monty Villere Adobe Matching Gift Program Sarah A. Bond Carol & Ted P.Shen, in memory of Eric Betty,Tom,& Justin K.Wagner Constance L.Alexander Stephen J. Bonowski Konheim Wendy B.Walsh Deborah & Thomas J.Allen Sylvia & Seymour Boorstein Joe Sherman, Nat Sherman Int’l Alex Walter Bernard Amadei Philip A. Boucher, in honor of Alan and Claire Sholes Diane Sacks, and in memory of John Harry L.Ward, in memory of Phillip Marty Ames & Steve Hach Steve Shull, e-Roof, Inc. Denver Austin Semmer Audrey B.Anderson & Pauline A. Hoopes, Joanne L. Siegel & Walter F.Thiem Dorothy & Richard C. Bradley Joyce C.Ward in honor of Lorraine Anderson James R. Simpson Barbara Brahm (4) Elaine & Everett Warner Dorothy H.Anderson Siri Vedya Singh Dianne Brien Louise O.Warner, in memory of Gale and David Andri (2), in honor of Anna and Julie Slagle, in memory of John Denver Jack Warner Michael Hal Brill & Allison Elliot Jane & Kent Slaughter Barbara H.Warren Anonymous (27) Michelle Brotemarkle Janet Small Thomas Warren Judith & Alan Appelbaum Faith & Ed Brown Eileen Roberta Smith Nina & Kenneth M.Warren Danelle Ann Ardell & Neal R. Kushner Katherine & Russell K. Brown Mark P.Smith Eleanor Wasson (2) E. Coury Armstrong Mary & Bernie T.Brown Tim Smith Pat & Robert Waterston Nancy & John Artz Beth Brummitt Mitchell Smith, Solar Smith Penny & Raymond D.Watts Nancy & Tom Atchison Nancy Buffenbarger Sydney E. Smith James S.Waugaman Joyce & Wayne L.Attwood Mr. & Mrs. James Bulkley Barry D. Solomon Dan Webb Peggy Backup Gail Bundy Jean Spicer Smith Susan & Seward Weber Teresa & Bob Bagshaw David Bunn Jan Standish Fred E.Weed Cliff Baker James F.Butler Christy Stauffer Wendy & Richard Weeks, in memory of Paul Barnes Mary A. Butler & Peter T.Baumann Susan Stayton Bucky Herman Baron Maria & Anthony T.Buzzoni Karen & Donald Stearns Carol & Jerard Weigler Pete Barone Nancy & Harry F.Byrd Marc Steyer Douglas & Lynda J.Weiser Bill Barringer Mary Byrne Mary Wilder Stoertz & Douglas H. Green Betty J.Weiss Joanne & Richard H. Barsanti Andrea Calbow Gayle H. Stone Carolyn & Wendell Wendt Rena & Edward Barsanti Calrite Services, Inc. Gail & William D. Sturm Margaret & William E.Westerbeck (2), in Paul Bartch Beverly A. Campbell Lalitha & Garret F.Swart honor of Chris Marshall and Thomas Edna C. Bartlett & Katherine B. Gordon, Ralph O. Canaday,Jr. Moore Douglas K. Swartz & Karen Spencer in honor and memory of the victims Kenneth P.Cantor Effie E.Westervelt of the Twin Towers tragedy Ann & Roger H. Sweet Fritjof Capra Eleanor & Albert A. Bartlett page 34 Institute

Manuel Carbahal Tim Duffin Supporters Timothy Carrigan Karen & Brian Dunbar (2) Debra Casteel Flahaven & Richard Michael Durisin Flahaven D.T.Durnell & Susan Kerns Durnell Pamela & Ronald B. Castle (2), in honor William W. Durrell Amy J. Gerber & Mordie Weintraub,Tel- Loren Hockemeyer of Mr. and Mrs Charles Dodds, Jr. & Donald H. Dyall Affinity Corp Jim Dodds Maurie & Bud Hoekstra Bob Earnest Mary & Mark F.Giorgetti Ralph Cavanagh & Deborah Rhodes Katharyn & Roland Hok Marion & Merritt Elmore GiveForChange & eGrants.Org Annie Chappell Mary & Michael M. Holm, in memory of Polly & John M. Ely,Jr., in honor of Gary Robert K. Gloy Phillip Austin Semmer John Andrew Chewning Donnermeyer Sandy Gold Molly & Lou Houck Cheryl A. Chipman Angela Emery,in honor of Herb LaRue Rafeal Gonzalez-Vizoso (2) Rebecca & Eric A. Houghton Dione Christensen Eric Enderton Lilly F.Goodman & Michael C.Allwright Katherine L. Houston, in honor of Dick David N. Church Cadogan Enright Joyce Goodrich and Joyce Kaiser, John and Janice James Cischke, in memory of John Peggy Ann & David R. Erskine Stiefel and Doug and Penny Schultz Denver Tom Gorman Joann & Stephen Estabrook (2), in Patricia A. Huberty Victoria & John F.Clancy Robert & Shelly Gould memory of Alice Savory Vicky J. Huerth, in memory of John Linda M. Clark Renuka & T.Govindaraj Jan & Don Etnier Denver Theresa & Rodney K. Clary Catherine & Richard M. Gray Barbara P.Ettinger William A. Hughes Jane & Roger G. Clausen Marji Greenhut Jim Eyk Thera Joyce & Bruce D. Hunn Janis F.Clery (2) Carl Griesser Linda B.Fabe Ardath L. Hunt Robbin & Donald H. Close, in honor of William A. Grimm, Grimm Int’l Eberhard Fahnrich George A. Huston & Jean E. Murray Karen Close Robert Gross Dorothy K. & John T.Fankhauser Jeff Hutner Peter J. Condakes Sherry & Ted Guzzi Gregory Farmer (2) Tom Ickes David R. Conely Steve Hach & Marty Ames Kathy & Christopher J. Fastner Dan Innamorato Sally & Joseph Conklin Michael Hack Joseph L. Fernandez Mary Alice & Rollin C. Ives James R. Conner Patricia R. Hackney & Donald R. J.Allen Feryok Dixie & Maan Jawad (2) Kathleen Corcoran Dunhaupt Elizabeth & Mark D. Feuer Mary & Newell A. Johnson Deborah F.Corr Eldon Haines & Linda Rose Robin Fielding Peter F.Johnson Dorothy & Bernard A. Coyne Georgia A. Haisler Edna & Dwayne H. Fink Martha & Harry C. Johnson Scott Crawford Donald Halford Avis & Jeff Fisher Peter F.Johnson Dianne Isabelle Cristian David M. Halpern, Emanon, Inc. Harry S. Flamm Baylor Johnson Marcia & Mac Crosbie Bruce A. Hamilton Newell Flather Vikki L. Johnson John Cummings Marie K. Hammond Barbara & Peter B. Fleming (2), in Rachel Johnson & Ward Young Pamela J. Cunningham, Cunningham Bruce Hanson memory of John Denver Peter F.Johnson Anesthesia Svcs. Barbara Hardy Tony Fleming Dana Judy & Susan A.Weisner Mike D’Onofrio Susie Harrington & Kalen Jones Alan Forbes Debora & Keith Kaback R. Gordon Dailey,Jr. Joanne V. Hart Jeff Forward Charles R. Kane, II Kooch & Victor Daniels K. Charles Hartranft (3), in honor of Ken Frankel Marie & Michael Keesee Richard Darling Jennifer Hartranft and Holly,Kurt and Lester N. Freed Madeline Buland Theodore R. Keiser Sheryl L. Davies & Greg Inman Verena Frei Bishop, in memory of Gene Shirley Hathaway & Linda Ellis Mildred & Carl P.Keiser, Jr. Cecile & Lawrence A. Davino Bishop Diane & John C. Hayden Paul Kelley Elizabeth & W. Mark Day,in loving Mark Friedman (4) memory of Andrew Woodhouse Mary Kimberly Hayes & Neil L. Rettig Elizabeth & William W. Kellogg Valentine Kirk L. Fry Kathy & Kurt R. Heilmann Debbie & John Kennedy Barbara S. Day,in memory of John Denver Dennis Fujka, in honor of Patricia Scott Hemple Helen J. Kessler Kramer and Mike Fujka Guillermo Deherrera Thomas Hench Lorna & Thomas R. Kilian Ken A. Fuller, Jr. Anthony J. Del Gobbo Carl L. Henn Jean T.Killpack & Mark D. Samolis Jim Gado & Cristine A. Barsanti Olha & Ralph della Cava Philip M. Henry Robert Kincses Daniel Brian Gallagher & Margaret Ann Bernadean & William T.Delong David Henry Kelly Kindscher DeAnda Penny & Ross N. DePaola Richard Hermans & Priscilla Herdman Madeline King Joyce Gallimore & Sam Swanson Carel C. DeWinkel & Kathleen A. Scanlan Robyn & Andrew Hidas Lynn Kipnis Rich Garigen Alison C. & A. Gardner Dee DeWitt, III Gloria & Bennie L. Hildebrand Dolores & Tarver A. Kitchens, Jr. Gateway Snowmass Owners Association Barbara Dibeler Brian Hines Philip W. Klein Mario Gatti Dee Dee Diccicco-Craft Nancy & Clinton Hinman Nelly & Craig S. Klein (2), in memory of Elizabeth & Paul D. Gehris Eric D. Dodge Adam Hirsch John Denver Paris Geiken & Scott Toll Jocelyn A. Dohm Allen Hirsh James B. Kless General Mills Foundation (2) David C. Dorman Art Hobson

RMISolutions page 35 Spring 2002 Institute

Supporters Thomas J. Myers Bruce Plenk National Renewable Energy Lab Jean & James F.Pletcher Nelson Breech Nave Steven Plotnick Edward J. Nelson, Jr. Geoffrey Pritchard Steve Knaub, in honor of Carol Allen and Michael J. Manetas Alan Ness Ann & David N. Prugh Jim and Christina Landy Ramona & Jim Markalunas,Accent Joseph & Elizabeth J. Neu, in honor of Chris D. Quartetti Connie Kobs Properties Pat C.N. Herrick Nan & Andrew Quiroz Debora & Neil Kolwey Jan & Robert A. Marker Jacqueline A. Neurauter Gary Ratner, in honor of the Constable Elizabeth & David P.Koos Charles Wm. Markley J.D.& V.R. Newbold Family Carla Koretsky L.Whit Marks Virginia Newman Mark Raulston Dean Kubani & Catriona Davies Elizabeth & David H. Martin Emily & John W. Newton John R. Reed Robert Kuchta Carolyn & Charles Martindale, in Genevieve & Morris J. Nicholson (2) Chris Regan Steve Kunkel memory of Kelly Edwards Jonathan K. Niermann Kenneth Regelson, Five Star Consultants Frances F.Kuyper Haley Martorano, in memory of John L .W. Nightengale (2), in honor of Larry David J. Reich Denver Lori & Mark C. LaCroix Toby Gayle & Tom Reichert Dorothy & Robert G. Massey W. Keith & Ellen S. Lain (2) Wendy & Dirk Nordberg Gwenyth & William D. Reid Stephen S. Matter & Anne E. Kraus Donna Lambert Riley & Ken Riley Lynne Novak-Garrod Jill & Charles N. Reiter Matter Richard Langdon Jennifer & Philip O. Nubel Neil Rest George Mattson Witt & Beth I. Langstaff, Jr. Elizabeth Nystedt Fletcher & Richard A. Ruth & Lawrence O. Reynolds Anderson Mayfield, in honor of Joy Fletcher James W. Lanier, II Tom Ribe, in memory of Fred C. Ribe Mayfield Jan Nystrom Mat Lanlgey Daniel Ridgeway Bruce F.McClintic Althea J. O’Connor Stephen Lapointe David Rindlaub Julie & David McCulloch William S. O’Donnell, Jr. Thomas E. Larson Richard Riseling Margaret & Alden T.McCutchan Barbara & Kevin O’Reilly Lois & Donald E. Laughlin (2) Lois B.Robbins Andrew S. McDonald Ned Oliver Tyler Laundon Joan Robertson Em & Ed McIntosh Tina & Peter Olson, in memory of Phillip Jill Robinson Suzanne & Kevin R. Law Jacqueline McLaughlin Gouse & S. A. Semmer Charles L. Rojer & Marsha B. Levin- George Sandy Lawrence & Barbara Jean William Gouse, Jr. Dean H. Olson Schickler Rojer Madeline McWhinney Dale Edwin Orrett, Pacific Technology Assoc. Allen Lawrence Marc Rosenbaum, energysmiths Phymien Meach & Michael Andrews Kradan & Kent Ostby Tom & Pat Lawson Rina Rosenberg & Bill Witherspoon Machado Mead (2), in honor of Frederick Janet & Peter Ostrowski, Jr. Judith & Robert G. Layton G. Mead Yvonne & Stephen T.Ross Jill W. Over & Tom Mitchell (2) Jonnie & William S. Lazarus Robert S. Means Brian Royer, Royer & Assoc. Mathew E. Overeem Jeanne & Jerry Lebsack Sylvia & Sam Messin Ellen Rubinstein Robert F.Paashaus Eleanor & Jerry Leeper Normand Methot Barbara & Eli Rubinstein (2) Bryan Palmintier Timothy E. Lehane Ted & Gail Michals Barbara Rullan Dahlberg & Kenneth A. Bill & Tina Palmisano (2) Marion & Warren P.Leonard Connie & Philip Micklin, in honor of Sean Dahlberg Virginia M. Parker Ruth & William L. Lermond Micklin Laurie & John W. Rush, in honor of Ann & Thomas Parker William H.Thompson Meg Letterman Murray Vincent Miller Pam & Thomas Parsons Anita E. Russel Cheri & Dave Levenson Cameron Miller (2), in honor of David Suzuki Jessica E. Parsons Bob Russell Willy Leventhal, in memory of Eleanor Sarah Leventhal Lewallen Barbara & John B. Miller Pat & Barbara Patterson Elisabeth Ryland Ted Levin J. R. Miller Arthur Payne Beatrice Santorini Barbara & John A. Lewington Nancy F.Milne Nicola Peill (4) Richard Saunders & Carol A. Myers Charles Lewis, in honor of Tyler and Jennifer Mish, in memory of Donald C. Gregory K. Penniston Lorrie & Stephen Savage Paige Inman Logan C. Mary & Ivan Perisic Marshall E. Saxe Geoff Lewis Harriet Mitteldorf & Alice W. Ballard John Peschon Janice & Dick W. Scar Robert & Gladys Link John Moody Kahoun Jane Peters, Research Into Action, Inc. Kerry L. Schaefer, in memory of Jacob Leslie Phillips Livingston & David Dawes Clare F.Moorhead Lisa Lee & Clifford Peterson Schaefer Miller, in honor of Dawes Miller & Charles Morgan Marie & Roger Peterson Mimi Schlumberger Joan Comstock V. Joe Morice Petroleum Analytical Laboratory,Inc. Karen Schmidt Louise Lockwood-Zorowski William L. Morton Diana & Gary G. Phelps, in memory of Marlene & Raymond H. Schneider Kit Loekle Byard W. Mosher, IV John Denver Jared Schneider Patricia Logan & Karl Citek Jeanne Mueller Ernest F.Pieper Carol Schrader Ethel Lossing & Randy Reynolds, in Mark Mueller,WI Business Innovation Edith & Steven J. Pierce Doug Schwartz memory of Dave Tice Corp. Kathy Pillsbury Joyce & John Schwartz Sara & David P.Macpherson Molly Murfee Marci & Lance S. Pittleman Serena A. Schwartz (2) William & Mary Makofske Robert C. Murphy & Georgia E. Foster John Platt & Lisa Heilbron Maria & Lewis J. Schwartzkopf page 36 page 36 Institute

Grace & Cyril J. Scripps Toki & David C.Thompson Supporters Robert Sculthorpe,ARXX Bldg. Products Beth & Richard Thompson-Tucker Linda & David D. Selbert Julie & Kelvin Townsend, in memory and Joanie Sexauer in honor of John Denver Helen & Avery V.Tucker Suzanne Jean Shafer Barbara Wylan ASSOCIATES $1– $99 Henry & Beth Tucker Jerome L. Shain Ralph Yoas Robin and Clarence Baer, Jr., in memory Regina & James R.Turrentine Susan B. Sheridan Stephen Young of John Denver Martha T.Twombly Catherine Sherlock Geoffrey M.Young Grace and Bryan T.Bailey (7), in memory Mr. & Mrs. John M. Ugles Paul & Laurie Sherman, in memory of Gregory Zahradnik of John Denver Boris Novotny Mary & David C. Ulmer, Jr. Holly A. Zimmerman & Peter Diane and Joe A. Brownlee, in memory of Bill Shirley United Way of King County/Microsoft DeCrescenzo John Denver Joan & Al Short Mary & John C. Urbach Cam,Ann & Zoe Burns, in memory of Julie Shular & Van Royce Vibber Katherine & Robert G. Utter We also want to Farley Sheldon Bernece & Marvin L. Simon Marie Valleroy & Alan Locklear thank those Dorothy Burt-Coburn, in memory of John individuals who Denver Edward Skloot, Surdna Foundation, Inc. Cheryl L.Vallone have con- Diane and Frank J. Busateri, Jr. (4) Carol & Ted G. Skowronek Robert Vaughan tributed to RMI through Earth Hollie K. Carter Joy Sleizer Leslie & Val R.Veirs Share, the com- Gerry Cathcart, in memory of John Peter & Laura Sloan, in honor of Jeff June R.Velasquez bined federal campaign, and other workplace charitable programs. If Denver Sloan Lynn & S. George Vincentnathan you would like to have RMI as a Norm, Laura & Jennifer Clasen, in James M. Small Tina Vitali charitable option in your work- place campaign, please contact memory of Farley Sheldon Debra L. Smith, in honor of Ralph Manna, Jacquelyn J.Viviano our Development Department, Holly and James Clifford, Jr., in memory Jr. Richard B.Waid (970/927-3851). of John Denver Eric Parkman Smith Scott Wallace Karen Conley,in memory of John Denver Barbara J. Smith Lisa & John L.Wallace Jenny Constable, in memory of Farley David Lyle Smith SECURING THE FUTURE Sheldon Sophia W.Wang, in celebration of the DONORS Louise & Florian R. Smoczynski marriage between Claudia Truesdell Kathleen Corcoran Cindi & John SomdeCerff and Abraham Faragon Markell Brooks (2) John Fowler Sue & Edwin G. Speir Jerry & Mary Warlop Wayne Cogswell & Joanne Hay Beth Huss, in memory of John Denver Bob Spence Kate S.Warner Kim and Marshall Evans Inge Kaminski, John Denver Fan Club of Richard A. Sperduto Liz Washburn Barbara J. Hibbard Germany,in memory of John Denver Geraldine St. Onge (2), in honor of Jan David Wasserman Nancy and Robert Morgan Gina Miller Trafelet Patricia M.Weber Hensley and James D. Peterson (2) Barbara Morgan Elaine V. Stannard Susan M.Weisman Kerry and Ricki R. Newman, in memory of Leslie & Patrick J. Stansberry John Denver Martin Weiss WINDSTAR LAND Edward J. Stapper Kim Pilon, in memory of John Denver Pamela & Rom P.Welborn CONSERVANCY Dorothy & Clarence Stearns (2) Carolyn and Robert K. Purvis Robert Welsh & Karen Rose DONORS Marjorie Stein Ann & Timothy Wheeler Elizabeth K. Richards (2), in memory of John Denver Kathy & Martin Stern William H.Wheeler (2) Patricia and Ronni R. Ridenour, in Mildred E. Stevens & Jean Barrieu Doris Wheeler Stevens WINDSTAR LAND CONSER- memory of John Denver Betsy A.White Michael L Stevens VANCY DONORS Robyn Sheehan, in memory of John Richard E.White Denver Ernest Stiltner SPONSORS $100–$999 Osgood & Barbara Whittemore Donna M. Stone, in memory of John Linda & John Stoddart Anonymous, in memory of John Denver Mark S.Wiger Denver Edna J. Stokes Barbara and Gerald B. Christenson, in Bob Willard lasting memory of John Denver Sally Sullivan, in memory of John Denver Jeffrey L. Stovall Robert Williams Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Vickie Cotnoir, in Carmen Volcansek, in memory of John Dan Sturges Marianne Williams memory of John Denver Denver Nancy & Byron W. Stutzman David Willis Conrad M. Dahl Noel Whearty,in memory of John Denver Elyn Sykes Dortch, in honor of Mike Robin D.Willits Barbara and Peter B. Fleming (3), in Sharon Whitby,in memory of John Denver Sykes Roy W.Wood memory of John Denver Linda Wolverton, in memory of John Richard & Lisa W. Symons Denver Woodman-Roberts Elementary School Jean Graves, in memory of John Denver James & Beverly Taylor Cynthia and Lawrence Woytowicz (2) Joyce & W. Shane Woodruff Rosemary and John D. Lowenberg Sheryl & Theodore M.Taylor Rita Zalucha, in memory of John Denver Carol Woolfe, in honor of Ken and Bobbe Sandra Simon Susan & Eric F.Thacher Woolfe, Lorin and Judyth Woolfe, and Renee Justice Standley,in memory of Shuyee and Roger L. Zuehlke Stephen Thomas Ruth and Dan Woolfe John Denver Beverly & Edward M.Thomas Katherine & Russell Wortley Betty,Tom,and Justin K.Wagner Martin Thommes David B.Wristen

RMISolutions page 37 Spring 2002 Remembering Farley—always smiling. Farley

Zen and the Art of Being ‘Principled’

By Cameron M. Burns Roderfield, West Virginia, and grew up in the town of Welch, where her father ost RMI supporters and visitors worked as a coal mine operator. Later she are intimately familiar with RMI would organize in the coalfields with labor co-CEO (Strategy) Hunter M pioneer John L. Lewis—not to mention Lovins, her life’s work, and her remarkable build and fly a light plane, show-jump in vision for the world. Yet, by knowing Madison Square Garden, and other remark- Hunter, they also get a glimpse into the life able feats amidst what Hunter once tallied tasks was to find workers for the mica and work of Hunter’s late mother, Farley as about 16 careers. But we get ahead of mines (to make radio capacitors). Farley Hunter Sheldon—a visionary in her own our story. learned that there were hundreds of men ways, a character, a gem, and a clear building—of all things—a recreational dam In college Farley was an excellent student. guiding light for all who beheld her. up a holler in Tennessee. Farley tried and Indeed, when Duke University decided to Until two years ago, Farley Sheldon was failed repeatedly to get this skilled work- start a law school, school officials scoured RMI’s development director. Early last year, force transferred. “She went to her boss the nation looking for the brightest minds. age began taking its toll on RMI’s grand and said ‘I don’t know why, but I can’t Along with future President Richard Nixon, dame and mobility became problematic for seem to get those workers transferred off Farley was one of 32 young people chosen the 89-year-old, so Farley retired from RMI. that dam!’” Hunter remembers. Only later for the privilege—a considerable achieve- On the evening of 29 December 2001, she did Farley learn that the dam, being built ment when you consider that this was in died peacefully in her home, in Hunter’s near a place called Oak Ridge, was to the mid-1930s, when women generally arms. power the supersecret Manhattan Project. weren’t considered for such advancement. Farley had tried her best to keep a nuclear Farley was more than just Hunter’s real After law school, Farley married a lawyer bomb from being built. “The dam she kept mom and a surrogate mother to Amory. She from Durham, NC, and began a new life in trying to stop was, it later turned out, was a devoted, thoughtful part of RMI for a big house, with servants and all the luxu- meant to make power to run the calutrons many years and the Institute’s first develop- ries of the privileged class (indeed, the sorts to enrich uranium for the Hiroshima ment director. Farley’s typical greeting to of things most of us who knew her later bomb,” notes Amory. “Her instincts were most anyone included a sincere smile and might not associate with Farley). She had a very sound.” kind compliment—whether you deserved it son, Will, and worked on family law and or not. After the war, Farley went further north, juvenile issues. Marriage, of course, ending up in New York, where she met and If one were to describe Farley’s life in one couldn’t contain Farley—at least not that fell in love with Paul Sheldon, a rangy word, it would be “principled.” Farley held one, so she packed up Will and moved on. blond professor at New York University. tightly onto her beliefs like few other Indeed, settling down was about as far from They married and moved to Ripton, women of her age and few other people Farley’s mind as going back to Welch. Vermont, where they winterized a summer ever. She was the ultimate idealist—and Through the 1940s, Farley headed north, house for year-round use (their next-door though many readers and supporters are and eventually made her way to neighbor was poet Robert Frost, whose unaware, her idealism took root in a young Washington, DC. World War II broke out, horses Farley minded). In 1950, Farley gave Hunter and Amory Lovins, and helped and Farley pitched in, working for the War birth to a daughter, Hunter. Brother Paul shape today’s Rocky Mountain Institute. Production Board, finding workers for came along two years later. Farley Hunter Sheldon was born in wartime industry. One of Farley’s specific In 1951, Paul, Sr. took a job at Occidental

page 38 Remembering Farley

College in Pasadena. The family moved to a In the late 1960s, Farley was invited to a calls. In a time when nonprofits turned to little town in the San Gabriel Mountains, Duke University Class of ’37 reunion the hard sell, Farley stood by her principles. Sierra Madre. (To Farley, then an Easterner, dinner at the White House by her old class- “We have a motto,” she told Auden California sounded so primitive that she mate, President Nixon. Farley wanted to Schendler, then RMI Solutions editor, in hauled a washing machine and other white go—the chance of a lifetime for a girl from 1998, “‘putting all our begs in one askit,’ goods across the country, only to find them the coalfields. But she felt it would be making just one appeal a year for individual in all the stores.) Young Hunter loved the wrong to accept the hospitality of the man operating support. Obviously we need outdoors and ranch activities, but quickly conducting the Vietnam War. So regretfully, money to operate, but we try not to make found she hated public school. Farley’s solu- she declined in a very polite letter. Years it the focal point of RMI’s image. So many tion? Start her own, of course—in this case, later, Farley learned it had had a profound excellent, environmentally-oriented non- the Sequoia School, which exists to this effect on Nixon. Having surrounded himself profits have ruined their images by pushing day. (If that sounds familiar, it was Hunter with “yes men,” Farley’s very different mes- too hard. We try to avoid that.” Her who 23 years later persuaded Amory that sage—telling him of her beliefs, not what strategy paid off: RMI has met payroll every they should start their own Institute.) he might’ve wanted to hear—was one of month for its 20 years (though sometimes Sequoia’s guiding principle was that stu- the few that unambiguously reached not by much). “Hers is the toughest act I’ll dents learn by doing, by experiencing, so Nixon’s ears. ever follow,” said current Development travel was a big part of the curriculum. Eventually, Farley’s daughter Hunter and Director Dale Levy. Farley and Paul were also organizers in the her colleague Amory Lovins started Rocky In a 1998 tribute to Farley, Schendler black and Hispanic communities in Los Mountain Institute. Farley moved out to wrote: “RMI’s director of development for Angeles. Figures like Cesar Chavez (who Colorado soon after to lead Pitkin County’s 12 years, Farley has not lost her enthusiasm founded and led the first successful farm newly established Health & Human Services for the Institute’s mission.... Many staff chil- workers’ union in the United States) and Department, where she served as director dren haunt the Institute. One, a three-year- labor organizer Saul Alinsky often sat in 1984 and 1985 (she also served as old named Lily, is shy enough to hide around the Sheldon dinner table—much director of Senior Services from December behind her mother’s legs in the kitchen. the way cross-fertilizers of resource effi- 1985 to February 1986). According to cur- Visiting for lunch one afternoon, Lily whis- ciency would later become regular visitors rent director Nan Sundeen, Farley helped pers: ‘I want to sit next to Farley.’ There to RMI. Human Services define its role, by first are few better indicators of the effectiveness In 1965, while Hunter was starting high assessing what the needs of the county of the soft sell, of kindness, and of the school at CRMS (Colorado Rocky Mountain were. She also worked to establish several quality of people.” county amenities, including the Castle School) in Carbondale, Farley made a “I shall miss her,” Hunter said. “Farley has Creek Terrace assisted living facility, and career move and went to work for Los been a major influence on my life, always the Seniors’ Council. “She really had a Angeles County, serving for many years as a encouraging me to seek ways to make the vision and was able to get people to follow researcher, counsel, and administrator. At world a better place, from early advice to her,” said Sundeen. “She was a big advo- one point during the Vietnam War, while leave a campsite cleaner than I found it, to cate of human services her entire life. She Farley was working for the County, she was always doing more than her share of what- really helped Pitkin County’s Health & approached by a colleague who urgently ever work there was to be done. She was a Human Services’ departments to under- wanted to copy some documents. Never believer in the goodness of people, and the stand their roles and to work collabora- one to stifle the free flow of information, power of an idea. She hated cynicism and tively. Prior to that, they acted as separate Farley let the copying be done on her loved optimism. She was my greatest role entities.” machine after other employees had gone model, but also my best friend.” home. The documents turned out to be the In 1986, she came to RMI full-time as A memorial service for Farley is scheduled Pentagon Papers—proof that the federal development director, and quickly created a for 16 March 2002, 4:00 p.m., at the government had been lying to Americans fundraising style that remains unique. Snowmass Chapel in Snowmass Village. about the war. (Not surprisingly, the sharing Farley performed the difficult job of asking The service will be led by Dr. Edgell Pyles. of information has been a hallmark of RMI for contributions gracefully without mul- since its inception.) tiple mass-mailings and dinnertime phone

RMISolutions page 39 Spring 2002 Rocky Mountain Institute/volume xviii #1/Spring 2002 RMISolutions newsletter

INSIDE: • Energy: National Energy Policy Initiative • Green Development: ‘Sustainable Settlements’• Renewable Energy: Mayor Willie Brown Interview • Hypercar: Driving China • Research: Green Developments 2.0 • Resources: Environmentally Preferable Paper • Remembrances: A Tribute to Farley

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