RockyRocky MountainMountain Institute/volumeInstitute/volume xviiixviii #2/Summer#2/Summer 20022002 RMISolutions newsletter H u n t er Ta kes o f f on Solo C a reer RMI Cofounder Begins Independent Career Focused on Natural B y Cameron M. Burns of pride for RMI, and her love of eques- traveling with Amory, translating his his issue of RMI Solutions trian activities helped define the work from the original “demotic marks the end of one era and Institute—indeed, her black cowboy hat Martian” into plain English, written and T the beginning of another. is one of the community’s spoken. In 1982, as they drove across Citing a desire to work independently of most-recognized icons. the country in their little pickup truck, the Institute, RMI cofounder L. Hunter Hunter’s first major project will be fin- she suggested that they start their own Lovins resigned in early June. ishing her book, The Human Dimensions nonprofit think- and do-tank, where like- “I’ve been thinking about going out on of , with Global thinking colleagues would gather my own for some time,” Academy founder Walter together to craft solutions to the world’s she said. “There are Link. She will also work problems. Thus was RMI born. many, many opportunities on the creation of the Much of her time in the early days was that come my way. The Natural Capitalism spent handling everyday operations of day-to-day running of RMI Academy, an educational the fledgling Institute (whose headquar- has prohibited me from organization that will ters she helped design and build), over- focusing on what I really develop curricula and continued on page 33 want to do: take natural educational programs capitalism to a greater based on her 1999 book audience. I still expect to Natural Capitalism (co- be associated with RMI Photo: Norm Clasen authored with Amory and some of its projects, L. H u n t er Lovins Lovins and Paul CONTENTS but primarily I’ll be working Hawken). Hunter is pas- EAST OST ECURITY p a ge 2 with other organizations.” sionate about making natural capitalism L C S ...... Hunter will be greatly missed—not only the leading principle for business, and PERSPECTIVES ...... p a ge 6 because she co-founded and for many has long hoped to focus on that goal. “I GREEN CHINA p a ge 8 years co-led RMI with colleague Amory believe now I’ll be able to bring natural ...... B. Lovins, but because her influence was capitalism to a wide business audience,” LIFE AT RMI ...... p a ge 11 so great. Her ideas and thinking helped she said. GREEN SCHOOLS ...... p a ge 12 shape RMI’s approach to energy (where Although today Hunter is a world-recog- she also conceived what became E nized celebrity in the energy and sustain- RMI NEWS ...... p a ge 16 SOURCE), water, climate, communities, ability communities, her roots are WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ...... p a ge 21 green buildings and development, and modest. In 1977, she heard Amory business. Meanwhile, her personal life Lovins’s ideas about and DONOR SPOT: MARGIE HALEY ...p a ge 22 was and remains colorful, interesting, realized this message—which encour- BOARD SPOT: JOHN FOX ...... p a ge 23 and driven by a strong sense of right and aged society to ponder the end uses for wrong. Her service with the Basalt Rural energy (cold beer and hot showers) OTHER VOICES: STEPHEN KELLERT p a ge 24 Fire Protection District, where she has before finding the best-matched way to STAFF SPOT: MARTY HAGEN ....p a ge 28 helped many lives, has been a point supply it—was worth sharing. She began NATCAP STORIES ...... p a ge 34 Le ast C ost Security As the United States awaits another terror episode, RMI offers a few thoughts on security B y A mory B. Lovins, L. , and Cameron M. Burns

n 1992, referring to the break-up of edly a reality. Its first major episode gave deeply about what security really means the Soviet Union, then Joint Chiefs of over a million-fold economic leverage to and how it is best achieved. How and I Staff Chair General Colin Powell the attackers, who achieved trillions of dol- where do you best invest to make the stated, “We no longer have the luxury of lars’ worth of direct and indirect economic United States and the world safer? having a threat to prepare for.” Nuclear damage with about a half-million-dollar war was The Great Threat, the disaster investment. N E W T HIN KIN G F O R A that loomed largest Despite survival D A N GER O US W O RL D during the past half- “Peace is not the absence of war; it is rates of around 90 Traditionally, the locus of power and action century of human the presence of justice.” percent in the has been governments. Yet this fixation on existence. In that World Trade governmental institutions and international utterly annihilating —Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and 99.5 instruments is dangerously incomplete and form, its risk seems percent in the obsolete. to have receded. Pentagon, the psychological effect was pro- Yet we are not safer. Any American city is Today’s world is tripolar, with power and found. And despite strenuous efforts at now at even greater risk of disappearing in action focused not only in governments, intelligence and prevention, an open a bright flash tomorrow morning, vapor- but also in the private sector the organiza- society—especially America’s, rife with ized by a bomb with no radar track to tions that make up the internet-empowered extraordinarily brittle and inefficient infra- show its return address. Such anonymous civil society, and complex interactions structure—has so many vulnerabilities that attacks are undeterrable and nearly unpre- among these three actors. In a world where many experts expect another reality check ventable. Eleven thousand dollars a second change can occur very quickly and through to come soon, and more after that. The spent on the world’s finest military are not diverse means and channels, government is potential for evil, once so hard to imagine, making us safe. To start backing away from increasingly the slowest and least effective remains unimaginably vast. As New York the long-hidden abyss now opening around part of the triad. Business and civil society, Times columnist Friedman our nation’s aspirations requires engage- often in alliance, are rapidly taking up the remarked, we had two failures of imagina- ment vastly more comprehensive than tra- slack. tion—first in envisaging such evil, and ditional military means. Further complicating this three-part dance, then in envisaging a countervailing good. each member of the triad has a sort of Many of us have long feared that other At the moment when most Americans antiparticle: rogue governments, like the kind of war, the deadly and erosive attri- were ready to stand up and contribute to Taliban; rogue businesses, like Monsanto tion that has long been played out on news getting off oil, constructive leadership was and Enron; and rogue nongovernmental reports of Israel and Palestine, of Belfast largely absent. and Ulster, of San Salvador and Managua: organizations, like al Qa‘eda. While those longer-term tasks gain terrorism. For Americans, it’s now belat- The old world model saw governments momentum, we all need to think more p a ge 2 ruling physical territory inside which national economies functioned. Strong A Brig h t a n d Si m ple Id e a national economies rested on military might. In a sense, globalization is not new. uilding real security can be as simple and as It began before the great sailing ships. grassroots-based as a compact fluorescent From Alexander, Genghis Khan, and the B lamp (CFL). A typical CFL costs $3–12, saves Romans to the East India Company and four-fifths of the electricity used by an incandescent the Opium Wars, national military power bulb, lasts 8–13 times longer, looks similar, fits the same secured and protected access to resources fixtures and, over the course of its life, will save and markets. What is new is the unfet- $30–80 more than it costs. In fact, it’s generally tered power of transnational corporations, cheaper to give away CFLs than it is to run fossil-fueled which increasingly can influence or evade power plants needed to power incandescent bulbs. the rules of whatever country they wish to One such CFL, over its life, will avoid putting in the air from do business in. Economic decisions now a typical -fired power plant one ton of carbon dioxide, eight pay little attention to sovereignty. Trillions kilograms of sulfur oxides, and four kilograms of nitrogen oxides. In of dollars flee at the clicks of a few mice, terms of electricity generated by oil, it saves the burning of a barrel of oil and all the leaving national economies vulnerable and, attendant emissions. Or, if we’re talking about a nuclear power plant, one CFL, over in some instances, governments unable to the course of its life, will avoid making two-fifths of a ton TNT-equivalent of pluto- look after their people because they cannot nium plus half a curie (which is a lot) of strontium-90 and cesium-137. control their economies. If widely deployed, CFLs could by one-fifth cut the evening peak load that crashes the Globalists argue that this business grid in Bombay. They could raise a North Carolina chicken grower’s profits by one- autonomy boosts economic growth. But fourth, and they could raise a Haitian family’s disposable income by as much as one- clearly one downside is global volatility. third because so much of the sparse cash economy goes for electricity. The rise of the private sector might be in A widely unrecognized advantage of such ways of saving electricity is that making part a stabilizing force—war is bad for them takes on the order of a thousand times less than expanding the electricity business, so business should want to work supply. When you invest in CFLs you also get your back about ten times towards stabilizing the world. But while faster—so it can be quickly invested again. If we do the cheapest things first, the business is indeed driving encouraging power sector, which currently gobbles up about a quarter of global development cap- movements toward transparency and ital, could become a net exporter of capital to fund other development needs. against corruption, added volatility pre- Such lamps are also the key to affordable that lets girls learn to read, dominates, destabilizing many societies advancing the role of women and reducing population pressure. Currently half a bil- and delegitimizing globalization. lion CFLs are manufactured annually; the largest maker is China. They can be bought Instability is globalizing too, and exists in at the local supermarket, and the average person can service it herself. Most of us all three poles: weapons of mass destruc- would never guess such a simple thing could have such an impact globally. But tion are spreading, crime and drugs are clearly, if we so choose, we can make the world more prosperous, better educated, global industries, and mass culture is less polluted and, of course, safer through shared prosperity and justice—one light replacing authentic diversity. None of this bulb at a time. is welcome to most citizens, whether — Amory B. Lovins French farmers being standardized by Eurocrats, fast-food chains, and agribusi- Working in about 50 countries for reducing effort put forward by the interna- ness, Indian oil-seed farmers who cannot decades, we’ve been consistently tional community, appearing hypocritical compete with multinational franchises, or impressed by how ineptly the United and unilateral, imposing tawdry mass- workers in the World Trade Center, who States often behaves on the world stage. media culture where it’s not wanted, and became unknowing targets of a global net- Becoming a country consistently worthy showing so little understanding of the work of terror. But each of these forms of of respect and affection in other’s eyes— values of diversity and tolerance. The dis- insecurity is being encouraged or tolerated not just Americans’—will be tough until turbing thesis of Wall Street Journal corre- by U.S. policy’s unique talent for inspiring the U.S. stops eroding or undercutting spondent Jonathan Kwitney’s Endless resentment. practically every peace-promoting, risk- Enemies: The Making of an Unfriendly

RMISolutions p a ge 3 Summer 2002 best delivery mechanisms, but the need is undeniable. Yet few in Washington seem to be talking about such investments in a fairer, safer world. The Bush Administration’s recent increase in foreign aid could be a good thing, but it’s only a small start at reordering our priorities toward what Prime Minister Tony Blair called “above all, justice and prosperity for the poor and dispossessed.”

FREE D O M FR O M F E AR O F ATTAC K The other limb of security is freedom from Wit h t erroris m n ow a m a jor f a c t or for U.S. n atio n a l se c u rity, o u r invest - fear of attack. The 1993 RMI book m e n ts in b o t h d o m estic a n d in t er n atio n a l a re n as n e e d re ex a m in atio n. Security Without War (Westview Press) by Hal Harvey and Michael Shuman defines World remains all too true today, and is inequality, injustice, and deprivation for three key elements: (1) conflict avoid- getting more so. billions of our fellow human beings.” ance/prevention, (2) conflict resolution, But if we substitute the positive goal of Decent lives, anywhere, everywhere, are a and (3) non-provocative defense. striving for a secure world, what does that worthy mission. Today, according to the Conflict avoidance/prevention (“pre- really mean? Webster’s Dictionary defines Development Programme, sponse”) has historically has been given two main elements of security: freedom every poor person on earth could have low priority but it should be the top pri- from fear of privation and freedom from clean water, sanitation, basic health, nutri- ority. It’s by far the most cost-effective fear of attack. Both are vital to being safe tion, education and reproductive health for form of security—think about the fights and feeling safe. And each requires the about $40 billion per year—less than new between siblings that parents quell: they other. How can we achieve them in ways U.S. antiterrorism spending and less than save a lot of time, pain, and resources. that work better and cost less than present one quarter of the recent U.S. tax cut. One Conflict avoidance promotes and flows arrangements? can quibble about the numbers and the from justice, hope, transparency, tolerance, honest government, resource productivity, FREE D O M FR O M F E AR O F and what Harvey and Shuman call “leader P RIVATIO N There are times when control,” which exposes war-mongering Freedom of fear of privation has many leaders to the corrective displeasure of obvious elements: reliable and affordable nothing short of deci- informed constituencies. provision of energy, food, water, sanitation, Conflict avoidance/prevention can take shelter, health care; a sustainable and flex- sive military force will many forms, but the most important may ible system of production, transport, com- be advanced resource productivity. That’s munication, and commerce; universal do; but there are far the key to enabling the world’s people to education and strong innovation; a have, as the South African Constitution healthful environment; vibrant diversity; more instances when says of water, “some, for all, for ever.” free expression, debate, and spirituality; timely “preventive Resource productivity removes apparent and legitimate, accountable self-govern- contradictions between economic health ment. But achieving these is not a zero- humanitarian” mis- and environmental health. It’s imple- sum game in which if I win, you lose. Real mentable by any level of government or security requires that we attain all these sions earlier could the private sector, by market or administra- things not only for ourselves but also for have created military tive means; it can be deployed in varying others. As Dick Bell of the Worldwatch scales (from the household to the globe); Institute has noted, weapons and warriors “negamissions” later. and it’s adaptable to diverse conditions. cannot keep us safe “in a world of extreme

p a ge 4 If conflict avoidance/prevention fails, the our country behave in a next part of the security triad is conflict way that tends to use resolution. That’s the realm of better them. Worse, such a force international laws, norms, and institutions, structure elicits the kinds business practices, and movements and of behaviors we’ve already conventions within civil society. It’s being seen—precisely the assy- rapidly improved, but needs far more work. metrical threats (extraordi- If conflict resolution fails, the next layer of nary means offset by an protection is nonprovocative defense— adversary’s prodigious reliably defeating aggression, but without will) to which this nation threatening others. Neutral Sweden offers is most vulnerable. a promising example: its coastal guns can’t Each of these three ele- be elevated to fire beyond Swedish coastal ments of Least-Cost Solid invest m e n ts in n atio n a l se c u rity c a n t a ke n o n - waters; its effective air force has only a Security enhances the m ilit a ry for m s; t h ey c a n a lso involve t h e m ilit a ry in n o n - co m b at sit u atio ns. short flying range; its military radios are others. And none pre- incompatible with both NATO and cludes projection of mil- lives than avoidable conflict. There are Warsaw Pact frequencies. In many ways, itary force by legitimate international times when nothing short of decisive mili- by technical and institutional design, coalitions—as the last resort, not the first. tary force will do; but there are far more Sweden has made itself a nation both com- instances when timely “preventive human- W H AT KIN D O F C O P? forting to live next to and uninviting to itarian” missions earlier could have created attack. Systematic and comprehensive If the United States is going to remain the military “negamissions” later. design for nonprovocative defense can ulti- Global Cop, there are some questions to To rebuild her tarnished credibility, the mately yield a stable mutual defensive mull over. Are we to do community United States will need to re-engage with superiority, where each side’s defense is policing, and be the friendly cop walking the world community in many areas, stronger than the other side’s offense, so the beat, making friends and preventing whether non-proliferation treaties, pluto- neither wishes to attack. problems? Or are we the SWAT team that nium and land-mine reduction agree- forays from its fortress only to swarm onto Nonprovocative defense need not be of a ments, chemical and biological warfare the massacre scene and shoot the perpetra- military nature. A wide range of measures treaties, or leadership on climate protec- tors? Would not our interests in the devel- can achieve it, ranging from non-violent tion. These are but a few of the many oping world be better advanced by sanctions through diversified civilian-based pressing issues where the United States democratization, anticorruption, sustain- defense systems to paramilitarized home- should be setting the world example. able development, resource efficiency, fair land defense (like Switzerland’s). To be Another is brainstorming solutions for the trade, demand-side drug policies, plu- nonprovocative—making one’s neighbors globe—one interesting notion would even ralism, tolerance, and humility than by feel more secure, not less—defenses must offer countries that gave up their armed expeditionary forces? Had the U.S. sup- be of low vulnerability, low concentration forces the option of buying international ported Massoud against the Taliban, as he of value, short range, and dependent on “security insurance” that shares multina- begged when the Soviets withdrew, might local support. Of course, resilient design tional or UN-based forces as its guarantee we have avoided the far costlier commit- does not stop terrorism, but does disincen- against attackers. tivize it—something national missile ment of forces to Afghanistan now, and The foundation of a safe world is the defense can never do. much of the terror that intervened? Had an unwise U.S. Ambassador not blocked shared and lived belief that security rests The U.S. military is being transformed Mao’s overtures to Washington, might we on economic justice, political freedom, toward more agile, mobile, deployable have avoided the Korean War and the respected laws, and a common defense. forces. This is vitally necessary. Yet in the Sino-Soviet alignment? True investments Massive, economy-distorting investments long run it carries the seeds of internal con- in development, transparency, collective in arms alone—not to mention earth- tradiction. Long-range, rapidly deployable tripolar security arrangements, and non- drilling nukes and outer-space military sys- capabilities negate any statements that our provocative defense seem a better invest- tems—divert America’s attention from true intentions are purely defensive. Having ment of tax dollars and of precious young security investments that will work better global offensive capabilities will also make and cost less.

RMISolutions p a ge 5 Summer 2002 Persp ectives

Dear Congress, to 1.15 million barrels a day of gasoline) car average, a superefficient new car would This nation has squabbled over the oil would only require making the light- win a roughly $5,000–15,000 rebate. The under the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge vehicle fleet 2.7 mpg more efficient. A rate could be based on mpg per cubic foot as if it were our only meaty energy issue. It saving that size was being achieved every of interior volume so it doesn’t distort is not. It’s time to close the door on three years in the early ’80s. Now America choices of vehicle size. It should also be ANWR, as the Senate did, and consider could save six times as much oil. How? To technology-neutral to stimulate technolog- other priorities. capture huge savings quickly, the ical innovation. President, Congress, and all Americans Reducing or eliminating Mideast oil • A “scrap-and-trade” system would speed could: dependence has never been a more impor- fleet turnover: tie the rebate for an efficient tant national issue. It’s key to affordable • Establish revenue-neutral “feebates”: new car to the difference in efficiency between the new car you buy and the old car you scrap. Put a bounty on H ow to Ge t o f f Oil: clunkers scrapped and not replaced. Scrappage will disproportionately boost A n O p e n Le t t er to C on gress fleet efficiency, cut smog and carbon B y L. Hunter Lovins dioxide, and expand automakers’ new- car markets and hence jobs. Inefficient national security, a healthy economy, and when you buy a new car, you pay a fee for old cars are worth far more dead than unconstrained mobility. If it’s not on the its inefficiency or get a rebate for its effi- alive. minds of all Americans, it should be. ciency. Each year, the fees pay for the • Accelerate commercialization of break- Achieving it is possible, cost effective, and rebates, so it’s not a new tax—those who through technologies. For example, a practical; indeed, we’ve done it before. choose inefficient vehicles and impose decade ago RMI spearheaded the idea of an social costs on the rest of us pay for those In just six years, 1979–85, U.S. gross uncompromised, same-price, ultralight, who choose efficient vehicles and save domestic product grew 16 percent, total ultrasafe, hybrid-electric Hypercar®. To social costs. At a reasonable rate of several oil use fell 15 percent, and Persian Gulf oil help automakers design and engineer such thousand dollars for each 0.01 gallon per imports plummeted 87 percent. If the vehicles Hypercar, Inc. was formed. One of mile (not mpg) above or below the new- United States had maintained that pace, it the company’s designs is a mid-sized SUV could have eliminated all Gulf imports that would get 99 mpg running on a since 1986. Today’s more powerful tech- hydrogen fuel cell and would be produc- tion feasible by 2006 (www.hypercar. nologies, policies, and motivation can In just six years, 1979–85, repeat and beat that success while com). Today automakers are introducing improving jobs, income, and the environ- U.S. gross domestic product doubled-efficiency hybrids and should ment. have quadrupled-efficiency ones on the grew 16 percent, total oil use road by decade’s end. Such superefficient Redoubling oil productivity is not a pipe light vehicles could ultimately save three dream. In 2000, America used 40 percent fell 15 percent, and Persian to four times Gulf imports nationwide—as less energy and 49 percent less oil to pro- much as Saudi Arabia sells to everyone. duce each dollar of gross domestic product Gulf oil imports plummeted Worldwide, they’d save as much oil as than in 1975. Without that reduced OPEC now sells. energy intensity, we’d have needed five 87 percent. If the United • Aftermarket tires as efficient as originals, times the domestic oil output and 13 times States had maintained that the Persian Gulf imports we did get. Yet it upgraded truck tire efficiency, and elimi- barely scratches the surface of what’s now pace it could have eliminated nated empty backhauls would save more possible and profitable. For example, dis- oil than we could get from ANWR—if placing all Persian Gulf oil (2.5 million bar- all Gulf imports since 1986. there’s any economically recoverable oil rels a day of crude oil in 2000, equivalent there at all. p a ge 6 Persp ectives

• Feebates could double heavy trucks’ effi- itably—and, in time, completely. All ciency and double or triple commercial should be shared rapidly with allies and planes’ efficiency. freely with developing countries: many of • Without the fuel-wasting hub-and-spoke both depend on Gulf oil far more than we. airport monopolies, we could get faster Then there are many ways to provide oil point-to-point flights in smaller planes. substitutes: • The Defense Science Board’s May 2001 • . New ways to turn farm, forest, report More Capable Warfighting Through and even municipal wastes into liquid fuels Reduced Fuel Burden recommended an can now compete if scaled up. Done right, array of fuel savings that would improve they can protect topsoil, farmers, rural cul- the Department of Defense’s capability ture, climate, and prosperity. Locally pro- while saving many billions of dollars a year. ducing such biofuels bypasses vulnerable • For the longer term, we should stop man- pipelines and provides more jobs. dating and subsidizing sprawl, level the However, production should not playing field between cars and other trans- compete with food production, nor burden portation modes, and encourage integrated already-stressed topsoil. Good technologies mobility services, so all Americans— would support natural-systems agriculture, including the one-third who are now too which also saves , promotes Together these efficiency and supply old, young, poor, or infirm to drive—have family farming, and pays farmers to move options can replace Mideast oil without more choices about how to get around or carbon from air to topsoil. relying on inherently vulnerable domestic not to need to. • Hydrogen. Fuel cells using hydrogen sources—such as doubled and prolonged dependence on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Together, such proven alternatives in made from natural gas or renewable elec- System, which would create the fattest energy efficiency and nonpetroleum supply tricity are just entering civilian use and energy-terrorist target in the country. can displace oil promptly, securely, prof- mass-production. The chairs of four major oil companies and three major automakers Doing that would worsen national energy have said we’re entering the oil endgame security. True energy security comes instead from more efficient use and from S pre a din g t h e Word and the start of the Hydrogen Age. A prof- itable-at-each-step transition has been more diverse, dispersed, renewable, and In recent months, RMI has made available on its devised by RMI, but it depends critically local sources. They’re also the ones now website some important pieces of energy-related on cars designed for direct hydrogen, e.g., winning in the market. material, which we recommend to readers. First Hypercars. (When parked, those can also Sincerely, published in The American Prospect, Amory serve as clean power-plants-on-wheels, and Hunter Lovins’s two-part “Mobilizing L. Hunter Lovins earning back much of their ownership cost Energy Solutions” is a compelling, contemporary and potentially displacing all the existing overview of U.S. energy policy and the nation’s coal and nuclear power plants many times This piece is adapted from a briefing exciting energy opportunities. (See over.) Hydrogen already competes on cents paper by and Hunter Lovins www.rmi.org/ per mile, but its production, infrastructure, for a national political leader, 2 October sitepages/pid171.php#LibEnergyPol.) and fuel-cell production scale-up all merit 2001. Second, , the ground-breaking support, as do renewable sources to pro- 1982 Pentagon study on domestic energy vul- duce it. Hydrogen deployment also needs nerability by Lovins and Lovins, has been loaded Federal modernization of obsolete codes onto our website, at and standards. Any new natural gas www.rmi.org/sitepages/art7095.php. With the pipelines built should be designed to be current concerns about energy security and ter- compatible with later conversion to car- rorism, Brittle Power is a most compelling read. rying hydrogen.

RMISolutions p a ge 7 Summer 2002 trasted with about 20 percent in the Fost erin g a Gree n C hin a eastern provinces) is still owned by the R M I’s Bill B row nin g h e a ds t o t h e Fa r E ast’s wild west t o p ro m o t e sust a in a ble d evelo p m e n t government. Many of the existing manu- facturing businesses are heavy polluters, B y Jeremy Heiman and will probably need to be closed down for environmental reasons risking massive unemployment and displacement. To speed redevelopment and reduce the shock of transition to privately owned businesses, the policy group recom- mended financing based on a structure used by rural cooperatives in the United States—bonds are guaranteed by the gov- ernment, but they are financed by pur- chases made by individual investors. Customers of a rural electrical coopera-

A b ove: Ya n n a n, a city o f 10 0,0 0 0 in t h e lo ess soil pl at e a u re gio n o f S h a a n xi tive, for example, pay bills to the coop, p rovin c e. T his city w as t h e h o m e o f t h e C hin ese C o m m u nist P a r ty a n d t h e but over time, they become owners of the c e n t er o f a m assive e colo gic a l st a biliz atio n e f for t. P h o t os: Bill B row nin g utility. Chinese planners at the meeting he most fertile ground for introduced the concepts of natural capi- were fascinated and intrigued by the idea growing green developments just talism to the sprawling nation and of using private financing to develop a T might be in the most populous launched the Chinese edition of the book. business which ultimately becomes a coop- nation on earth. China, a country straining Also participating in the December confer- erative. at the gates of the modern age, is planning ence were members of the Federation of Anderson addressed the conference, an orderly redevelopment of its western Associations of Chinese Professionals in speaking on the work of Interface and the provinces, now staggering under trans- the Southeastern United States, a group of effects of the principles of natural capi- portation, infrastructure and pollution expatriate Chinese businesspeople and sci- talism in the business. problems. To gain knowledge necessary to entists. The planners were also excited to learn introduce sustainability to this develop- Browning and the others participated in about the green building, distributed gen- ment process, Chinese officials have begun the symposium as guests of the State eration, and stormwater work that RMI a consultation process involving RMI and Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs. has done in recent years. other American experts. The delegation flew into Beijing. After an “These things have really good traction Bill Browning, of RMI’s Green Develop- eye-opening visit to Xi’an and some nearby with Chinese leaders,” Browning said, ment Services, traveled to China last rural areas in Shaanxi Province to learn of noting that China is on the verge of a great December along with Ray Anderson, the problems faced in Western China, transition, and officials are concerned that Chairman and CEO of Interface, Inc., a Browning and Anderson traveled to the change be guided with care and considera- recognized expert on natural capitalism symposium. tion. They are open to ideas from any concepts. The two attended a gathering The West China development symposium quarter, as long as they are workable. called the International Symposium on was held in Chengdu, in Sichwan In fact, Browning said, one government Construction and Sustainable Province, at a former summer residence of official declared that China is a commu- Development of West China, hosted by Mao Ze Dong. Chinese officials from sev- nist, centrally-planned economy in name leaders of a government group convened eral provinces were present. They were only at this point, and is developing eco- to guide development efforts. direct and honest about their problems. nomically by whatever means are appro- The trip was organized by C.S. Kiang, an “They have enormous pollution prob- priate. The discussions among leaders bore old friend of RMI, recently retired as lems,” Browning said. Although China is a remarkable resemblance to what one Institute professor at Georgia Tech. Kiang moving away from an economy that might hear in the United States, he said, also arranged Hunter and Amory Lovins’s depends on central planning, 78 percent of with officials trying to sort out whose juris- visit to China in 2000, when the two industry in the western provinces (as con- diction each of these issues falls under. p a ge 8 Though the purpose of the trip was to ini- tiate a learning process for Chinese officials Gree nin g t h e Su m m er Oly m pia d on the subject of , it was an eye-opener for the visitors as well. Before the conference, Browning and Anderson got a better look at some of China’s problems in the course of a tour through Northwestern China. Bill’s group went to Xi’an, the ancient cap- ital of China and the home of the first emperors of China, located in Shaanxi Province. Traveling north by bus, they crossed a plateau of loess soil, eroded into thousands of hills and valleys. They visited the tomb of China’s first emperor, in a scrub ecosystem similar to the piñon- R M I’s Bill B row nin g wit h P ro f. C S Ki a n g, t h e or g a niz er o f m u ch o f R M I's juniper lands around RMI’s Snowmass, involve m e n t in C hin a, in a st at e re c e p tio n h a ll in t h e For bid d e n City. Colorado headquarters. The area immedi- ately around the tomb is covered with n December 20, Bill Browning, Ray Anderson, and C.S. Kiang had a pri- cedar trees up to 3,000 years old. vate meeting with Wang Wei, the operational head of China’s Olympic “It’s exceedingly beautiful,” Browning O organizing committee, and his assistant. The 2008 Summer Games, to be said. “But in shocking contrast to held in Beijing, are being heralded as the “Green Olympics.” Colorado, the surrounding hills are com- The committee had convened only ten or twelve days before the delegation’s arrival, pletely denuded, stripped for agriculture in so scheduling a meeting with the committee’s head was considered an achievement centuries past. Every centimeter of the hill- in itself. But the scheduled half-hour meeting stretched into an hour as the partici- sides was cultivated, but erosion on a mas- pants discussed the possibilities for reducing the impact of the venues and the games. sive scale resulted.” The Rutgers-educated Wei spoke perfect English, Browning said. Browning’s group visited the emperor’s “They’ve got some enormous challenges,” Browning said. Preliminary plans call for a tomb on the way to the town of Yannan, lot of construction on the Olympic site in the northwest quadrant of Beijing. The where Mao Ze Dong’s communist party conversation centered on green strategies used on other projects, and what lessons was based in its early days. Along the road, RMI has learned out of that experience. as far as the eye could see, hillsides were Browning said he believes there may be an opportunity for RMI to participate further terraced. as the design process progresses. “Your first reaction is you’re just horri- “The organizers are calling it the ‘Green Olympics,’ and that’s a huge commitment,” fied,” Browning said. “This was ter- he said. “They now have to follow through, especially after what the Australians raforming on a scale that’s almost achieved in Sydney. There’s quite a bit that they’re going to have to do—and it could inconceivable.” Though the terraces and be very advantageous.” the dikes at their edges use considerable land area, agricultural production is actu- For more information, see http://www.beijing-2008.org/eolympic/news%20room/ ally increased, because the terraces make bj%20sheet.html. — Jeremy Heiman more water available to crops. “They’re actually getting far more food out of the restoration of grasses and forbs thought to tors was to drill and obtain small core sam- same area,” Browning said. have been native to the area. ples of building materials in a Song Dynasty pagoda in Yannan. The cores can Terracing and micro-terraces are used not Areas have been replanted, Browning said, be examined for the pollen that floated by just for agriculture, but to prevent further but it’s not certain that the original vegeta- at the time of construction, helping erosion. The terraces have cut the erosion tion is being restored because no one researchers determine what vegetation by 65 to 70 percent. Micro-terraces are knows for certain what the native species was present. not used so much for agriculture as for were. One of the suggestions made by visi- RMISolutions p a ge 9 Summer 2002 “His remarks were really astonishing,” Browning said. In his discussion of China’s energy strategy, he conceded that coal, nuclear, and natural gas will remain the most important sources for the near term, but China must focus on three things. The first is to clean up coal-fired power plants dramatically. The second is continuing the ongoing transition to natural gas. The third, and most important, Wen said, is where the future of China lies. “Our future is with solar and wind,” Browning said, quoting Wen. “China has P assive sol a r g re e n h o uses su ch as t his h ave ex t e n d e d t h e g rowin g se aso n huge wind and solar resources it has in West er n C hin a, ex p a n d e d t h e cro p m ix, a n d i m p rove d t h e in co m e o f re m o t e vill a ges. barely begun to use. This is where we will focus our attention.” But even more important, Browning said, Wen went on Apple orchards have been planted on the considerable downside. To accommodate to say that all of the changes in energy pre- terraces with some degree of success. But more and more cars, China is developing a suppose that the nation will do the most in some of the most remote areas, the cost network of four-lane highways equivalent important thing first: dramatically increase of hauling the fruit out by truck exceeds to the interstate system in the United the efficiency of China’s energy use. the price of the crop, so apples can be seen States. One of the hosts introduced Browning, rotting on the ground. “Many times, we’d go into these tiny vil- who presented Wen with a Chinese-lan- In most villages in this region, modern lages, where people lived in structures that guage copy of Natural Capitalism signed housing has been built after the wise pat- were essentially huts,” Browning said. by coauthor Hunter Lovins. Browning said tern of ancient ones—built into south- “Then you’d have this massive gas station Wen was quite excited about the book and facing hillsides to take advantage of passive on the edge of town, which in many cases declared that he had wanted to read it solar heat. The barrel-vaulted arches of dwarfs everything else in the community.” since he heard of its publication. The these dwellings repeat the prominent To accommodate the additional cars, Chinese translation of Natural design element in the cliff dwellings. bicycle traffic in some towns has been Capitalism—the 1999 book by Amory moved off streets and onto separate bike Some of these villages have also built Lovins, Hunter Lovins and — lanes, with their own traffic lights. As greenhouses, taking advantage of the has done well in China, selling out each highways send their branches through the southern exposure for year-round crop pro- printing as soon as it is available. duction. These are built from adobe, stone countryside, advertising follows. Buildings Before the trip drew to a close, Browning or rammed earth, with straw for insula- facing the highways are now adorned with delivered a guest lecture on green building tion. Their south-facing surfaces have clear giant characters proclaiming the virtues of technology at Beijing University. He has plastic stretched over a wood or metal products sold there. been asked to participate in the design of a structure. This has allowed even tiny vil- “Ten years ago, you wouldn’t have seen new 200,000-square-foot classroom, labo- lages to increase the variety of food that that,” Browning said. ratory and office building there. The they’re producing and to create additional Back in Beijing after the symposium, the building, which will be one of the first income. travelers met with a vice-premier who is in green buildings in China, is expected to be “That was a thing that amazed me,” line to be the next premier of China, Wen shared by the university and the 2008 Browning said. “There’s commerce going Jiabao. Premiers of China succeed each Olympic Committee. on everywhere. The level of economic other in a rotation. Wen has been chosen, activity is phenomenal. This is a culture Browning said, because he’s viewed as one that understands capitalism and has for a of the most progressive and incorruptible very long time.” of the country’s top leaders. The delega- But capitalism along with growth has a tion met with Wen for more than an hour. p a ge 10 Life at R M I T h e N E P Initiative— A n Id e a W hose Ti m e Is C o m in g B y Marty Pickett, Executive Director

his past spring has been a hectic and simple. It’s the way public policy of any time at RMI. We successfully kind should be done—transparently, care- T completed two of RMI’s most fully, candidly, respectfully, and inclusively. ambitious projects, and both seem to be It tested the hypothesis that focusing on taking root. Our work with refugee camps what most Americans agree about would has stimulated wide interest, and several make most of the things they don’t agree large foundations are now asking about about less necessary and important. The additional design work and field tests—stay Expert Group’s clear and concise 17-page tuned. consensus on integrated vision, goals, and Meanwhile, the National Energy Policy strategies is an important advance in Initiative continues to gain acceptance addressing decisively and creatively the among the nation’s top energy experts and national needs that the House and Senate is seeing an upswell of grassroots support. ducked or couldn’t agree on. (And thanks Thirty-three leading energy experts have to Rep. Mark Udall, we will present the Administration. An eloquent speaker, he already endorsed the Expert Group’s NEP Initiative to a session of the influential recently penned a short essay about energy report. Half are or were senior private- bipartisan/bicameral Energy & policy’s moral context. Mike knows that sector executives. The backgrounds of the Environmental Study Institute, 3 p.m. 26 many of us currently deciding the fate of others include two Advisors to the June in Washington DC. Reps. Mark Udall the world won’t be around in 40 years. President, two Deputy Secretaries of (D-Colo.) and Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) will That’s why he feels it’s so important that Energy, five other Subcabinet members, a co-host, and RMI is expecting 100-300 we work for our children’s future. With his CIA Director, two Senior Economists from members and staffers. Our speakers will permission, I’ve decided to quote it here. the President’s Council of Economic include Amory Lovins, Jack Riggs, and Read it, think about it, and see if you can Advisors, five chairs or members of federal Bruce Smart.) take some of your own steps toward a and state regulatory commissions, and a Mike Davis was a member of the NEP better future. Energy is an issue that will House energy leader—heavy hitters all. Initiative Expert Group. One of the nation’s never go away, so a sound and durable Why such strong bipartisan support? brightest energy minds, he was Assistant energy policy is an ideal and a responsibility Because the NEP Initiative matters, plain Secretary of Energy under the first Bush that shouldn’t go away either. A Si m ple Et hic B y Mike Davis istory has a way of recording those who had an opportu- past 30 years, I have witnessed concern for energy and the environ- nity to make a difference and what actually happened. As ment and calls to action come and go. For all the intellectual H our children wrestle with the energy and environmental capacity, great planning and political rhetoric brought to bear, I problems they must solve, because we did not, they and history have not seen any sustaining leadership or progress toward what will most likely flunk our current collective business, political and should be our goal: leaving more value and opportunity for the intellectual leadership. future than what we are consuming today! There is an old saying that goes, ‘We do not inherit the earth from In my view, the missing link to sustained progress on these topics is our fathers, we borrow it from our children.’ This truth is clearly acceptance of a simple guiding ethic. We are borrowing the earth observable today. We are indeed borrowing clean air, clean water, from our children. Are they going to be well served by what we and limited energy raw materials from our children and their chil- consume, produce and leave behind? Our actions can be guided dren and we are leaving nothing of equal value in return. Simply and judged by this ethic. put, we should be leaving the campground cleaner than when we We certainly know enough today and have sufficient time and found it! Are we? The answer is no—but; and there are always resources to take actions that would get a passing grade. Do we buts, very complicated buts that get in the way of action—over the have the ethics?

RMISolutions p a ge 11 Summer 2002 Gree n D evelo p m e n t P B Fs M a ke t h e Gra d e

B y Cameron M. Burns and Huston Eubank, AI A, C SI, C C S henomenal!” exclaimed RMI’s CEO Amory “ P Lovins when architect Heinz Rudolf, FAIA, told him about the newly-opened North Clackamas High School’s likely future energy savings. Amory had good reason to be excited. The school has successfully applied many of the concepts he had suggested in its earliest design sessions. Computer and physical modeling of the school predict that it will quickly become one of the best green schools in the nation. The total energy saving is expected to be 44 percent better than the Oregon Energy Building Code requires (and much better than the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ energy code recommenda-

tions). The school will save roughly T h e 2 6 5,0 0 0 -sq u a re - foo t, 1,8 0 0 -se at Cl a c k a m as H ig h Sch ool, n e a r $75,000–80,000 annually on its energy Por tl a n d, O re., o p e n e d re c e n tly. E a rly in its d esig n, R M I sele c t e d t h e bills, and the total capital cost was a b uildin g as o n e o f fo u r U.S. d e m o nst ratio n p roje c ts for o u r “ p er for m a n c e - b ase d co m p e nsatio n ” ex p eri m e n t. D esig n e d by B O O R A A rchit e c ts a n d mere $118.70 per square foot. And now C B G E n gin e ers, it e njoys ex c e p tio n a l a m e nity a n d e n er g y e f fi cie n cy. P h o t o that it’s open, the structure itself is co u r t esy D avid C h u rch drawing rave reviews. “This is an incredible building for stu- efficient design become part of the com- and investigated. dents and staff,” said Principal Dean pensation package for designers—the Winder. “The natural light and ventila- “The district was not interested in green greater the savings in electricity, natural tion brighten everyone’s day. The stu- design for its own sake,” said Bill gas, liquid fuels, and other resources, the dents have more bounce in their step and Dierdorff, Business with the more the architects and engineers smiles on their faces. The parents and North Clackamas School District. earn. community are very proud of what they “The district was interested in an have done for this generation and genera- The North Clackamas High excellent educational environ- tions to come.” School project began in the ment that would be cost-effec- mid-1990s and involved tive over the 75- to-100-year P ERF O R M A N C E - B ASE D F EES numerous entities, including life of the facility. Green The North Clackamas High School is RMI, BOORA Architects, Green was not a goal, it was a unique not only because it is now one of CBG Engineers, Eley Associates, Schools solution!” the greenest schools in the nation, but The ENSAR Group, Portland With funding from the Energy because of the use of performance-based General Electric, the Energy Foundation, Foundation, RMI worked closely with fees (PBFs)—one of four projects chosen and, of course, the school district. North Eley Associates to create a set of PBF by RMI to demonstrate their use. As the Clackamas educators had heard about guidelines. PBFs aren’t rocket science, name implies, PBFs are professional fees the effects of natural lighting and ventila- but using them requires considerable in which the savings derived from highly- tion on student and teacher performance, foresight and planning. “The value of

p a ge 12 starting early cannot be overemphasized,” A DOE-2 computer energy model antici- the specific expectations.” In an aside, wrote Charles Eley, AIA, PE, of Eley pates annual savings over typical designs of Heinz chuckled about how the run-up in Associates in the primer Energy 275,000 kilowatt-hours in lighting, energy prices last summer might have a Performance Contracting for New 315,000 kWh in fans and pumps, 150,000 very positive effect on the performance- Buildings. “Retrofits and late design kWh in cooling, and roughly 27,000 based fees, and how this has highlighted changes are usually limited to HVAC therms (2.7 billion Btus) in heating. the importance of energy savings for equipment selection, lighting equipment The building is complemented with this project. changes, and possibly glass type. These indigenous landscaping. An According to Physical Plant measures save energy, but they have a rel- existing six-acre wetland area Director David Church, the school atively low rate of return. The most cost- was preserved and enhanced; has been a locally as well as effective measures happen early on and it will be used to retain and regionally. Several other affect characteristics like building orienta- purify stormwater runoff. Green school districts are working on tion, window size and placement, shading, To test their design ideas about Schools high schools with similar tech- and space planning. Many of these meas- lighting and natural ventilation, the archi- nology, including the Salem-Keizer School ures cost nearly nothing—sometimes they tects and students built two full-scale class- District and the Oregon City School even cost less than the base case—but room mockups. The first of these was at District. each have the potential for saving a lot of the Seattle City Light’s Lighting Design “I was surprised at how a building can be energy.” (See “Enlightenment in Brazil,” Laboratory, where they were able to hone so functional and yet beautiful at the same p. 14.) critical aspects of their daylighting and time,” he said. “My impression in talking electric lighting design. The second was T H E S C H O OL ITSELF with both students and the community built by the students on the site of the new that they are very pleased with the school. The 265,355-square-foot school opened 3 school and used to test natural ventilation The School Board is pleased as they know April 2002, after spring break, so that components of the heating and cooling this facility was a great bargain and will North Clackamas seniors would be able to design. continue to save operating costs due to its enjoy the school before they graduate. The Performance-based fees can get badly lost low energy consumption. The press was building is organized into “bars” along an in many building and development project very positive and did several stories on the east-west axis for optimal natural lighting processes, especially when there are many school and its ‘green’ aspects.” and ventilation. It also employs natural change orders. In this project, however, and recycled-content materials that follow Such green or sustainable buildings aren’t the PBFs survived and even helped steer principles of environmental sensitivity, sim- just getting noticed in Oregon. Across the the process. The money saved through plicity and efficiency—such items as nat- country and around the globe they are energy efficiency will be split between the ural linoleum, ceramic and quarry tile, becoming the norm, not the exception. designers and the school fifty-fifty for the brick, recycled rubber flooring, recycled Recently, Australian architect Glenn first two years, with the school’s share upholstery, and recycled acoustical tiles. Murcutt won the Pritzker Prize for his going into the general fund to offset Divided into four academic houses, the beautiful and sustainable designs. In his increasing cost of energy. building provides small-scale learning envi- New York Times article about the award, ronments with emphasis on flexibility, inte- “The PBFs were important simply because architecture critic Herbert Muschamp—by gration of instruction, technology, and they allowed us to spend the extra time no means a champion of green design— spaces for social interaction and commu- and effort required to create a first-class noted: “Mr. Murcutt’s selection by the nity use. school,” added Rudolf. “The extra com- Pritzker jury can be seen as an acknowl- pensation allows us to do extra research, edgement that sustainability now overrides “Because of a tight budget (roughly $29 evaluations, and testing so that we can aesthetic criteria in the urbanizing world.” million), the building orientation, massing, develop cost-effective systems, especially bay-depth, and micro-climate had to be While we agree, the new North passive systems. What is equally important considered from the beginning,” said archi- Clackamas High School project points out is the fact that once a contract for the tect Rudolf, a principle at BOORA very elegantly, as do Mr. Murcutt’s build- extra compensation is in place, it serves as Architects of Portland. “The emphasis on ings, that sustainability and aesthetics can tool to commit everyone to accomplish high-performance glass and skin permitted be quite complementary. specific goals, as opposed to slightly a reduction of the mechanical system.” increasing the professional fees without

RMISolutions p a ge 13 Summer 2002 E nlig h t e n m e n t in Bra zil B y Cameron M. Burns and Huston Eubank, AI A, C SI, C C S or those of us who some remarkable work on solutions for a deterio- results. While RMI’s F rating planet, possibly the greatest work covered a number investments we can make are in our chil- of topic areas (waste- dren and grandchildren. Our current ideas water treatment, execu- for dealing with climate change, carbon tive training in natural emissions, resource depletion and other capitalism, etc.), it’s in problems —although we think they’re the realm of green pretty neat—will seem awkward com- school design that pared to the elegant, up-to-date strategies we’ve seen the biggest our children will invent and deliver. return on investment. So how do we leverage that investment in Both Curitiba and the our kids—an investment we know will state of Paraná are in have greater returns than our own current the process of planning and immature solutions? We start by for many new schools. making our schools better. But at RMI RMI’s studies of existing we’re not only interested in inspiring the schools and presenta- teachers and administrators or changing tions of what’s possible the curriculum—we want to change the with green buildings buildings. caught the attention of Just one aspect of a “green school”—day- both state officials and lighting—can have extraordinary effects Curitiba’s mayor. Over on students. In 2000, researchers evalu- the course of three trips ated the test scores of 21,000 students in to South America, A b ove: Views o f a d j a c e n t cl assroo m s. In b o t h, t h e in e f fi cie n t fl u oresc e n t lig h ts a re t u r n e d o f f. three school districts in California, RMItes worked with T h e dif f ere n c e is d u e t o lig h tsh elves, which R M I Colorado, and Washington. They found state and city officials to a d d e d t o t h e cl assroo m win d ows so t h at se nior design a new model B ra zili a n o f fi ci a ls co uld se e just h ow e f f e c tive that in one district, the students d aylig h tin g a n d o t h er “ g re e n ” sch ool d esig n ele - in classrooms with good day- school that uses 75 m e n ts c a n b e. T h e lig h tsh elves n o t o nly sp re a d percent less energy lig h t eve nly a cross t h e roo m, t h ey a lso m o d erat e light progressed 20 percent t h e ex c essive b rig h t - t o- d a r k ratio t h at m a kes faster on math tests and 26 than current t h e cl assroo m in t h e u p p er p h o t o so u n co m for t - a ble. P h o t os: H ust o n E u b a n k percent faster on reading designs, yet per- forms at much tests when compared with 970-927-7217). Because the school is higher levels of comfort and pro- students in classrooms Green funded by the mayor, we are able to exper- ductivity. The design is funded for with poor quality or no day- Schools iment with and implement RMI’s green construction by the mayor and will light. In the other two dis- building recommendations; once the new be finished in about a year. Then we are tricts, “students in classrooms with the school’s performance is verified, it will planning a year-long period of monitoring most daylighting were found to have 7–18 become the prototype for schools funded during which we will examine the percent higher scores than those in the by Brazil’s Federal government. least.” building’s energy and resources consump- tion, and more importantly the perform- The Brazilians are very excited about this. In the past year and a half, the Summit ance of the students. (If you would like to Though a relatively modest start, our work Foundation has funded some important support RMI’s monitoring efforts, please in green school design could one day make RMI work in the Brazilian city of Curitiba, contact Dale Levy at [email protected] or Brazil a world leader in green school and we are now on the verge of seeing design. p a ge 14 A b ove: E dit or’s pic k for B est A c tio n P h o t o: R M I’s a ni m at e d a rchit e c t H ust o n E u b a n k ex pl a ins t h e b e n e fi ts o f hig h - p er for m a n c e d esig n t o Gover n or J a i m e Ler n er o f t h e st at e o f P a ra n á, B ra zil (n o t e t h e f ast - m ovin g fi n ger). Rig h t: Lig h tsh elves a re e asy t o inst a ll, a f for d - a ble by a ny socie ty, a n d p rovid e so m e o f t h e g re at est b e n e fi ts t o st u d e n ts a n d f a c ulty. T h e ex t erior lig h tsh elf sh a d es t h e gl ass b elow it, while b o t h it a n d its in t erior ex t e nsio n b o u n c e d aylig h t u p o n t o t h e c eilin g.

And RMI’s work with schools in Brazil will Rainbow Plan.” It is likely that fixing prob- The Department of Energy estimates not just be for Brazil. All over the world lems with stress, learning and discipline schools in the United States spend more both developing and developed nations are could begin with very simple daylighting than $6 billion each year on energy and struggling to figure out good educational and natural ventilation efforts. that 25 percent of that money—$1.5 bil- practices. Even places with very high aca- Certainly, daylighting is already proven to lion—could easily be saved through demic standards are looking to change the help stress levels. In studies of 90 Swedish “better building design, widely available way they do education. (See “PBFs Make elementary (primary) school students, energy-efficient and the Grade,” p. 12.) researchers looked at behavior, health, and technologies, and improvements to opera- For example, in 2001 Japan under- cortisol (a stress hormone) for a one- tions and maintenance.” (We’d prefer to took education reform. According year period in four separate class- aim for a saving of least 75 percent.) to Japan Digest rooms, each with different amounts RMI’s work in Brazil with Curitiba’s model (www.indiana.edu/~japan/ of daylight. According to the green school is obviously in its infancy but digest5.html), “many Journal of Environmental could have global potential. Around the Japanese believe that the Psychology, “the results indi- world, more and more schools are examination system is too Green cate work in classrooms expanding their hours of operation, stressful, that the schools are too Schools without daylight may upset the reducing class size, and employing other rigid and don’t meet the needs of basic hormone pattern, and this measures—such as one-on-one tutoring— individual students, that contemporary stu- in turn may influence the children’s ability to improve learning. Such improvements dents show little interest in studying, and to concentrate or cooperate, and also even- put big demands on physical learning that the educational system needs to pro- tually have an impact on annual body space and energy requirements, ironically duce more creative and flexible citizens for growth and absenteeism.” leaving less money for books and other the twenty-first century.” They also blame In this country, the federal government resources that directly affect education. In the schools for a “perceived increase in estimates that between 2000 and 2007, the coming years, high-performance school child misbehavior, particularly in junior “at least 5,000 new schools will be design will become one of the single most highs.” Thus, Japan is now experimenting designed and constructed to meet the important aspects of education, alongside with a broadly revised approach to educa- needs of American students in kinder- higher quality books, quality teachers, and tion and curricula nicknamed “the garten through grade 12.” quality curricula.

RMISolutions p a ge 15 Summer 2002 R M I N ews

Wyden, Clinton, and Smith, attended the R M I’s Bill roundtable, in the Dirksen Senate Office SIP is co m in g! Brow nin g Building. Staff from the Senate Science At long last, Small Is Profitable: The Brie fs Se n at e Committee and staffers representing sev- Hidden Economic Benefits of Making RMI’s Bill Browning participated in the eral House members were also in atten- Electrical Resources the Right Size is going first-ever U.S. Senate roundtable discussion dance. Browning said he believes the to press! Written by by Amory B. Lovins, on green building techniques on 24 April discussion was a success and that legisla- Kyle Datta, Thomas Feiler, Karl R. Rábago, 2002. Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) organized tive efforts supporting green building Joel N. Swisher, André Lehmann, and Ken the meeting to educate Senators about the improvements for federal buildings may Wicker, the long-anticipated book (five advantages of making federal buildings result from the event. “I think this will be years in the writing, 27 years in research) more energy-efficient. the first of a series of annual, or maybe describes more than 200 ways in which more frequent, Congressional roundtables the size of “electrical resources”—devices “The federal gov- on green building,” said Browning. that make, save, or store electricity—affects ernment owns half their economic value. It shows that prop- a million buildings, Discussion at the roundtable ranged from erly considering the economic benefits of which makes it the acknowledgement of the strong role gov- “distributed” (decentralized) electrical single largest prop- ernment plays in fostering green building resources typically raises their value by a erty owner in the to the need for more building research, large factor, often as much as tenfold, by country,” Browning particularly on how buildings affect human improving system planning, utility construc- said. “For it to be health and productivity. Browning said tion and operation (especially of the grid), Bill B row nin g, implementing there was a strong dialogue about a federal H o n. AIA service quality, and avoided societal costs. green building tech- tax credit for green buildings. “While the That increase far exceeds the cost differ- niques is very significant in creating mar- economic benefits of green buildings have ences between, say, modern natural-gas- kets. It will also create a lot of good been well documented, they are still only fired power plants and windfarms. In many examples of the feasibility of energy effi- five percent of new construction,” said applications it could even make photo- ciency retrofits in different climates and Browning. Tax credits could help foster the voltaics (solar cells) cost-effective today. building styles.” many societal and infrastructure benefits of green buildings, such as reduced stress on SIP, as it’s known, will probably change Browning was invited by Sen. Jeffords to water, electricity, and other utility systems, how distributed resources are marketed present case studies on existing green and better indoor air quality and public and used, and it reveals policy opportuni- buildings, sparking a lively discussion. health. ties to make these huge benefits explicit in Browning is the founder of RMI’s Green the marketplace. Development Services team and has pro- Steven Perry, Commissioner of the GSA SIP should be available in August. It will vided green building consultation and was at the meeting as well. Represen- retail for $60 and will be available through design work for nearly 20 years. tatives of the GSA, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Green Building RMI’s publications department, 1739 Sen. Jeffords chairs the Senate Council (USGBC) recently signed a memo- Snowmass Creek Road, Snowmass, Colo. Environment and Public Works randum of understanding stating that the 81654-9199, or through our online book- Committee, which has jurisdiction over GSA and Park Service will begin using the store, at www.rmi.org/store/pid385.php. federal environmental programs but also LEED green building rating system devel- The book’s research, editing, production, oversees all federal buildings managed by oped by the USGBC. LEED (Leadership in and marketing was supported by generous the General Services Administration (GSA). Energy and Environmental Design) is a vol- grants from The Shell Foundation, The This includes federal courthouses, the untary building rating system based on Energy Foundation and the Pew Charitable headquarters of federal agencies, and other existing, proven technology. It evaluates Trusts. Shorter papers and presentations federal buildings spread throughout the 50 environmental performance from a “whole will be posted at www.rmi.org as they are states. building” perspective, providing a rigorous completed. Staffers from the offices of nine senators, and applicable standard for what consti- including Senators Reid, Lieberman, Boxer, tutes a green building.

p a ge 16 R M I N ews

experts on “green” development, met this Re p ort on spring to help steer the design of DestiNY S a n Fra ncisco USA, a $2 billion, 3.2 million square-foot Rele ase d entertainment, retail, recreation, dining and hospitality resort planned for Syracuse, As mentioned in the Fort u n e at e New York. C overa ge o f R M I last issue of RMI Solutions, RMI is RMItes Bill Browning, Huston Eubank and The 13 May 2002 issue of Fortune maga- assisting the City of Tom Feiler are working with Rick Fedrizzi, zine has some of the best coverage RMI has San Francisco in the founding chair of The U.S. Green Building ever experienced. Writer David Stipp’s fea- development of Council and president of Green-Think Inc., ture “Can This Man Solve America’s renewable energy a Syracuse-based environmental consulting Energy Crisis?” centers on RMI’s CEO systems. Recently, firm, to advise DestiNY USA developers on Amory Lovins, and describes his long RMI’s Joel Swisher D r. Jo el S wish er, energy efficiency, daylighting, building P E journey pondering energy policy and its completed a report ecology, materials, indoor light and air links to environment, development, and for the city, assembling energy data, quality, solid waste management, public-pri- security. analyses, and program suggestions into an vate funding opportunities, transportation, The fabulously illustrated and well Energy Resource Investment Strategy and many other topics related to the devel- researched article goes on to describe (ERIS). It prioritizes the city’s electricity opment. Amory’s musings on security, transportation resources based on cost, performance, and Developer Robert Congel, senior managing (i.e., Hypercar®), and other topics. But it’s environmental impact. The options include partner for DestiNY USA, is committed to Stipp’s ability to blend historical highlights energy efficiency, cogeneration, solar and making the resort an exemplary green with an interesting character that really windpower, conventional gas-fired genera- development. “We are working to make makes this story shine. tion, and new transmission lines. RMI is DestiNY USA ‘climate positive’—using no “The response has been light so far,” said also helping the city to design policies and Stipp recently. “So far it’s been positive.” programs to improve energy efficiency and D e a r R M I Re a d ers a n d harness distributed and renewable energy Ralph Cavanagh, an energy expert at the Su p p ort ers, resources, while ensuring an adequate and Natural Resources Defense Council in San As you’ve probably read, one of the reliable supply of electricity for its resi- Francisco and longtime RMI friend, points dents. In the first phase of this work, RMI benefits of donating $20 or more is a out something most of us intuitively feel prepared a scenario analysis for inclusion in year’s worth of our newsletter. You can about the Institute when he comments in the preliminary San Francisco Electricity read the newsletter online anytime at the story: “What makes Amory unique is Resource Plan. The plan is now complete, www.rmi.org. However, if you enjoy it, that he has this relentless optimism about and although not for a general audience, the future that’s very compelling. It’s been we hope you’ll contribute anyway. holds valuable information for municipali- good for and a scourge Also, we apologize if you received your ties and other communities considering to its critics.” copy of RMI Solutions at the wrong their energy futures. It’s downloadable at: address, or if you requested an email However, the RMI Staff Vote for best quote http://www.rmi.org/ images/other/E- notification and instead received a hard in the article goes to RMI’s former co-CEO ScenarioAnalysisForSF.pdf. Hunter Lovins, Amory’s 25-year writing copy in the mail. Please, if you would and idea-spreading partner, when she like changes made in your mailing notes, “You should see us writing together. R M I H elps address or in how you receive RMI Folks think we’re going to kill each other.” D esig n N ew York information, contact Ruth Klock at 970- The entire article is available online at Resort 927-7203, or email her at www.fortune.com/indexw.jhtml?channel= Members of RMI’s consulting staff, along [email protected]. artcol.jhtml&doc_id=207774. with two dozen of the nation’s leading

RMISolutions p a ge 17 Summer 2002 fossil fuels, while lowering our construction world,” said Fedrizzi. “The developer’s reducing carbon and operating costs, ensuring that DestiNY commitment to transforming a brownfield dioxide emissions. USA will be the international center for site into DestiNYUSA, combined with the Written by RMI’s environmental excellence,” Congel said. experience and intellectual resources of Rick Heede, Besides climate neutrality and super-effi- the consulting team will result in the “Household cient design, developers hope DestiNY USA establishment of a new global standard for Solutions” describes will become a fulcrum for sensible urban environmental responsibility. how homeowners transit design—indeed, up to It’s that chance to be involved can lighten their Ric k H e e d e 30 million visitors are at the front end that makes impact on the expected annually. this project so appealing.” earth’s changing climate by reducing emis- The complex will also be sions of greenhouse gases in their house- home to a $25 million, “ C ool holds. Most of the recommendations pay 50,000-square-foot Citiz e ns” for themselves in reduced energy bills in International Tourism and O f fers six years or less, and many measures have Exposition Center; a 90,000- paybacks shorter than two years. square-foot saltwater aquarium; Cli m at e Funded by and developed in cooperation a 500,000-square-foot multi-field C h a n ge with the Richard and Rhoda Goldman indoor sport and recreation com- Id e as Fund and Sun Hill Foundation, this guide plex; a 65-acre glass-enclosed park and a In April, RMI released a brief on climate will be the first really convenient home- 1,500-foot-long replica of the Erie Canal. change. Entitled Cool Citizens: owners’ guide of its type. “Certainly, infor- “The DestiNY USA project raises the bar Household Solutions shows homeowners mation on this subject already exists, but it for green development projects all over the how to save money while dramatically is typically hard for most users to find, and little useful advice is offered on reasonable priorities to pursue,” Heede said. T h e Blin ds Le a din g t h e Vision a ry The Cool Citizens premise is that citizens can save money by saving energy—and No one quite knows when and where Venetian blinds originated, but the early then use that money to buy further energy Venetians, who were great traders, are often credited with their invention and intro- savings. The Cool Citizens series makes duction to the West. Indeed, the French term for these versatile blinds is Les specific, realistic, and prioritized recom- Persiennes (the Persians). The blinds became popular throughout mendations on how to reduce the environ- Europe and made their way to the United States in the mid-18th mental harm of daily activities. It focuses century. Exactly when they reached California is unknown, but on choices—and changes—citizens can their proper use might have saved Californians millions in energy make in the home, at work, in transporta- bills last summer had Californians known the Victorian era art of tion, in recreation, and in purchasing every- Venetian blind adjustment. “The basic idea is to not close the thing from air-conditioners and airline trips blinds the way you would close a curtain,” said Amory Lovins, to windows and wine. Decisions that citi- RMI’s chief Venetian blinds technician, “but instead tilt them at zens make in this arena are critical, an angle (room side up) so that (1) when looking out the window, because nearly half of total U.S. carbon one can still get a good impression of the outdoors, (2) the light dioxide emissions are from homes and per- coming in is not too bright (compared to adjacent opaque wall areas), and (3) the sonal vehicles, and the other half is incoming light is bounced up on the ceiling as God intended. Then, turn out the embodied in products and services that lights (in perimeter offices) and save their direct electricity usage and the associated homeowners all demand and consume. air-conditioning and fanpower to take away their heat.” Copies of Cool Citizens “Household Amory guesses that had state office workers in California used Venetian blinds with Solutions” will soon be available for down- the deftness of our Victorian predecessors, California would have saved a great deal of load from RMI’s website. electricity during the summer of 2001. “With summer coming, we need to spread the word and adjust those blinds!” he said.

p a ge 18 G D S St a f f and the Cascadia Chapter of the U.S. been viewed over 9,000 times by visitors Te a ch es in Green Building Council held the first in a to the RMI site. Current stories include a Virgin Isla n ds string of conferences exploring the differ- collaborative effort, between Honda Motor ences, challenges, and possibilities in Company’s research division and Plug In mid-May, three members of RMI’s Green building green. The event took place in Power of Latham, New York, a potential Development Services staff instructed stu- Portland, Ore. and had over 220 attendees. method of producing hydrogen fuel in cars, dents in sustainable building practices on The next conference is scheduled for 16 and a project to convert Islay Island in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands as guests of the July in Chicago, with additional events Scotland to hydrogen power. RMI staff also award-winning eco-tourist resort of Maho being planned for Washington, D.C. and provide visitors with biweekly updates on Bay. Ben Shepherd, Bill Browning, and Austin, Tex. For more information on the recent environmental news entitled “What Huston Eubank gave a two-week seminar Chicago event, please visit www.epa.gov/ in the World?” (See www.rmi.org/ to students and practitioners in systems region5/sue/greenbldg-conf/greenconf. sitepages/pid471.php.) thinking, interior design, architecture, con- htm. Information about upcoming confer- struction management, landscape architec- ences will be posted on RMI’s web cal- ture, and related disciplines through a endar at www.rmi.org/sitepages/ R M I Te a ch es course designed by Colorado State pid22.php as it becomes available. Sust ain a bility University’s Institute for the Built to Wast ewat er Environment. (How they managed to land such a gig is a mystery to the rest of RMI’s H yp erc a r® E n gin eers staff, but we have vowed to find out.) To N ews A Big In late April, members of RMI’s Energy and interview one of the instructors, please e- Resources team and Commercial and mail [email protected]. Hit Industrial Services team conducted a two- As part of our transportation work, RMI day training session for Carollo Engineers staff compiles news on a broad range of in Walnut Creek, Calif. RMI instructed a B uildin g alternative transportation technology and select group of professionals from the C on fere nce fuel-related issues on a biweekly basis (at wastewater treatment firm who will go on D raws Crow d www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid388.php). Since to form a sustainability team to integrate its creation, the page has become among the concepts of sustainability into Carollo’s On 20 May 2002, RMI, along with the the most popular on the RMI website. ongoing operations. Joel Swisher, leader of City of Portland, Portland Gas & Electric, Since March, Recent Hypercar® News has

N ew R M I St a f f RMI has added a number of new people (staff, interns, and volunteers) during the past year. Pictured at right are (front row): Brian Adams, Ginni Galicinao, Kortney Hartman, Jennifer Sweeting, Ginny Hedrich, and (back row): Brett Nelson, Stephanie Gilchrist, Missy Morgan, Patsy Hernandez, Lori Klein, and Doreen Clavell. (Not pic- tured are Beatrice Aranow, Ben Emerson, Corey Griffin, Kate Grimberg, Betsy Hands, Vicky Shropshire, and Josh Terry.)

RMISolutions p a ge 19 Summer 2002 RMI’s Energy and Resources team joined lion barrels of recoverable oil. But those is not only large (500,000 square feet, with Catherine Greener, leader of RMI’s numbers fail to take costs into account. 2,000 occupants, and a $140 million Commercial and Industrial Services to ‘Oil reserves almost anywhere on earth are “replacement value”); it has historical sig- bring a multi-pronged approach to the more accessible and more reliably deliver- nificance—bullet holes in one of the stair- training. able than those above the Arctic Circle,’ wells symbolize its role in the 1941 Amory and Hunter Lovins wrote in Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Air A m ory a n d Foreign Affairs. ‘Even if drilling in the Force has budgeted $43 million for the H u n t er in S p orts Arctic Wildlife Refuge posed no environ- renovation—a less-than-ideal amount, but Illustr a t e d mental or human rights concerns, it still a fine challenge for innovative designers. could not be justified on economic ... Charrette participants were divided into RMI cofounders Amory Lovins and Hunter grounds.’” three teams: architecture, mechanical sys- Lovins made a recent appearance in Sports tems, and landscape/water. After an exten- Illustrated. A 13 May 2002 article by E.M. sive tour and a couple of days of Swift questions oil estimates for the 1002 R M I Flyin g Hig h examining Building 1102’s condition and Area—the fragile coastal plain—which is wit h t h e Air potential for triple-bottom-line benefits, at the center of the debate. Force they were able to identify changes that “How much oil is in the 1002 Area?” Last winter, RMI’s Green Development could eventually save the Air Force (and Swift asks. “Arctic Power, a pro-drilling Services helped the historic Hickam Air you the taxpayer) $1 million in capital lobbying group funded by the state govern- force Base in Hawai’i fly in a new direction costs (that’s $2.04 per square foot!) and a ment, oil interests and individuals, likes to by participating in a charrette to renovate lot more in operational costs. cite a range between 5.7 billion and 16 bil- a large building on the base. Building 1102 E ditor’s N ot es

here are a lot of really cool things RMI researcher/consultant Chris Page has Cameron M. to read about in any given issue been working with Mountain Rescue Burns, T of RMI Solutions. However, “life Aspen, a volunteer search and rescue Editor at RMI” behind the scenes is just as inter- organization based in the Ute City and sub- esting. Institute staff members are always ject of the book The Falling Season by Hal getting involved with important personal Clifford. Chris is a former NOLS instructor, projects and activities. and enjoys both the outdoors and helping With the help of Global Exchange and people learn. Officer Thammy Evans married Vic TransFair USA, staff member Jennifer Intern Brian Adams is impressive. Two Ullom, a native Coloradan, on 1 June. Sweeting recently started up a Fair Trade nights a week, after work, Brian heads off RMI water intern Jeremy Magliaro was Coffee campaign in the Roaring Fork Valley, to take part in the local Buddy Program, a married 25 May to his grad-school sweet- encouraging individuals and businesses to youth mentoring program here in the heart Stacey Ballard. Jeremy’s still at RMI buy fair trade coffee, and of course, Roaring Fork Valley. Brian spends about six for now, but obviously his interests are brewing it at RMI. Coffee is one of the hours weekly with his buddy, an eight-year- broadening! We wish both couples the world’s biggest commodities (oil is Number old boy who enjoys the outdoors and best. One), and there are some big environ- sports. “I enjoy young people and I want Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to run mental and social injustices that result from them to be exposed to many different an RMI Earth Day booth at an Evergreen, its production. “Fair trade” coffee is grown excperiences in their lives,” Brian said. “I Colo., Earth Day event. I had dozens of on small farms and cooperatives, in shaded have the time and desire to volunteer, so I comments, questions and suggestions from areas (limiting deforestation for produc- do.” Brain also volunteers with the Basalt the members of this enlightened commu- tion), and the co-ops producing it are guar- Adult Literacy Program. nity about energy, green buildings and anteed $1.26 per pound ($1.41 for certified Marriage seems to be in the air this Hypercars. It seems RMI is very well organic). For more info, visit www.trans- summer. RMI’s Mandarin- (and four other known outside our little valley—I for one fair.ca or contact [email protected]. languages-) speaking Public Information must get out more!

p a ge 20 W h at Are You D oin g? Editor’s note: Once again our summer newsletter’s “What Are You Doing?” features some of our 2002 interns and volunteers. Of course, this year we have too many to fit researching biomimicry (exploring how we has a great deal of historical precedent in onto these pages, so you’ll get to read about can mimic natural wisdom in building design) other parts of the world. In Africa, for the other interns and volunteers in our Fall and biophilia (examining the human response example, the huge herds of ungulates that issue. If you are interested in supporting an to our environment) through the study of migrate across the East African plains internship fund, or creating a new one, existing projects that incorporate biomimetic hammer the land in short, directed-but-rota- please contact Development Director Dale or biophilic concepts, as well as searching for tional spurts. Yet the savannah seems the Levy at 970-927-7217 or [email protected]. ways to encourage these principles in future thrive—why shouldn’t RMI’s own high alti- projects. The research involves the explo- tude, semi-arid scrublands? Holistic land Ginny Hedrich ration of energy efficiency, energy production, manager Alan Savory introduced the idea to I am so happy to be indoor environmental quality of buildings, RMI early last year, and now we’re finally volunteering at RMI creating building materials and systems, and getting a chance to put the theory into prac- this summer. I have applications for construction and the current tice. In addition to that, I’m going to be doing always loved this design process. weed control and weed monitoring. I also be organization and am doing some water quality monitoring. delighted to be able to Brett Nelson contribute and learn Brian Adams from the brilliant folks This summer I will be working on the As a public informa- here. Some of my time Windstar/RMI land. tion intern, my will be spent in the sales and marketing area, My research project duties here at RMI growing RMI’s consulting practice. In addition will be a study run the gamut of to working in that area, I will be conducting involving intensive information dissemi- research for the consulting teams. I am cur- rotational cattle nation. For instance, rently researching the health benefits associ- grazing. Forty-one I respond to all ated with the greening of hospitals for Green head of cattle will be incoming inquiries Development Services (GDS)—the effect of rotated around to different paddocks within from consumers, indi- nature on healing. As you will have read ear- the grazing pastures. At each spot, the cattle viduals, homeowners, small businesses and lier in this issue of Solutions, “green” build- will be contained in a relatively small area other technical questions regarding RMI’s ings can have tremendous positive benefits on until the forage has been grazed effectively. research results. My answers are usually in humans of all ages—I hope I can help promote Before and after the grazing, the fields will be the form of emails, phone calls, letters and those benefits. analyzed for their health in terms of plant and personal visits. A lot of my time also involves soil composition. The ultimate goal will be to updating recent hydrogen fuel cell vehicle have healthy plant communities that keep the developments and fuel cell energy generation noxious weeds to a minimum. developments. This includes researching the Corey Griffin I will also be irrigating much of the land, latest news in fuel cell technology, drafting a Eric Konheim Intern maintaining the nature trails, caring for the related news brief and getting it posted on While studying about greenhouse at the RMI headquarters, and the RMI website. Later in the year, I will also energy resources and monitoring hydrologic trends in our wetlands. be contributing to a series of RMI syndicated energy efficient build- articles dealing with fuel cell technology. I am ings during my time also working on the RMI Cool Citizens cam- at Stanford Daniel Wheeler paign, which entails assembling media kits University, I had the I’ll will be working for journalists and marketing the RMI Guide opportunity to learn with Brett and other to Lower Carbon Emissions and Better about RMI’s work land interns and staff Business Performance. and hear Amory in moving the cattle. Lovins speak about sustainable design. The idea of the inten- Consequently, I’m excited to be working sive grazing of cattle with GDS this summer and further pursuing is pretty new to my interests in making the built environment Westerners, but it more sustainable. While at RMI, I am

RMISolutions p a ge 21 Summer 2002 D onor S p otlig h t popular. We had a city council candidate come along on one tour. Kroger and Tom Thumb turned us down but Albertsons agreed to it at four stores with advance M a rgie Ja c kson H aley: notice and no more than six participants at a R aisin g Activism St a n d a rds time so as not to crowd the aisles. Our any RMI supporters are well ical practice until 1995, when she “retired.” kickoff with the League members was the known for their activism in In 1990, Haley attended a four-day work- exception with about 15 participants at three M social, environmental and polit- shop for Earth Day that changed her life. stores. Unfortunately, Albertsons didn’t ical arenas, but Margie Haley of Dallas raises Renowned environmental leaders from advertise the tours and coverage in the press the bar when it comes to activism that is around the globe described the problems was minimal, so it was difficult to get the applicable to humans have created for the planet as well word out.” The Tours ran for three years, our everyday as the challenges of the solutions. Haley and although they influenced hundreds of lives. She has decided then and there that simply being consumers, Haley admits, “I had other fish been active environmentally correct was not enough— to fry.” with dozens of so she became an activist. Haley’s coup de grâce and most important organizations, It didn’t take long before Haley was a project became the Sustainable Dallas confer- hundreds of member of the , Audubon, Dallas ence, an annual event about positive, prof- issues and County Medical Society Alliance, the itable solutions to environmental challenges. thousands of League of Women Voters and CEED She currently serves as its co-chair. She is people, both in (Coalition for the Earth’s Environment of also the Issues Coordinator for Sustainability her native Texas and across the nation— Dallas, which later became ECO Dallas— for the Dallas Sierra Club and Board sharing all sorts of ideas and techniques for Environmental Center of Dallas). She Member of the Environmental Center of making human activities less harmful. It was became the League of Women Voters’ recy- Dallas. Haley who arranged for RMI’s Amory Lovins cling coordinator, and later joined the Dallas Her years of hard work have not gone unno- to be the keynote speaker at the October County Corporate Recycling Council and ticed. The myriad awards she has received 2001 Sustainable Dallas conference, and to the Recycling Coalition of Texas as a board include the Clean Dallas, Inc. 1991 meet with the Dallas Morning News edito- member. Individual Environmental Excellence Award rial staff. While her dream to give RMI a for Recycling and Solid Waste; the Coalition million dollars is still out there, Haley has During the early 1990s Haley created a for the Earth’s Environment of Dallas 1991 given most generously of her time and unique program—the CEED/Sierra Club Green Heart Award; the Household resources. Paper Rescue program. The idea was simply to find corporations with outdated paper Hazardous Waste Task Force of Dallas Haley and her brothers grew up in Texas products they were planning to landfill and County 1992 Environmental Citizens’ with a father who was an avid outdoorsman persuade them to turn over the products to Award; the National Society of Daughters of and a mother who was a self-taught jewelry environmental groups—saving both paper the American Revolution’s 1993 craftswoman—gaining both a fondness for and money in the process. In 1992, she ini- Conservation Medal; the Keep Dallas nature and a self-driven industriousness that tiated a League of Women Voters program Beautiful 1995 Public Education for would become underpinnings of her life. In called Environmental Shopping Tours in Environmental Concerns Award; and the university, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Dallas. In the tours she led groups of con- High Country Citizen’s Alliance 2000 speech pathology and an MA in audiology sumers through grocery stores and Volunteer of the Year. from SMU. During the Vietnam War, Haley’s explained to them the kinds of food produc- These days, Haley is working on developing husband John pursued his medical training tion, packaging techniques, and social situa- partnerships between Sustainable Dallas and with the Navy to become an ophthalmolo- tions they were supporting (or ignoring) regional businesses by working through the gist. She, meanwhile, practiced audiology at through their purchases. Texas Natural Resource Conservation the Naval medical hospitals where John Commission, the lead environmental agency trained. In their spare time, the couple had “I read about this in an environmental mag- for the state. And, as the self-starting activist two children, Kimberly and Gregory. Upon azine and ordered a video tape from the so frankly notes, “You have to be a sturdy the family’s return to Dallas, Haley became League’s New Castle, New York, office,” oak to weather some of the political storms the financial officer for her husband’s med- Haley explained. “They were somewhat in Austin.” p a ge 22 B o a rd S p otlig h t Joh n C. Fox RMI Board Chairman he way John Fox pronounces the word about (“aboot”) is a dead giveaway to his origins north of the border. T Originally from Toronto, the newly-elected Chairman of RMI’s Board of Directors now lives in Washington, D.C., where he’s Managing Director of Perseus LLC, a private equity fund man- agement company. A civil engineer trained in business administra- tion, his career has moved him back and forth across the border more than once. He also currently serves on the boards of other non-profit organiza- tions, including The Alliance to Save Energy and the Washington DC-based International Institute for , of which he’s past chairman. He’s a past board member of The Energy Foundation and the American Council for an Energy- Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Though his work consumes a great deal of his time, Fox finds enjoyment in spending as much of the remaining time as possible with his family. He rides motorcycles for recreation, when there’s any time left. founded electric-efficiency information service, which later Fox is most interested in “making RMI’s philosophy operational,” became E SOURCE. Through that connection, he was introduced to as he puts it, or Amory Lovins, who eventually nominated him as a board candi- earning commercial date. Fox was with PG&E from 1988 through 1993, leading what Fox is most inter- acceptance and was then the world’s biggest and best demand-side management application of the effort. He later led the downstream and upstream halves of the ested in “making ideas embodied in great utility Ontario Hydro. RMI’s philosophy. RMI’s philosophy Vice chairman of RMI’s Board of Directors for the past year, Fox “We’ve had some was elected Chairman in April. He is a past member of the execu- operational,” as he success at opera- tive committee, the finance committee, and the recruitment com- tionalizing the phi- mittee. In the decade Fox has been on RMI’s Board, he’s seen an puts it, or earning losophy,” he said. evolution of the Board itself. “But the ultimate “It’s gone from a board that was very supportive of the founders to commercial accept- measure of success one that’s more broadly focused on the growth of the organiza- will be the accept- ance and applica- tion,” he said. “I think the board is now balanced more than ever ance of the business in terms of experience, and is able to provide RMI with a broad community.” tion of the ideas set of perspectives.” And he’s not at all uncertain about being embodied in RMI’s His more imme- elected Chairman. diate goals for the “I’m pleased to be in that position,” he said, “and I do have some organization are to research. experience at keeping boards focused. I see my job as facilitating try to improve the the collaboration of a very strong set of board members.” financial stability of the organization, and to provide RMI’s staff and leadership with — Jeremy Heiman the latitude to continue to be as creative as they have been. Fox connected with RMI in the late 1980s through his former position as manager of the energy conservation program at Pacific Gas & Electric. PG&E was a subscriber to COMPETITEK, the RMI-

RMISolutions p a ge 23 Summer 2002 O t h er Voices

Reconcilin g t h e N at ural a n d B uilt E nviron m e n ts B y Stephen R. Kellert Editor’s Note: RMI recently partnered with Stephen R. Kellert, a leading authority on biophilia—the biological inclination to affil- S e o ul, So u t h Kore a. T h e city h as g row n t re m e n d o usly in re c e n t d e c a d es, iate with nature. RMI’s project, co-led by a n d t h e loss o f m u ch loc a l a g ric ult u ra l l a n d t o d evelo p m e n t h as p ro m p t e d so m e t o p o n d er Kore a ’s a bility t o f e e d itself. Mr. Kellert, Judith Heerwagen, and Ben Shepherd of RMI’s Green Development of these areas. Restoration and protection and harmonization of the natural and built Services staff, will accumulate, assess, and of natural urban environments is generally environments. disperse information about biophilic design viewed as a pesky regulatory obstacle, in multiple formats, including a yet-to-be afforded little planning or budgetary con- T H E GREATER N E W H AVE N scheduled conference. The following is a sideration, often disappearing from sight WATERS H E D S TU DY condensed version of Mr. Kellert’s unpub- when confronted with political and eco- Recently, a major study was initiated in the lished academic paper “Reconciling the nomic distress. New Haven/New York area examining the Natural and Built Environments.” To sup- link between human and natural systems port RMI’s biophilia research, please con- I believe this prevailing disconnect in urban and non-urban settings. The tact Dale Levy at [email protected] or between people and nature in the urban Greater New Haven Watershed Project 970-927-7217. context is sustained by two widely held assumptions. First, many assume the examined how ecological and social sys- espite notable recent efforts to modern city is largely devoid of healthy tems shape one another and how the struc- enhance and restore ecological and abundant natural diversity. Second and ture and function of natural systems effects D systems and environmental more serious, most believe city life and human values and socioeconomic behav- amenities in many urban settings, my economies have largely transcended a iors, as well as the reverse. The study area impression is that most of the urban public, dependence on the natural world for its decision-makers and commercial devel- achieving and sustaining human lives of Stephen R. Kellert is the opers remain largely indifferent to and meaning, satisfaction, and prosperity. Tweedy Ordway Professor of Social Ecology at Yale unappreciative of the importance of healthy The first assumption of nature being largely University’s School of and diverse natural systems to people absent from the city is a fallacy. Many Forestry and residing in modern cities. studies have demonstrated a surprising Environmental Studies, Open spaces’ natural functions and ameni- abundance of biological variability, even in and the author of numerous books, ties in most urban areas are typically disre- large cities like New York and Hong Kong. including Kinship to garded. Environmental damages stemming Indeed, there exists more biological rich- Mastery: Biophilia in from commercial development, building ness and structure in a handful of urban Human Evolution and construction, and road and transportation soil than in the rest of the universe as we Development (1997), The expansion are rarely considered and miti- know it. The second widespread assump- Value of Life (1996), gated in an effective and sustained way. tion is that contact with nature is not sig- Ecology, Economics and Ethics: The Broken Circle (1993, co-edited with F.H. Bormann), The Biophila Few urban commercial developers or nificant to the long-term health, vitality, Hypothesis (1993, co-edited with E.O. Wilson), The municipal leaders recognize or appreciate and quality of life of the city and its resi- Good in Nature and Humanity: Connecting Science, the connection between a city’s natural dents. Until dispelled, this widely held and Religion, and Spirituality with the Natural World (2002, environment, the quality of human life, pernicious assumption will probably remain co-edited with T. Farnham), Children and Nature: and the long-term prosperity and stability a critical roadblock to the reconciliation Psychological, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary Investigations (2002, co-edited with P. Kahn). p a ge 24 is approximately 400 square kilometers, referred to as biophilia (E.O. Wilson, We no longer rely on besting prey or including 275 local drainages, part or all of Biophilia, 1984; Kellert and Wilson 1993; eluding menacing predators or surviving in 22 towns and cities, home to nearly half a Kellert 1997), a concept that hypothesizes the wild, but the strengths and prowess million people residing in a landscape 13 humans possess a “weak” biological derived from physical and mental compe- percent urban, 24 percent suburban, 11 dependence and affinity for the natural tence in confronting nature remain instru- percent agriculture, and 41 percent world manifest in nine basic values toward mental in human physical and mental forested. nature (briefly outlined below). These nine well-being. Our assumption is that ongoing positive values function as an anvil on which A humanistic value reflects strong affec- and negative feedback loops exist between human fitness is forged. Conversely, the tion and emotional attachment to the nat- natural and human systems and occur any- biophilia notion suggests that when people ural world. The natural world has always where people and nature co-mingle, impoverish and degrade the natural world, been a physical location for human affec- including urban and non-urban contexts. most particularly their meaningful and sat- tion, especially bonding, affiliation, and So far, the data analysis confirms this isfying experience of it, they diminish their companionship. People crave companion- hypothesis. Subwatersheds characterized potential material, emotional, and intellec- ship and affiliation, and emotionally identi- by relative health and integrity (e.g., tual well-being and capacity. Insufficient fying with elements of nature provides a greater species richness, lower levels of space precludes a detailed description of valued means for establishing strong rela- fecal coliform, less turbidity, higher dis- these values, but I will outline them alpha- tionships and expressing and receiving solved oxygen, etc.) reveal more positive betically: affection. By contrast, isolation and alone- values toward nature (e.g., greater envi- An aesthetic value underscores the phys- ness constitute heavy burdens for a highly ronmental affinity and stewardship), and a ical attraction and beauty of nature. This social species like our own. higher quality of life (e.g., community opti- perspective has been instrumental in A moralistic value reflects a spiritual and mism, neighborhood quality, social ameni- developing the human capacities for recog- moral affinity for the natural world. ties). By contrast, subwatersheds of lower nizing and promoting order and organiza- Benefits associated with this perspective environmental quality report lower quality tion, developing ideas of harmony, include a sense of order, meaning, and pur- of life, less outdoor recreational contact or symmetry, and grace, and in evoking and pose, a feeling of shared moral conviction, amenities, and a greater inclination to sup- stimulating curiosity and imagination. Few and an enhanced inclination to treat port the dominance and exploitation of experiences in human life exert as consis- nature with kindness and respect. Nature nature. In particular, we find the health tent and powerful an impact as the beauty is a source of deep and persistent spiritu- and integrity of natural systems expressed and physical attraction of nature. In being ality and religious inspiration stemming in varying landscape features (e.g., the attracted, people nurture their tendencies from a sense of underlying and funda- presence or absence of open space, partic- for wonder and curiosity that lead to mental connection of humans with the ularly favored plant and animal species, exploration, imagination, creativity, and natural world. Despite incredible variety in clean water bodies) that foster positive discovery. People also favor landscapes nature—1.7 million classified species, an environmental values. These values in turn that enhance safety, sustenance, and secu- estimated 10–100 million extant species, manifest themselves in varying economic, rity—e.g., ones with water, which foster the disappearance of nearly all species that social, and psychological relationships that sight and mobility, that have bright flow- ever existed—most people recognize a enhance a sense of and attachment to ering colors and other features that, over fundamental commonality uniting most place and community, which eventually evolutionary time, have proven instru- lifeforms. A great majority of creatures loop back and sustain natural ecosystem mental in human survival. share common molecular and genetic fea- structure and functions. A dominionistic value reflects the inclina- tures, analogous circulatory and reproduc- tion to master and control the natural tive structures, and parallel bodily parts. T H E N O TIO N O F BIO P HILIA world. Adaptive benefits include an This intuitive recognition suggests a These results suggest causal processes that enhanced sense of independence and remarkable web of relationships con- can explain the relationship between autonomy, greater safety and security, and necting a fish in the sea, a bird in the tree- varying states of natural health or distur- a willingness to take risks, show resource- tops, and a human in the modern bance, people’s environmental values, and fulness, and cope with adversity. People metropolis. When we discern universal quality of life in urban as well as non- hone their physical and mental fitness pattern in creation, we give shape and def- urban settings. This causal process is through subduing and mastering nature. continued on next page

RMISolutions p a ge 25 Summer 2002 inition to our existence. Through shared these inclinations are typically moderately and selfhood, authority and independence, moral conviction in an underlying harmony and rationally expressed. order and chaos, good and evil, love and and purpose in life, people acquire Human well-being has always depended on sexuality in a disguised yet tolerable and strength, a sense of cohesion, and feelings skills and emotions acquired through a instructive manner. This is achieved of mutual commitment. These spiritual and healthy distancing from potentially inju- through children’s stories and fairy tales, moral sentiments prompt the view that, at rious natural elements. legends and myths, totems and taboos, fan- the core of human existence, lies a funda- tasies and dreams. People further employ A scientific value of nature underscores mental logic, worth, and even goodness. natural imagery in the language of the the knowledge and understanding people Faith and confidence emerge through the street, in the metaphor of the marketplace, derive from empirically studying nature. recognition of a unity transcending one’s and in oratory and debate. Nature pro- Functional advantages include increased individuality, separateness, and aloneness. vides, in effect, a substrate for symbolic intellectual and cognitive capacity, This perspective fosters an inclination to creation analogous to the way genetic vari- enhanced critical thinking and problem protect and preserve the natural world. ability offers a biochemical template for lab- solving skills, and greater appreciation and People conserve nature as much because of oratory discovery. respect for maintaining natural process and moral and ethical belief as because of any diversity. People possess a universal need Finally, a utilitarian value underscores the calculated materialism or regulatory fiat. to know and understand their world with material and commodity benefits derived A naturalistic value emphasizes close, authority, a tendency independent of cul- from nature. Advantages include enhanced direct, and immersive contact with the nat- ture and history where intellectual prowess physical security associated with agricul- ural world. Adaptive benefits include is facilitated through the study and obser- tural, medical, and industrial productivity, enhanced tendencies for exploration, dis- vation of nature. What the natural world various ecosystem services such as pollina- covery, and imagination; increased self-con- offers all humanity is a varied and ever- tion and decomposition, and the self-confi- fidence through demonstrating skill and stimulating context for developing critical dence and self-esteem obtained from competence; and greater calm and peace of thinking skills, problem solving abilities, demonstrating craft and skill in exploiting mind through heightened awareness and and analytical aptitudes. the land and its resources. Despite this util- spatial and temporal immersion in nature. itarian significance, modern urban society A symbolic value reflects nature’s role in Every creature and landscape can serve as typically prides itself on a material inde- shaping and facilitating human communi- a “magic well,” the more one explores and pendence from nature achieved through cation and thought. Adaptive benefits draws from it, the more becomes revealed domesticating the wild, eliminating natural include enhanced capacities for language in an endless flow of wonder and curiosity. competitors, and converting wild land into acquisition and taxonomy, psychosocial People mine physical, emotional, and intel- cultivated and artificial landscapes—a fal- development, and the ability to communi- lectual ore from deep and detailed immer- lacy at best. cate through image and symbol. People sion in nature’s rich tapestry of shapes and employ nature as raw material for expe- forms. In the process, they achieve physical S E N SE O F P LAC E A N D diting the exchange of information and fitness and mental acuity, an expanded E N VIR O N M E N TAL D ESIG N understanding among and between their inclination for adventure, and an enhanced The results of the Greater New Haven kind. This is accomplished through capacity for reacting quickly, resolving new Watershed Study and the various dimen- metaphor, analogy, and abstraction, and by and challenging situations, and exploiting sions of biophilia intimate the extraordi- employing language, story, myth, fantasy, and consuming with efficiency. nary subtlety of ways people benefit from a and dream. Nature as symbol is especially complexity of associations with the natural A negativistic value reflects the tendency instrumental in language acquisition. world. The health and vitality of the city to fear, avoid, and sometimes disdain Language depends on the capacity to depends on our continuing to experience aspects of nature. Adaptive benefits include render ever more refined distinctions, cate- the natural world in aesthetically attractive, avoiding harm and injury, minimizing risk gories, and taxonomies. The young ecologically sound, and materially acces- and uncertainty and, more positively, nur- encounter in nature numerous, readily sible ways. These values and the reported turing a sense of awe and respect for available, emotionally salient, and espe- research intimate how by degrading the nature’s power. The natural world has cially distinguishable objects for learning to world we inevitably always been a persistent source of some of differentiate and classify. Symbolizing and diminish the human capacity for experi- our deepest fears and anxieties. Avoidance fantasizing nature also assists in con- encing beauty, meaning, and significance in and fear of nature sometimes provokes irra- fronting maturational dilemmas of identity tional and highly destructive acts although life. p a ge 26 Cities will elicit their greatest loyalty, com- tionary past.” imaginative enough to capture the virtues mitment, and stability when they function Effective environmental design in the city, of nature and weave these creatively into as places where people confidently and thus, means more than “low impact” the urban environment can achieve and consistently encounter satisfying connec- design aimed at reducing resource uses, accomplish much. Healthy and attractive tions with natural as well as economic and increasing energy efficiencies, and better natural environments constitute an asset cultural wealth. As the philosopher Mark ways to dispose of wastes. It also means not a liability, and should be a thread Sagoff suggested, the idea “of place com- capturing the basic biophilic values of woven deeply into the garment of the city’s bines the meaning we associate with nature in the urban context in a manner everyday existence. nature and the utility we associate with that enriches and enhances the human I have witnessed the beginning of such environment. The result is an idea of sur- capacity for physical and mental growth bold and innovative urban design in com- roundings that arises from harmony, part- and development. Effective environmental mercial developments in Frankfurt and nership, and intimacy. Much of what we design must include an “organic design,” New York City, in residential developments deplore about the destruction of the envi- whereby materials, forms, and shapes of in Sacramento and Washington DC, in ronment has to do with the loss of places nature are incorporated into our built envi- shopping centers in Boston and London. I we keep in shared memory and cherish ronment, as well as facilitate the personal have also seen it in the recycling of urban with instinctive and collective loyalty. It experience of nature as a consistent dimen- landscapes across the centuries, in both has to do with loss of security one has sion of modern urban life. We must further Eastern and Western cultures. In each case, when one relies upon the characteristic strive for a “vernacular design,” in which it achieves what René Dubos called the aspects of places and communities one our urban structures meaningfully connect successful “wooing of the earth,” the knows well. What may worry us most is with the “spirit” of the places where they fusion of human culture with nature. As he the prospect of becoming strangers in our occur, ecologically, culturally, and histori- wrote, the “wooing of the earth suggests own land.” The legendary biologist René cally. As Thomas Bender remarked: “A the relationship between humankind and Dubos further elucidated the importance of building, like a person, can have a soul and nature should be one of respect and love a sense or spirit of place by suggesting, can be part of the life of a community. It rather than domination. Ecological manage- “People want to experience the sensory, can be rooted in and convey the spirit of a ment can be effective if it takes into consid- emotional, and spiritual satisfactions … strong culture and tradition. It can help eration the visceral as well as spiritual obtained only from an intimate interplay restore to our surroundings a sense of values that link us to the earth. Ecological [and] identification with the places in sacredness and honoring of people, place, thinking must be supplemented by human- which [they] live. This interplay and identi- and diverse traditions.” istic value judgments concerning the effect fication generate the spirit of the place. The Many believe the modern city cannot of our choices and actions on the quality of environment acquires the attributes of a afford the seemingly peripheral and merely the relationship between humankind and place through the fusion of the natural and cosmetic luxury of restoring connections to earth. With our knowledge and a sense of human order.” a healthy, diverse, and attractive natural responsibility for the welfare of humankind The current lack of meaningful contact environment. This assumption is narrow and the earth, we can create new environ- with healthy natural processes and diver- and shortsighted. Cities paralyzed by ments that are ecological sound, aestheti- sity in the modern city is a design defi- despair over the degraded condition of cally satisfying, economically rewarding, ciency, not an intrinsic flaw of modern their natural environments, the costs of its and favorable to the continued growth of urban life. What we require are planners, restoration, or the complexity of meaning- civilization. But the wooing of the earth developers, and leaders committed to the fully integrating natural amenities into the will have a lastingly successful outcome goal of access to and experience of the nat- fabric of urban life will ultimately impede only if we create conditions in which both ural world as an integral and essential com- and eventually cripple their health and humankind and the earth retain the ponent of modern urban life. We may long-term prosperity and quality of life. essence of their wildness. The symbiosis achieve this reconciliation and harmoniza- Some of the world’s most vital and attrac- between these two different but comple- tion of the natural and built environments tive cities—Paris, Rome, London, Hong mentary expressions of wildness will con- in the modern city only if, as Dubos sug- Kong, New York, San Francisco, Prague, stantly engender unexpected values and gests, modern designs “are ecologically Beijing, and others—represent areas of new hopes, in an endless process of evolu- viable and also satisfy instinctive needs that considerable natural beauty and diversity. tionary creation.” human nature has derived from its evolu- Planners, developers, and political leaders

RMISolutions p a ge 27 Summer 2002 2) RMI already works with busi- A H e a rty T h a n ks to All ness leaders and others to imple- D ale Levy, D evelo p m e n t Director ment natural capitalism, but the ight the candles! RMI is 20 years and many business leaders early adopters must be multiplied, old. Because of you and many are seeking practical ways to linked, reinforced, and enlisted to L others, we have racked up many implement it. But without a spread the message. RMI will work impressive accomplishments in our first coherent synthesis of what to together with other powerful non- two decades. But as the saying goes, you do, the needed changes in companies and profits and will bring together a network of ain’t seen nothing yet. communities are neither obvious nor practitioners. As we blow out the candles on our cake, inevitable and may not be timely. 3) RMI’s long-successful model for trans- our wish for the next five years: to establish Because natural capitalism is at once prac- forming business is to help carefully chosen natural capitalism as one of the central tical, profitable, necessary, and fun, it early adopters to achieve conspicuous suc- leading principles of business, communities, seems a promising way to make the world cess as natural capitalists. This forces their governments, communities of faith, and more secure, prosperous, and life-sustain- rivals to follow suit or lose market share. individuals. ing. Here’s how we will meet our goal: Healthy challenges! Worthy of our con- People around the globe are hungry for 1) In the next five years, RMI will compre- certed effort together. How can you help? ways to achieve prosperity that honor, pro- hensively communicate the vision and ben- Begin considering what part you would like tect, and restore the earth and its people. efits of natural capitalism to receptive to play. We’ll be providing more details From Wall Street to Main Street, sustain- decisionmakers in business, government, soon. ability is becoming a commonplace topic and civil society. St a f f S p otlig h t M a rty H a ge n

arty Hagen, RMI’s information systems manager, once Hagen, whose engineering degree is from ducked a $400 admission charge to hear Amory Cal Poly, had conducted acoustic research M Lovins speak. A long-time admirer of RMI, Marty had related to helicopter rotors for the National been laid off from his job as simulations engineer at Kenetech Aeronautic and Space Administration Windpower, a California manufacturer of wind turbines. He heard (NASA). He studied the physics of rotor Lovins was to speak to a gathering of solar experts in San Jose. blades and air, with the intent of reducing the “wop-wop-wop” Stone broke, he knew he had no way to raise the admission fee, sound associated with helicopters. At Kenetech, he analyzed wind but he decided to try to get into the talk anyway. turbines for their ability to withstand stress and developed a com- Dressing in a business suit, Marty went to the auditorium and puter program to predict energy production from turbines. simply walked in. All the other guests wore identification badges, But Kenetech laid him off three times and rehired him twice so Marty was sure he was going to be thrown out. When a waiter before going out of business. Unable to find work in engineering, came by with a tray of wine glasses, he grabbed two. Hagen was steered into computer technology by a friend. He was “I figured if I was gonna get thrown out, I’d at least get a buzz employed as a senior Macintosh computer technician for software on,” he said. maker Adobe Systems when he made a more significant connec- tion with RMI. Marty is impatient with those public speakers who adhere to the theory that more of their content is absorbed if they speak slowly. While staying with a friend in Colorado Springs, he took the Lovins didn’t disappoint him. “Amory got up and spoke clearly, opportunity to visit RMI. After a tour of the main building, he pur- compellingly, concisely and quickly for 45 minutes. I wanted to chased some books. Noticing a single sheet of paper on the con- get up and stand on my chair and cheer,” Hagen said. ference table, he couldn’t resist peeking at it. It was a draft of a help wanted advertisement for a Macintosh technician. At various times during his education and his engineering career, Hagen had run across Amory Lovins’s writings. He had come to “Is there someone I can talk to about this?” he asked. He got a see energy efficiency as one of the most important ideas going. lunch invitation, which led to a job offer. His answer? “Not only But he wasn’t certain how his own expertise could be exploited yes, but hell yes!” to its full potential. — Jeremy Heiman

p a ge 28 Instit u t e Su p p ort ers RMISolutions

RMI Solutions is published three times a year and Our Sincere distributed to more than 10,000 readers (by mail appreciation is John W. Pope Foundation John Ewer & Kate Whitlock and online) in the United States and throughout the offered to these friends Susan & Ford Schumann Rick Fedrizzi, Green-Think world. Copyright © 2002 Rocky Mountain who have contributed to RMI between 1 January The Walton Family Foundation, Inc. Fensterstock & Partners, LLP, in Institute. All rights reserved. and 30 April 2002. Douglas & Lynda Weiser,Weiser memory of Eric Konheim Family Foundation (2) Richard Field Letters to the Editor Numbers in parentheses indicate multiple dona- Matthew Welles, PAJwell Foundation First Church of Christ We want to hear your comments. Please address all tions. Please let us know (2) Flexitoys correspondence to: if your name has been The William B.Wiener, Jr. Foundation Nancy Ford-Cihak, in memory of Cameron M. 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Collin Fleming Adele Solminen Anthony Simmonds Bloch Renworth Floyd Nancy & Randall Kreager, in memory of John Denver Barbara & Marc Slovak Carol & Richard Bourne Tertia Flygt Carole Kreis William Smith III Muriel Brainard Peter Ford Carol & Mike Landry John Steiner & Margo King Scott Brenneman Frankie Foreman

p a ge 30 Instit u t e Su p p ort ers Jean Lapalme Richard Puskar Katherine & Lee Larson Brad Queen Barbara Larson Frances & Albert Raboff Mary & Joseph Lechuga Andrew Rasmussen Richard & Nancy Leeds, in memory of Helen Rasmussen Rick Surles WINDSTAR LAND Eric Konhiem Gary Ratner, in honor of the Constable Susan Tallman CONSERVANCY DONORS Maureen & Nick Lenssen Family William Threlfall Grace & Bryan Bailey (7), in memory of Bob Lieberman Gwenyth & William Reid Cynthia & Daniel Tufford John Denver Walter Lienhard Joseph Reid Darla Tupper Carol Dano, in memory of John Denver Jenny Lin Elizabeth Richards Regina & James Turrentine Kim & Marshall Evans Robert & Gladys Link Roni Riggins Anna Tyson John Fagerstrom Margaret & Daniel Lynch Maggie Riggs A. Ultee, in memory of Adele Solminen Barbara & Peter Fleming, in memory of John Denver Cheryl & Thomas Martens, in memory of Sylvia & Bob Robertson Jen & Michael Uncapher, in memory of Eleanor Velie Robena Robinett, in memory of Blair Farley Sheldon Cheryl Markvart, in memory of John Denver Marcia & Stephen Martinson Robinett Geri Unger Leslie Martel Baer & Matthew Lee Steve Massey Beverly & Jeffrey Robinson Elin & Stuart Valentine, IPAM Arnold Charaline & Frank Maxim Paula & James Rogers Willem van den Berg & Nancy Parks Shannon & Gary Mueller, in memory of Josef Mayrhofer Abigail Rome, in honor of the marriage Carol & William Vance of Toben Galvin & Susan Moegenburg John Denver Richard McAnany II, McAnany Vermont Law School Landscape Marietta & Pier Rosellini Hensley & James Peterson Wade Vernon Jean & Joel McCormack Melinda Ross Patricia & Ronni Ridenour Jessie Vosti Olga & Frank McCoy Barbara & Eli Rubinstein Jane Stone, in memory of John Denver Elliot Wager Ann Marie & James McCrone, in memory Douglas Ruley, in honor of Jim Ethier Demi & James Versocki Erika Walker & Donald Weinshenker of Charles N. Costa Gray Russell Lynn T. & Joan Winter Jane Walker Pfister Samuel Mcintosh, Jr. H. Richard Walters Mort Meier Elisabeth Ryland Susan & Tom Wasinger John Menger Catherine Sandell David Werle Gray Mercer Joyce & David Schmoeger Barbara Wertz & Charles W. Leiden Ted & Gail Michals Jason Schultz, in honor of Lester C. & Maurice & Ree Miller Sylvia M. Laedtke Jon Wesenberg Bonnie & Gabor Miskolczy, Miskolczy Dave Sebek Patrick Wheat Family Trust Linda & David Selbert C.Whitley Jim Moravec Nancy & Martin Sellers Osgood & Barbara Whittemore Harry Morel Sohan Sharma, in honor of Karan Aditya Bette & Perry Wilkes, Jr. Suzanne Morrison, in honor of Hunter Sharma Consuelo & Jeffrey Wilkinson Lovins Shelters Technologies Joanne Williams Philipp Muessig Joan & Edward Shepard Richard Wilson Jan Mulder & Greg Bedinger Fawn & John Shillinglaw Delmar Wipf NCAT Library Craig Shillinglaw & Kris Parker Richard & Sherrill Worthen Louise & Erik Nelson Marcia Shull David Wristen Sonya Newenhouse, Madison Bernece & Marvin Simon, in honor of Carolyn Yagle, in honor of Sara Saurino Environmental Group Gerald Lovins Rebecca Zambito Joanne Oleksiak Sidney Simon,The Simon Family Trust Rudy Zingler Joseph & Joyce O’Neil Carol & Ted Skowronek Jon Owens,Auto Diagnostics, in memory Barbara & Jerry Smith of John Denver We also want to T.K. Smith thank those indi- Robert Paashaus Eric Smith viduals who have Linda Paulman contributed to Janet Smith RMI through Clayton Pederson Harry Spruyt, Harry Spruyt Design Earth Share, the Ina & Mason Phelps combined federal Thomas Stanton, BEST Options LLC campaign, and Rhonda Phillips Edward Stapper other workplace Douglas Pierce charitable programs. If you would Dale Stille like to have RMI as a charitable Bill Plaisted Dan Sturges option in your workplace campaign, John Platt & Lisa Heilbron please contact our Development Mark Stutman Department, (970/927-3851). Peter Polson Nancy & Byron Stutzman Robert & Yolande Presley

RMISolutions p a ge 31 Summer 2002 Re a d er Survey

H elp Us M a ke ❐ Four 24-page issues annually Do you prefer a printed or electronic copy? a B e t t er ❐ Six 16-page issues annually ❐ Printed N ewsle t t er! Other: ❐ Electronic Have you read the newsletter on the web RMI is in the process of refining RMI Will you be renewing your donation to (www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid97.php)? Solutions to serve readers and supporters receive the newsletter again? ❐ Yes better. Please help us by answering the fol- ❐ Yes ❐ No lowing questions. If convenient, please visit our newsletter web page ❐ No What area of RMI’s work do you like (www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid97.php) reading about most? where you can fill in answers to this What do you like most about the ❐ Energy survey electronically. Or, if you don’t have newsletter? ❐ Green buildings web access, just clip out this page and mail ❐ Detailed articles ❐ Transportation it back to us at: Newsletter, RMI, 1739 Snowmass Creek Road, Snowmass, Colo. ❐ Varied subject matter ❐ Communities 81654 or fax to 970-927-3420. ❐ Interesting projects ❐ Business consulting ❐ Keeps me in touch with projects ❐ Water Are you a regular donor to RMI? I’ve supported ❐ Security ❐ Yes Other: ❐ Climate change ❐ No Other: What stories did you read in this issue? What do you like least about the newsletter? ❐ “Hunter Goes Solo” Do you share the newsletter with other ❐ Articles are too long ❐ “Least Cost Security” people and if so, how many? ❐ Articles are too short ❐ “Fostering a Green China” ❐ 0–2 ❐ Subject matter is repetitive ❐ “Life at RMI” ❐ 2–4 ❐ Subject matter is limited ❐ “Perspectives” ❐ >4 ❐ Too RMI-focused ❐ “Green Schools” Other: ❐ RMI News How can we make it better? ❐ “What Are You Doing?” ❐ “Dear Rocky” Would you like to read more from outside ❐ “Natural and Built Environments” writers? ❐ “Donor Spotlight” ❐ Yes ❐ “Board Spotlight” ❐ No ❐ “Staff Spotlight” How would you feel about paid advertising ❐ “Natcap Case Stories” in the newsletter? ❐ No way Would you prefer: ❐ Don’t mind ❐ Three 36-page issues of our ❐ Good idea newsletter annually Other: p a ge 32 H U N T E R F LIE S S O L O continued from page 1 seeing young staff members, and helping “Hunter’s contribu- interns launch projects. She was often tions to energy and responsible for helping make payroll—a resource efficiency difficult chore during slow economic are among the most times. But she also inspired the Institute to important by grow, and co-created most of RMI’s core anyone in those program areas. Many of the original princi- fields,” said RMI ples developed by Amory and refined by Board of Directors Hunter about energy (right-sized, distrib- Chairman John C. uted, flexible, innovation-friendly) would Fox. “In her 20 later be applied to these and other areas. years at the Institute, she has As RMI entered the 1990s and demand for H u n t er, in h er ele m e n t. P h o t o: N or m Cl ase n various services grew, Hunter found her- positively influ- self requested more and more as a speaker, enced thousands of moting a consensus-based energy policy for consultant, and author. Her straightfor- people and hundreds of organizations.” the United States, created independently ward speaking style and her clear, concise Of course, the original RMI is still charging of current Congressional energy policy dis- writing had her working with universities, forward, led by CEO Amory Lovins and cussions (the “NEP Initiative”); ongoing heads of state, governments, and world four-year Executive Director Marty Pickett. work with refugee settlements; various organizations like the United Nations and “It’s business as usual at RMI,” said Norm educational programs; and expanding con- . Clasen, RMI’s Communications Director. sultancy for major industries, utilities, Over the years, Hunter authored and co- “All our projects are progressing well, and water managers, and developers and archi- authored numerous books, including we look forward to continuing the impor- tects. Brittle Power (1982), Energy Unbound tant work the Lovinses started here 20 This issue of RMI Solutions includes sev- (1986), Factor Four (1997), Green years ago.” He noted that RMI’s mission eral articles authored or co-authored by Development (1998), Natural Capitalism remains unchanged, and that as projects Hunter during the past six months. Enjoy, (1999), and hundreds of papers and arti- warrant and require, the Institute’s and next time you see Hunter, say howdy cles, typically serving as general editor and “bench” will be further deepened. and wish her the best—as do we all, in ensuring clear logical structure. With As cofounder and co-CEO of RMI, Hunter admiration and gratitude. Amory she was designated a 2000 Time had many unique and varied roles at the “We wish Hunter well in her new magazine Hero for the Planet, and shared Institute and was heavily involved in many endeavors,” said Amory Lovins. “She’s a the 1999 Lindbergh Award, the 1993 of RMI’s far-reaching activities. Her roles brilliant, charismatic woman with the Nissan Award, the 1983 Right Livelihood will be filled by other staff members. drive and the strategic insight to change Award (“Alternative Nobel Prize”), and the “Of course, you can never replace the world. Whatever she does next will 1982 Mitchell Prize. In 2001, she won a Hunter,” Clasen said, “but we have build on, and I hope will even eclipse, her LOHAS Leadership in Business award, and enough latitude and talent at RMI that we extraordinary contributions at RMI. So shared the 2000–2001 Shingo Prize believe we’ll be able to handle the things think of this as like a cell division—now Research Award for the book Natural she was a part of. The departure of a there are two RMIs evolving out in the Capitalism. She has also received two hon- founder is, in fact, a natural progression, world!” orary doctorates. and change is healthy for any organization. As a result of Hunter’s leadership at RMI, Some of our younger staff members will today the Institute works in over 50 coun- now have the opportunity to prove them- tries, influencing corporations, organiza- selves as they are given more responsi- tions, governments and individuals in bility.” energy and resource efficiency. Some of RMI’s current work includes pro-

RMISolutions p a ge 33 Summer 2002 N at C a p C ase Stories RMI has helped descent lights with fluorescent lights concessioners imple- offered savings with payback periods well ment natural capi- within the average concessioner contract merica’s national parks contain talism in period. some of the country’s most spec- Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, and A fine example of the value of these meas- A tacular natural treasures, so it’s has also worked with NPS on its procure- ures comes from a joint project by RMI, especially unfortunate when they become ment process. Below are natural capi- Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, and the so popular that human activities begin to talism’s four principles along with a few DOE’s National Renewable Energy degrade the environment. Across the examples of what RMI, concessioner Amfac Laboratory (NREL)—the “Greening of the country, recent concerns over all sorts of and the Park Service itself are doing to White House.” (The White House is, after high-impact activities—from snowmobiling make more money while generating fewer all, an NPS property.) In 1993, the three in Yellowstone to traffic congestion in impacts: institutions performed a comprehensive Zion—have prompted the Park Service to 1. Dramatically Increase the energy and environmental audit of the enact measures that will help preserve Productivity of Natural Resources. building. After the assessment, there were these grand cathedrals of nature. Radically increase the productivity of nat- two years of “greening up” activities, including increasing the energy efficiency of the N at ural C a pit alism building envelope, lighting retrofits, implementing a com- in A m eric a’s B y Christina Page and prehensive recycling program, N ation al Pa rks Cameron M. Burns using fewer pesticides, installing energy-saving equip- ment—you name it. In March But such efforts aren’t solely the domain of ural resources through a whole-system 1996, estimated savings in energy, water, the National Park Service—and shouldn’t design mentality that fundamentally landscaping expenses and solid waste bills be. Visitors, concerned organizations, and changes facilities, production processes, and as a result of the greening activities were local communities all have important roles products. Reducing the wasteful and $150,000 annually. Between 1996 and to play. Perhaps the most important players destructive flow of resources from depletion 1999, when a Six Year Report on the besides the federal government are the to pollution represents a major business progress was issued, new measures imple- hundreds of concessioners who operate opportunity. mented brought the total savings up to within the parks. This principle is best seen at work in $300,000 annually. In the National Parks, more business and energy- and water-efficient buildings, where 2. Shift to Biologically-Inspired greater revenues can mean harm to the advanced technologies help to increase pro- Production Models. Shift production to very thing drawing the spending public— ductivity and reduce consumption. biologically-inspired patterns that close the natural environment. Yet there are Lodgings in many parks, from rustic cabins materials loops, eliminate waste and toxi- ways to “grow” business without increasing to full-service hotels, already benefit from city, and minimize throughput. Natural cap- environmental degradation. Natural capi- energy and water efficiency retrofits, espe- italism seeks not merely to reduce waste talism is a business model developed by cially in temperature-extreme or water-poor but to eliminate the very concept of waste. Rocky Mountain Institute founders Amory regions. Since concessioners within parks In nature, there’s no such thing as toxicity. Lovins and Hunter Lovins, and business are limited by regulation in what they can Waste from each of nature’s kingdoms author Paul Hawken (based on the book charge for goods and services, operational becomes food for another kingdom. In the Natural Capitalism). It promotes prosperity savings can provide a powerful way to late 1990s, with urging from RMI, Amfac while preserving, and ultimately restoring, improve a profit margin. Studies a few years decided to apply this principle to a vehicle the that all life and wealth- ago on sustainability opportunities within maintenance facility in Yellowstone generation depends upon. Based on down- several parks indicated significant potential National Park, with a “whatever-goes-in- to-earth principles (see below), natural energy savings from upgrades of conces- stays-in” philosophy. In terms of action, that capitalism can be an effective guide for sioner buildings, especially in the area of meant recycling oil, antifreeze, chlorofluo- businesses to increase profitability while lighting. Simple measures such as weather- rocarbons (from refrigeration operations), restoring the planet. stripping, light sensors, and replacing incan- scrap metals, solvents, fluorescent lamps, p a ge 34 N at C a p C ase Stories and vehicle batteries. In 2000, over 800 from 18,000 to gallons of antifreeze, 55 gallons of solvents, about 11,000 square eight tons of scrap copper, steel, and alu- feet, thereby using minum, and 100 used car batteries were fewer materials. The reduction in space recycled. Meanwhile, 4,000 gallons of used reportedly saved an estimated $1.5 million oil were burned for heat recovery. Although in construction costs. Daylighting also lights a very small amount of non-hazardous up 80 percent of the center’s interior. By residue results from the in-house recycling recognizing lighting as a service and not an process, and some hazardous wastes must assemblage of light bulbs, the Park Service be recycled outside Yellowstone (mercury will save itself (and you, the taxpayer) lamps, for example), Amfac’s cost of haz- roughly $350,000 over the projected 25- ardous waste disposal went from roughly year life of the building, or $14,000 a year $60,000 in 1996 to $5,000 in 2001. in energy costs. And it has improved the Also, both the Park Service and conces- visitor experience in the process. sioners not only have the opportunity to 4. Reinvest in Natural Capital. Reinvest encourage nature-inspired facilities and in natural and human capital, which is ulti- operations; they can promote natural capi- mately the basis of future prosperity. talism among suppliers, too. Amfac’s sol- Ultimately, business must restore, sustain, vent suppliers in Yellowstone were and expand the planet’s ecosystems so that C er t a inly t his lit tle a n tif re e z e re cy- encouraged to reuse the large plastic barrels they can produce their vital services and cler isn’t as p re t ty as m ost sc e n es in in which the solvents were delivered. biological resources even more abundantly. Yellowst o n e, b u t it’s d oin g its p a r t for t h e p a r k. P h o t o co u r t esy A m f a c 3. Move to a Solutions-Based Business Restoration means not only repairing and P a r ks a n d R esor ts Model. Move to a solutions-based business reinvesting in nature, but stemming deple- model that delivers value as a continuous tion where it is occurring. At the Flamingo • a minimum of energy and materials to get flow of services rather than the sale of Lodge Marina and Outpost Resort in Florida the job done goods—rewarding both the provider and (the only “in-park” accommodations in • natural (non-toxic and life-temperature) the customer for doing more and better Everglades National Park), the resort’s materials and processes with less for longer. The business model of restaurant does not serve certain species of • materials that can be used again, repaired traditional manufacturing rests on the sale fish that have been overfished or are endan- easily recycled or biodegraded of goods. In the new model, value is gered. In fact, notes Chris Lane, Amfac’s • whether it enhances rather than depletes instead delivered as a flow of services—pro- Director of Environmental Affairs, his com- the planet’s natural capital. viding illumination, for example, rather pany has a new policy on fish for all its than selling light bulbs. restaurants. “We serve species based upon Every concessioner has at least one, and sometimes many, options in how to supply As co-CEO (Research) of Rocky Mountain three aspects,” Lane said, “one, a wild pop- light, heat, and water, what to stock in Institute Amory Lovins often remarks, ulation that’s abundant enough to sustain retail outlets and restaurants, and how serv- people don’t want heating fuel or coolant; fishing; two, low levels of wasted catch or ices and products are distributed. Often, the people want cold beer and hot showers. ‘bycatch’; and three, fish caught or farmed difficulty is understanding which choices While people don’t necessarily want large, in ways that minimize impact to the envi- lead to the greatest environmental responsi- energy-intensive lights blasting down on ronment.” At present, you won’t find bility and bottom-line returns. Natural capi- visitor center dioramas, they do want to be Chilean sea bass, shark, Atlantic swordfish, talism provides easy-to-follow guidelines able to read exhibits. or bluefin tuna in any of the company’s restaurants. (For a guide to “sustainable” that’ll make your business and your park a In 1998, Zion National Park enlisted the sea food, see www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafood better place. help of NREL to build a green visitor and watch.asp.) transit center. By placing many exhibits out- side where visitors could enjoy the natural How can businesses adopt these principles This article originally appeared in environment—the sunshine, the clean in ways that make sense and make money? Greenline, the publication of the National canyon breezes, the sound of the Virgin When making decisions about your busi- Park Service Concession Program, in a River—the size of the building was reduced nesses, ask yourself if the product or service slightly different form. you’re are supplying involves:

RMISolutions p a ge 35 Summer 2002 Rocky Mountain Institute/volume xviii #2/Summer 2002 RMISolutions newsletter IN SID E: • H u n t er Goes Solo • Le ast C ost Security • Gree n Schools • D evelo p m e n t in West ern C hin a • St e p h e n Kellert on Bio p hilia • N ewsletter Re a ders’ Survey • Perspectives: H ow to Get of f Oil • N atC a p in t h e N ation al Pa rks

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