Today I would like to talk a little about how we can help leave a positive footprint on our planet when building new structures. As humans it is in our very nature to consume. We want to have nice things, to built a life, to own a home… and who am I to disagree.  I think we are going to keep acting like humans, but if we can shift our mindset and put our efforts towards better options we will start to create a better world.  And perhaps decrease our impacts on this planet enough to survive and live on a vibrant happy planet.

Below are some helpful things to consider and hopefully implement before building a house or office.

• Choose Efficient Appliances powered by Energy from Renewable Resources.  Choosing efficient appliances, air conditioners and computers can make a big difference in energy use and carbon emissions from power plants.
• Do Not Use Rainforest Timber.  Our rainforest are dimensioning at a shockingly rapid rate. Click the link to learn about other timber options.
• Reduce & Recycle Construction Waste. Packaging, new material scraps and old materials and debris all constitute potentially recoverable materials.
• Breath Healthily with low V.O.C. in your home. Having clean and pure air is important to healthy living for all of us.
• Grow Food Forest Using Permaculture. Food forests take the idea of growing food like it would naturally grow in the forest, but they are designed and managed ecosystems that are very rich in biodiversity and productivity.

Thank you for your time.

- Rustin Coburn

A couple weeks ago I wrote a post entitled “3 Easy Ways to Improve Your Shred this Winter.” The 3rd bullet point discussed being more environmentally conscious about our actions surrounding skiing and snowboarding. I re-read this post recently and it got me thinking: there is a lot I do, unconsciously, that contributes to my carbon footprint.

Corporations have the opportunity to purchase Carbon Offsets  in order to maintain a certain level of eco-friendliness across all forms of industry. I’m not positive I agree with allowing companies the opportunity to pay off others to be environmentally considerate for them (My feelings mirror this Bloomberg Businessweek article: “Another Inconvenient Truth” <– http://buswk.co/vLsHJI). Regardless, as individuals, most of us do not have the capital to pursue this option.
SO, what can we do?

We can separate recyclables. We can walk to the gas station (2 blocks over) for snacks instead of drive. And we can stick to 6 or 8 squares in the lavatory. I mean- if you haven’t had Chipotle in the past 24 hours do you REALLY need half a roll in one “sitting?”

I know what you’re thinking: “Stringent bath tissue management by little ‘ol me isn’t likely to put a stop to the clear-cutting of our rain forests.” BUT, think about this: you are one of hundreds of people (mostly Denver-ites) reading this blog. If each of you makes one conscious effort a day to reduce your usage of paper products, over the course of a month it could decrease demand enough at a popular local supermarket for them to tally one less crate of paper products on their next order form. You just saved a tree. Not to mention more than a few bucks.
By doing this consciously for a while (supposedly it takes an avg. of 66 days to form a habit) pretty soon you will be unconsciously saving numerous trees (that are probably older than you are!) and lots of green-backs.

As an example: my first conscious attempt to reduce my usage of paper products was simply not throwing away a paper towel after it’s initial use. I would neatly fold the towel on my counter and use it later to blow my nose, wipe up my spills, and so on- until the towel no longer functioned. Anymore, it takes me a month to go through a roll.
It doesn’t have to be just paper products though! Reducing your impact can be as easy as shutting off the light EVERY time you’re not home; Or unplugging all of your appliances when you are out of town for the weekend. The best part: All of these things will save you money too!!

Above is a carbon footprint calculator. I’ve included it here for you to get a rough idea of what your personal carbon footprint looks like and encourage you to compare it to the US average. Give my suggestion a shot! Then- check back here in a month and recalculate.

What size are your shoes?

- Ches Sheridan Arms

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!
Over the last month the US has spent over $40 billion on Holiday Shopping.
We are not gonna stop shopping, but I thought it would be cool to show some inspiring Videos from American Made Manufacturers.
Find more at FUCK YEAH MADE IN USA
***

Pointer Brand from Cumberland Marketing on Vimeo.

Defy Bags: Old Materials. New Ideas. from Jerry Rig on Vimeo.

Tellason from Vertical Online on Vimeo.

First, bringing some up to speed, about a month ago I wrote a post on the changing landscape of business due to such business sustainability initiatives of the Triple Bottom Line (3BL). This is an ongoing subject that I love to rant about, shine light and attempt to create innovative ideas on the reg, or as some prefer, on the regular.

To provide some context on the paragraph below, this was taken from a paper written by business heavy hitters Yvon Chouinard (CEO, Patagonia), Jib Ellison (Founder & CEO, BluSkye) and Rick Ridgeway (VP, Environmental Initiatives). The  paper is aptly titled “The Big Idea: The Sustainable Economy”. Fantastic read. I got the inside track from good friend and colleague, Patrick Cowen who is an advertising badass and currently earning his MBA from University of Denver.

Real change will come as high-level calculations filter down to individual companies’ bookkeeping. Puma, a sports footwear and apparel brand that is a subsidiary of the French PPR Group (which also includes Gucci, Stella McCartney, and Yves Saint Laurent) announced in April 2011 that it would begin issuing an environmental profit & loss statement that will account for the full economic impact of the brand on its ecosystem. It commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers to help develop the EP&L statement, and both companies hope to create a model robust enough to be adopted by others. “This is nothing to do with corporate social responsibility and the green agenda,” Chris Knight, of PwC’s sustainability practice, told The Financial Times. “It is hard-nosed economics.”

For me, this paragraph should be a big eye opener for all business stake holders. Are you one who considers this business sustainability movement a mere pop culture trend? Good luck with that.

It’s post-Thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner. That means you can’t blame the early-season for your lack-luster performance on the slopes any more. The snow is no longer riddled with rock and twig death traps; you aren’t considering amputating a foot after a full day in your boots; and there is much less giggling and snickering when your friend mentions a “big dump,” because the image that comes to mind has nothing to do with last nights drunken Del Taco burrito bender.

Every day we ride we try to improve, but sometimes we hit a plateau. Something is holding us back but we don’t know what.
So- Maybe you’re downright embarrassed to tell your friends you’ll meet them after your bunny slope warm-up runs. Could be you need a little extra game to seal the deal with “Jackie from Texas” at the bar in the lodge. Or perhaps you’re somewhere right in between. Whatever the case, these three tips should have you back on the path to bragging rights. They may seem simple and obvious, but I guarantee you haven’t considered all three (if any)!

1. Rub it Out- err… On. 

   The wax that is! Or even better, get an iron and do it right. Think about your first day this season. Were you “that guy/girl” in the group: the last one down every run– leaving your friends tapping their foot in the lift line? Maybe you should try a few solo lesson days… OR- maybe a fresh tune is all you need. I waxed my board halfway through day 1 this season and was TOTALLY amazed the diference it made. If you have to take it to a shop I wouldn’t be TOO embarassed… but you could just as easily follow these instructions at home.

2. Get Some Beef on those Buns 

   Nobody wants to believe it, but chances are you’re out of shape. Maybe you bike, run, or perform arial acrobatics on the reg, but that doesn’t mean your ski/snowboard muscles are up to par. Flexibility and endurance are equally as important, but most of us sending it every week are young bucks anyway.

   I spent WAY too much time looking through websites to find pictures and explanations of exercises that would be the most beneficial to you. So, while Exercises to Prepare for the Slopes on Bodybulding.com seems a bit hardcore, the exercises in the article are the most quality, and appropriate for skiers and snowboarders alike, that I could find. Try to incorporate a few of these into your day once or twice a week. You’ll be blown away how much easier tricks will be. And a positive side-effect: you’re ass will look better than ever come summer.

3. Treat Her Right
   

   I’m talking, of course, about our Mother Earth. In true DVLP Life fashion, “riding green” had to get thrown in here. While being environmentally conscious probably wont help you stick 60 ft. frontside 5′s by the end of the season, it may score bonus points with the snow-bunnies. When she says, “Ooo, I like your snow pants!” what’s better than replying: “Thanks! I bought the skinny pair because I’ve been doing conditioning this season (i.e.- ‘they make my ass look awesome’). Oh, and did I mention they’re made entirely of post-consumer recycled material and $1 of my purchase went to saving children and puppies in Kazakhstan?” Nicccce.

   This article is an awesome place to get started: How to Go Green: Skiing & Snowboarding

    

So now you have no excuses! With these three easy-as-pie tips, you should be upping your game in no time!
And if any of these tips worked for you and you want to show off, hit me up ANYTIME– let’s ride!

- Ches Sheridan Arms

I think it is a sign of the very near future to see a growing economy like China surpass the U.S. in total clean energy investments and technology advancements. U.S. based think tank Third Way  says China has surpassed the United States as the top nation in total clean energy investments, attractiveness for renewable energy investment and overall patents filed since 2010.

“Our country is sitting on the sidelines as the equivalent of 16 percent of our GDP is up for grabs,” says Joshua Freed, Third Way Vice President for the Clean Energy Program.

Freed and his co-authors say China is adopting policies to slowly gain ground against the US in the areas of finance and innovation, particularly in clean energy. The report shows China has the highest public market financing in the clean energy sector, while the United States ranked third in total clean energy investment in 2010, behind China and Germany. In 2008, the United States ranked first.

Hopefully this creates the awareness and motivation for the US and other countries to step up their game.
China is the fastest growing economy in the world, and I personally find it encouraging to see that a big reason for this is the innovation and big picture thinking towards finding solutions to sustainable living on this planet.
Why do you think?

For more information and reading:
http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/

Collectively as business stake holders, strategists, economists, entrepreneurs, and as folks who enjoy buying things to enhance their life, I believe we are doing ourselves injustice by calling ourselves consumers. Sure, we consume things. I consume a lot of libations whilst pairing with delicious food. We consume gasoline and electricity like pandas on bamboo. Problem is, being described as a consumer does not necessarily enhance our lives. I certainly to not feel like I am on top of my game of life being labeled a consumer. To me, it sounds so effing pessimistic. Not only are we/you just another number, we/you are also a disgusting person who digests any product in there path with no consideration for value and leaves a path of destruction in the wake. In addition, if you are a business owner, do you really want to call out your valued clients as consumers?

Some will argue that much of the modern world are made up of those “consumers” who pillage through products, resources and otherwise. Ignorant. That is what I will call them. These are typically the same people who tell me technology is ruining our family bonding and social engagement. Bullshit. We are all humans on this earth striving for an improved life; whatever that may mean individually. I like to think that we are all on the same level intellectually, we are just separated by passion or drive to make things happen or get things done.

This may just come off as a semantic rant to some, but if we are to change what many of us view to be problems in our current economic and environmental condition, I strongly believe that it starts with perception. How we perceive our lives and our actions in this world is as important as an actual action in my opinion. This is why I think we need to reconsider our labels of the general purchasing public, i.e. ourselves.

I have written several times that I hate the word consumer. Last week, a friend of mine and a person I respect highly in regards of branding and design wrote me a message that he has been using the term “participants” to replace “consumers” and, in his words, it had been resonating very well with him. Without getting his opinion, I think my man Brian Oliva understands that as communication artists we have a responsibility of progressing the business world, or at the very least the communications industry, towards a better future. If we don’t progress and educate our peers down to our clients/potential clients then we essentially have no value, incapable of pushing new boundaries of our passions and businesses. Sounds pretty whack to me.

As a part of my daily/weekly/annual self-actualization, I try to find small to big methods in improving my surroundings. This week substituting my use of “participants” into all communications where you would typically find “consumers” will suffice as a decently sized check mark for improving professionally.

Another wonderful thanksgiving, and here we are, back to work just a few pounds … happier… yeah, that.
Thanks to the ever-increasing marketing tactics of retail America, this year it has finally dawned on me, in a timely manner, that Christmas is less than a month away.

Ruh-roh.

So I decided to give you a little early Christmas present of my own…
…in the form of sifting through the interweb to search out some unique, creative, upcycled, and sustainable gift ideas for all of the lovely boys and girls on your list. Due to the nature of endless options, this will be spread out over a few posts. Stay tuned!

Today, I’d like to introduce to you HIPCYLCE.COM, a whole reservoir of upcycled products.

What is upcycling?

“Generally speaking, upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.”(-Hipcycle.com)

Brilliant!

Here are a few of my favorites, click to see!

What does it really mean to give back? If you asked ten people they might all give you different answers: To help your local schools and the children of the future, donating to non-profits, recycling, to be politically active, tithing and church offerings, planting trees, and so on. These are all valuable ways to make a difference in peoples lives and help protect this planet. For me, this concept is about contributing to our planet more then we take. This is a very difficult task to undertake if you choose to live and work in a thriving metropolis like Denver. However it is still our responsibility as humans to really take care of our planet that is clearly starting to suffer from our perpetual consumption of its resources. Even if Companies and individuals who can find a way to have a Zero Carbon Footprint will help tremendously.

Today I would like to feature a company who has internalized the concept of giving back into the ethos of their entire brand. Acciona is a leader in building and supporting sustainable life on this planet and focuses it energy on Infrastructure, Clean Energy, and Water (Global Leader in Reverse Osmosis). Acciona ranks number one on the Dow Jones “Sustainability Index”, and employees over 30,000 people in 32 countries to help build a better tomorrow.

Please take a minute to check out their website and learn about a few of the global efforts being made for a sustainable future on this planet.

Several people I know in Denver, including myself,  use a bike as the main mode of transport. There’s lot of obvious benefits–it’s good for the environment, better for our health, and our calves are the envy of the town (well….probably  not the last one). It also is one of the best and long lasting options for sustainable transportation. Plus, it is just a lot of fun…. as showcased in the video Empire…

Empire is a film about people having fun riding track bikes and fixed gears in the city. The final teaser was released last year…check it out:

And for you two-wheelin’ Denverites…if you have not checked out  Loops yet, then I recommend you heading over to Crema Coffee House on a Tuesday around 7pm, and set off into the night for a 15-20 mile ride through Denver with a couple stops along the way. What could be more fun?

- Rustin Coburn