August 26, 2009
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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Apple evangelist and venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki discusses the aesthetics of hybrid cars, Tesla Motors, and nuclear power. He also delivers a very memorable lesson about keeping on the good side of the media in this Fresh Dialogues interview. While discussing the relative merits of his Audi R8 and a Toyota Prius hybrid, he lets his candid attitude prevail, and calls the Prius “ugly.”
“So I just insulted the interviewer?” Guy Kawasaki
Listen to this interview and find out how Guy tries to redeem himself. Continue reading ‘Guy Kawasaki: Prius are Ugly’ »
August 19, 2009
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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Lena Wilson has been described as one of the most powerful women in Scotland. She’s CEO of both Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, two publicly funded organizations focused on stimulating sustainable growth in Scotland. The country has an ambitious target to provide 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
I caught up with Lena on a recent trip to Scotland and discussed her role as “Scotland’s chief salesperson.” She explained the political will for its energy targets and described the green strategy: focus on a low carbon future and leverage Scotland’s natural advantages: 25% of Europe’s wind and wave power potential, cool climate; infrastructure and research strengths.
On Scotland’s value proposition
“Scotland has moved significantly up the value chain. It isn’t about cheap assembly plants anymore…Scotland has natural assets, talent, a business infrastructure and science base that can make it the most competitive business location for R & D.”
Who is the Al Gore of Scotland?
Continue reading ‘Lena Wilson: Scotland’s Low Carbon Ambition’ »
August 12, 2009
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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Earlier this year, I had the chance to turn the tables on celebrated Forum Host, Michael Krasny, and interview him for Fresh Dialogues. He was surprisingly candid about how how he fights feelings of inadequacy and is driven to prepare thoroughly for each interview. The focus of this segment is the environment and why he has cause for optimism. He explains why he regularly chooses green topics for Forum and sees organizations like Sustainable Silicon Valley as providing good models for bringing businesses, government and NGOs together to create a greener future.
Continue reading ‘Michael Krasny: Why Green Forums Matter’ »
August 5, 2009
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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Here are the highlights of my discussion with Rob Lamkin, CEO of Cool Earth Solar, a concentrated photovoltaic startup based in Livermore.
Why is solar the solution to global warming and energy security?
“Solar energy is the only thing we have in near enough abundance to solve the energy problems we have.”
On hiring new team members
Technical skills are not enough, passion for clean energy is a prerequisite. “Passion is a filter for us.”
Continue reading ‘Rob Lamkin: Why Solar is the Solution’ »
July 29, 2009
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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I caught up with Twitter officianado, Adam Jackson at SDForum’s Teens Plugged in Conference. He talks about how Twitter is going green and how his new book, 140 Characters, a style guide to Twitter, will be released as an iPhone App – a greener and cheaper option than a traditional book.
On Twitter’s green credentials
“If you use Skype to have a conversation instead of flying across the country, you’ve saved money and saved the environment.”
On his book, 140 Characters
“I think a lot of our sales will come from the $4 for a virtual app….its selling point is that it comes instantly … but it’s also a great thing for the earth.”
“It tells you how to post links to get the most clicks.”
Continue reading ‘Adam Jackson: How Twitter is Going Green’ »
July 22, 2009
Elise Zoli holding the Waxman Markey Bill she helped to write
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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I caught up with Elise Zoli at FountainBlue’s Forum on Clean Green Transportation this month. Elise is a Boston based partner with law firm, Goodwin Procter, but is a frequently in Silicon Valley to serve her local clients. She specializes in energy, climate change and clean tech law.
We discussed:
Government - Its role as the Grinch and Santa Claus
“The Grinch side is limiting traditional industry and allowing new sectors, new technologies to emerge…with emissions standards, fuel tax…The Santa Claus side - direct funding – grants, loans, loan guarantees, tax subsidies…make a more favorable environment for emerging companies.”
Continue reading ‘Elise Zoli: Government’s role in Clean Tech’ »
July 20, 2009
Mary Vincent, a go-getting green entrepreneur let me know about a cool green event she’s co-hosting in Silicon Valley next month
The First Green Software Unconference Silicon Valley
When: August 19, 2009
Where: The Computer History Museum in Mountain View
Why: Be in the company of entrepreneurs, engineers, venture capitalists, marketers and business strategists, and sustainability professionals.
Sign up details: click here
As a bonus, a TREE will be planted for Early-Bird Registrants so it is important to register as soon as possible.
Sponsors: Environmental (Eco) Entrepreneurs Mary Vincent, Founder and CEO of Green Star Solution and Gratitude Gourmet and Merc Martinelli, Founder of Verdafero. Both have Fortune 500 Silicon Valley backgrounds from Sun Microsystems and Cisco respectively and Co-Founded the Green Software Unconference with the purpose of gathering technologists and businesspeople together to collaborate and innovate for the environment and business.
July 15, 2009
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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Kevin Surace is serious about tackling global warming and argues that producing energy saving building materials can go a long way to cutting down CO2 emissions and reducing energy consumption in the United States. He’s CEO of Serious Materials, a Sunnyvale based maker of eco drywall, windows and other building materials; and frequent speaker * on global warming and the built environment. *His TED speech is worth checking out.
We discussed the influence of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth in helping create a market for green products; the pace of global warming; and whether consumers are willing to pay a premium for green. Kevin outlined how his company uses new media to get its message out and why his company is growing rapidly, despite the shrinking economy.
On how climate awareness grew in 2005
Continue reading ‘Kevin Surace: Building Climate Change Solutions’ »
July 8, 2009
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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Judy Estrin is an influential tech entrepreneur, CEO of JLabs, and author of Closing the Innovation Gap. I caught up with her at SD Forum’s 12th annual Visionary Awards in Atherton, where she was one of four recipients. We talked about whether clean energy solutions can save the planet; the importance of new innovation in revitalizing the economy; and the role of government in making it happen.
“For an industry to take off, you need a grand challenge, or a grand problem that needs to be solved and you need research and scientific discovery…In the area of clean energy, it’s a problem that must be solved and it’s very broad in nature.”
Can clean energy save the planet?
“The real question is: will we as a people, our government as leaders, and will our business leaders all have the courage and commitment to understand that along with new technologies and forms of energy has to come behavioral change? It’s not just about inventing something new, it’s going to take change from everybody.”
Continue reading ‘Judy Estrin: Closing the green innovation gap’ »
