Sustainability Forum

Don't Miss This

2012-01-27T17:30:00.002-05:00

Leading environmental activist:

Bill McKibben

Live @ Endicott College

Wax Academic Center Auditorium

Thursday February 9^th7:00 pm

Free and Open to the Public!

Questions: contact screight@endicott.edu

(and don't forget: Sustainability Forum, Wed. Feb. 1 at the CleanTech Innoventure Ctr)

Wed. Feb 1: Solar Sense

2012-01-23T10:41:00.001-05:00

Solar PV: Making Sense of it in Massachusetts

What are the realities of solar photovoltaics here for commercial and residence use? What are the key criteria for decision-makers? Does it make sense? What is the bottom line for your home…your business? Our guest speaker will provide an overview on the value chain here, including the economics and regulatory advantages.

Matt Shortsleeve, executive of Mercury Solar Systems, promises to lead a lively, insightful discussion to help us understand the realities of solar. Matt is a longtime member of the Sustainability Forum, a graduate of Presidio’s Sustainability Leadership program and former executive of the NSIV cleantech incubator.

Be sure to register here at NSTC.org (or at the door). Non-members welcome.

Wed., Feb. 1, 2012 at 8 a.m.

CleanTech Innoventure Center

4th Floor
20 Wheeler Street
Lynn, MA

Directions on our site: http://northshoretechcouncil.blogspot.com/

Special Jan. Sustainability Symposium: Human Capital Engagement: Use it or Lose it

2011-12-19T14:03:00.002-05:00

In January, the Sustainability Forum is working together with the NSTC’s Women’s Initiative in a special gathering on Wed., January 11, at 8 a.m. The joint event features top execs in a panel discussion on: "Human Capital Engagement: Use It or Lose It!”

This panel will tackle the challenge of engaging people to drive sustainable practices and how to transform an organization’s culture.

Tim Greiner, CEO, Pure Strategies

Susan Hunt Stevens, CEO, Practically Green

Chris Twyman, CEO, Zapoint

Emily Ryan, Managing Editor, EBSCO, Sustainability Watch

Our panel, leaders in driving organizational change, will discuss their own insights on this challenge and take questions from the audience.

This event promises to illuminate critical trends in sustainability and the promise of positive change.

When: Wed., Jan. 11, 2012

8 am to 9:30 am

Location: Offices of McLane Law Firm

300 Trade Center 128, Suite 6400

Woburn, MA

Cost: Free to NSTC members; $25 for non-members.

Online Registration here.

This special forum is sponsored by McLane Law Firm.

What Happens Next is Up to Us

2011-12-07T19:19:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of useful social networking...just want to pass along this letter from Bill McKibben, an environmental activist and author who grew up in Lexington, MA. As Bill says, we've created a new earth, what happens next is up to us.

P.S. Thanks to EnergySage for their good work, ingenuity and presenting their thinking to the Forum today.

Urgent: Big oil is fighting back
Dear Gang,

Well, our temporary delay of the Keystone Pipeline may be even more temporary than we’d hoped.

In the last few days a team of industry-funded Senators and Congressmen have introduced bills designed to force almost immediate approval of Keystone XL. Hence this long letter—please take the time to read it with care.

Several bills have been introduced. The most dangerous would force the president to give a permit within months, long before anyone could credibly conduct the promised review of climate impacts. We won the first round in public, and so Big Oil is using the money-filled back rooms of DC to try to win round two.

So I fear we have to ask yet more of you. The key to stopping these bills will be in the Senate. A few of you live in key states - including Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia—where your Senator could have a big say on these bills. These proposals are attached to the President's tax cut legislation which will get an up-or-down vote in less than two weeks, so we need to act fast to get them to stand up to big oil and stop this backroom deal.

We may need to respond very quickly to show that grassroots opposition to Keystone is real -- and that Congress can't be doing Big Oil's bidding. Can you be a part of an action at your Senator's office in the coming days?

Yes, I'd like to be involved.

Yes, and I would like to help organize an action.

When we had our nationwide brainstorm last week, many of you made it clear that fighting the power of the fossil fuel industry should be a key to our future work, and I think this episode proves you right. Consider, for instance, the US Chamber of Commerce. They were the biggest donors in the last election cycle, and 94% of their money went to climate-deniers. Now they’re cashing in their investment, demanding that their stable of elected officials push Keystone though.

It's not just the Chamber of course - the Koch Brothers, who own a big tar sands refinery, are in on this, and their Americans for Prosperity front group is out working hard for Keystone.

We need to make sure our representatives know that we expect them to stand up to corporate power - and that we will take this fight public whenever necessary to see that they do so.

Big Oil is trying to make it seem as if they’re defending jobs with their pipeline. They’ve enlisted a handful of the building trades unions to work with them. We don’t begrudge these workers, facing high levels of unemployment, their stand, and we look forward to working with them on other issues in the future.

But it’s important to get across the basics: the only study not funded by TransCanada shows the pipeline will cost as many jobs as it creates, and the fanciful estimates of oil executives for job creation from the project have been fully exposed as nonsense. That’s why an array of unions are opposing the project, ranging from the Amalgamated Transit Workers and Transit Workers United, who note that it will help delay the job-rich transition to clean energy, to the Domestic Workers union, who point out that many of their members come from countries already struck harsh blows by global warming.

The Keystone Pipeline is, of course, just one battle in a huge fight. Even without it, the International Energy Agency said last month that the planet set a new record for pouring carbon into the atmosphere; we’re seeing horrifying flood and drought across the globe. If we’re ever going to slow that down, we’re going to need to break the arrogant power of the fossil fuel industry. Now’s a good time to start, even if we all have other things to do in December.

Let’s do what we can to make it a happy holiday for the planet, and for those on it who live closest to the edge!

--Bill McKibben for tarsandsaction and 350.org

p.s.— The strategy session debrief is still on for tonight. We'll be discussing our plans to stop the bills, as well as debriefing what everyone talked about. Here are the details:

What: Climate Movement Strategy Sessions Debrief Call
When: Monday December 5th, 9 PM Eastern Time
To join: Call (712) 432-1001, and enter the access code 485501597#
You can chat about the call with other folks here: http://www.tarsandsaction.org/strategy-chat/

Calling All Forum Members

2011-12-01T13:21:00.000-05:00

At our next Forum we have the opportunity to hear from a new clean-tech start-up. We also have the opportunity to help them succeed. We'll hear from the founder of EnergySage.com. He also hopes to get some feedback from you -- our unique Forum members.

Clean Energy As a Financial Product—A Game-Changing Paradigm Shift.

Vikram Aggarwal, founder of EnergySage.com, believes that in order for clean energy adoption to be pervasive, home and business owners have to be convinced of the financial benefits. Makes sense, right?

Vikram will share with the Forum the results of EnergySage’s consumer and industry research. And he will provide insights into their strategy of viewing clean energy systems as a new asset class capable of delivering an ROI that rivals traditional investment vehicles such as stocks and bonds. Clean energy system can also be a terrific capital investment for businesses, generating a high internal rate of return while reducing operating costs and the risks associated with rising and volatile energy costs.

EnergySage has a unique approach that is designed to increase clean energy adoption by winning over consumers who are increasingly focused on the bottom-line. Vikram understands that our Forum members are a sophisticated audience. He’ll be looking for your feedback.

See you Wed., Dec. 7 at 8 a.m. Bring your thinking caps.

Heads Up! Next Forum Dec. 7

2011-11-17T13:55:00.001-05:00

Great Sustainability Forum lined up Wed., December 7, starting at 8 a.m. with coffee and networking. At 8:30 we'll get into the head of a new clean-tech start-up with special guest Vikram Aggarwal, president of EnergySage.com.

Inside Look at a New Start-Up: EnergySage.com

Aftera solid gestation period, EnergySage.com launched this month. It’s a new approach created to make the financialcase in favor of clean energy adoption and assist property owners’implementation. Join President Vikram Aggarwal as he walksus through the challenges of entrepreneurship and EnergySage's objectives to shape theclean energy market.

We're also looking to hear from you. Bring your perspective's from Boston's Clean Energy Week and good ideas. See you at the Forum! See our map for directions.

For more info contact John Coulbourn at John [at] IpswichRiverMedia.com.

Innoventures U: Nov 16

2011-11-03T18:04:00.001-04:00

Board Effectiveness: How AnAdvisory Board Can Enhance Your Company's Performance

Wed., Nov. 16, 2011, 8 a.m.
Cleantech InnoVenture Center in Lynn

You’re invited to a hands-on presentation from Attorney David Gibbs of Bowditch and Dewey,who’ll offer key insights into the big advantages that the right board canoffer a start-up.

An Advisory Board can be a key component of your company's success. An advisoryBoard can provide strategic advice, act as a sounding board, providing input onkey business decisions, industry trends. It can extend contacts. And offers thevaluable experience of members who've successfully met the challenges you face.

Gibbs will answer the key questions:

What is the difference between a Board of Directors and Advisory Board?
What type of Board and members are needed for your company?
How do you recruit, retain and should you compensate the Board members?
How do you work with a Board, communications, time commitment, meetings, confidentiality and engagement with your company?

The discussion will beinteractive. With real-life experiences.

As a friend of NSIV, we want to see you succeed. The seminar isfree. All current NSIV incubator members, candidate companies, sponsors,mentors and advisers are invited.

Coffee and networking at 8 am. Presentation at 8:30.
Seminars are always the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 8 a.m. at: CleantechInnoVenture Center, 20 Wheeler St. Lynn, MA 01912

More info: visit - www.nsiv.orgor email tom.kinneman@nsiv.org

No Sustainability Forum Nov. 2. Catch Clean Energy Week

2011-10-31T12:06:00.000-04:00

FYI: There is noSustainability Forum this month at the CleanTech Innoventure Center. It’s Clean Energy Week in Boston!

Lot’s of action going on from the 7th AnnualConference on Clean Energy, Strategic Partner CleanTech Day, and the Green TieGala.

We’ll see you all Wed., Dec. 7, at 8 a.m. for the nextSustainability Forum, we’ll have a great line-up and reports from CleanEnergy Week.

NSTC Brkfst Oct 26: A Tech Perspective on the Solar Industry

2011-10-20T14:49:00.000-04:00

There is no true market-driven dynamicfor the solar industry. Unfortunately,Solandra stands out in the news today as the poster child for clean-techinvestment – and failure. (Yet, it’s theonly company of the 28 that received loans under the Federal stimulusprogram to have failed.)

In order for there to be a viable solarpower industry, the technology must produce solar cellsthat have a cost per megawatt hour equivalent to traditional energy sources. Innovation can drive markets, regardless of politics.

Coming up Wed., Oct. 26 the North Shore Technology Council presents Dr. PaulSullivan, vice president of business development at Varian SemiconductorEquipment Associates:

“The Path toGrid Parity: What’s needed to make the market for photovoltaics and how to getthere”

Dr. Sullivan will provide a globalperspective on the solar industry and outline some of the technologies thatshow the most promise for reaching grid parity.

Members of the Sustainability Forum areinvited to register at NSTC.org.

P.S.

As members of the Sustainability Forumyou are entitled to receive a special, significant discount on NSTC membership nowthrough November 30. Email BetteCullinan @ nstcstaff@gmail.com to takeadvantage of this.

A Focus on Failure

2011-10-20T13:32:00.000-04:00

Here's an important perspective on the political and economic energy required to get the clean-tech industry up and running. What do you think?

Solyndra flop stains a good program

First, the back story: the company failed because of the declining price of silicon. Most solar panels use silicon; Solyndra’s didn’t. This was supposed to be its great advantage. Silicon is expensive, so the company appeared poised to outperform its competitors. Instead, prices plunged and it couldn’t keep up.

Read the short piece here from the Boston Globe.

Local Weekend Highlights

2011-10-18T12:01:00.000-04:00

Want to give your family some fun, positive insights into clean-tech atwork? This weekend the North Shore offers two smart events that are totallykid-friendly!

Energy Harvest Fair will be held on Saturday October 22, 2011 (rain date October 23, 2011).

· Live musicon the solar stage (11:00- 3:00)

· GreenExhibitors

· Food

· Raffle-Wina solar powered flashlight and MORE…

· CHILDREN’SACTIVITIES & Henna Tattoos

GREENERGY PARK: The PV & wind turbine siteadjacent to Beverly High School, corner of Sohier & Tozer Roads. (Freeparking at 55 Tozer Road beside the Main Gate.)

- - - - -

SustainabilityFair, October 22
Renewable Energy Technology will be the theme ofNorth Shore Community College's (NSCC) Danvers Sustainability Fair, which willbe held October 22, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at NSCC's Danvers Campus, 1Ferncroft Road [map].

The fair, which is free and open to all, will feature tours of the college'snew Health Professionsand Student Services Building - the Commonwealth's first Zero Net Energybuilding - exhibits, environmentally sound vendors, face painting and freepumpkins (while they last) for the kids.

The fair will feature a wide variety of exhibitors and vendors including:

Kelly Sheridan & friend - face painting, sugar pumpkin giveaway
Wally's Vegetables - fruit, vegetables, fall decor gourds, eggs and honey
MehaffeyFarm - vegetables, eggs and honey
Alfalfa Farm Winery- exhibit on a sustainable farm winery business
Gloucester Dog Park- nonprofit to create a recreational area for dogs and their guardians
Quinn's Canine Café- natural and organic homemade dog treats
The Soup Guy - allnatural, gluten-free soups and chili, all locally sourced
Annarosa's -European-style breads, cookies and pastries
Suz Bath and Body - handmade soaps, lotion bars, salves andbalms, bath salts and hand-poured soy candles
Zumi's Espresso - fairtrade products, coffee and chocolates
and lots more...

Questions?

2011-10-17T18:10:00.000-04:00

What are the boundaries between science and politics?

Officials in Rick Perry's home state of Texas have set off a scientists' revolt after purging mentions of climate change and sea-level rise from what was supposed to be a landmark environmental report. The scientists said they were disowning the report on the state of Galveston Bay because of political interference and censorship from Perry appointees at the state's environmental agency.

Governor Patrick Taps NSIV's Dr. Farmer

2011-10-12T08:30:00.000-04:00

Congrats to North Shore Innoventure's active and esteemed leader!

Martha C. Farmer of Manchester was appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to serve on the board as a trustee of the North Shore Community College, which has campuses in Danvers and Lynn.

Farmer is the president, CEO and co-founder of North Shore InnoVentures, a nonprofit business incubator for life sciences and cleantech start-ups, operating the Biotech InnoVenture Center in Beverly and the Cleantech InnoVenture Center in Lynn.

Forum Tomorrow!

2011-10-04T09:55:00.002-04:00

Looking forward to lively discussion, productive networking and hot coffee tomorrow @ the Sustainability Forum. Our guest is Dr. Thomas Dreeben of Osram Sylavania who address new trends in lighting efficiency. Click here for more info.

“We also welcome new host: Sunstein Kann Murphy & Timbers LLP, an intellectual property law firmwith high technology, life sciences and cleantech experience.”

Meanwhile, for a little background on industrial lighting technology from the D.O.E. (by way of our friends at Newburyport CleanTech), check this out.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Mass. Taking the Heat from Global Climate Change

2011-09-29T15:13:00.001-04:00

Temperatures are on the rise, and things are going to get a lot hotter here in Massachusetts, according to a report issued by the the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

The numbers:
* Massachusetts’ ambient temperature has increased by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970.
* The local sea surface temperature increased by 2.3 degrees between 1970 and 2002, and is expected to grow by 8 degrees throughout the century.
* The sea level has risen 22 centimeters (about 8.5 inches) from 1921 to 2006.
* Days above 90 degrees currently range from 5 to 20 annually. The range is expected to grow to between 30 and 60 days, while the number of 100 degree days is predicted to grow from 2 days to 28 annually.

Read more:
Mass. taking the heat from global climate change - Mass High Tech Business News

Connections

2011-09-22T11:26:00.000-04:00

The Boston Area Sustainability Group (BASG) is starting its 3rd year with a terrific event Sept. 29 at the House of Blues. Great group of movers headed by our good friend Rich Goode of Alcatel-Lucent and recent speaker at our last Forum.

This should be a good one. It's featuring hi-tech leader and entrepreneur Mitch Tyson, who is a founder of the Mass. Clean Energy Council. (And, who also happens to be on the Forum's much-vaunted speaker list.)

More info on the BASG event here.

Entrepreneur U

2011-09-20T09:59:00.001-04:00

Reminder from our friends at North Shore Innoventures re tomorrow's free seminar on:

Info Tech on a Shoestring - Managing IT for your Start-Up

You’re starting a business: both time and money are verylimited. You need information management tools that make sense. Traditional applications like Office or move to “the cloud?” How do youprotect yourself from viruses and malware? What about backups, networkingor just getting the printer to work? And how about all thosecollaboration tools like Skype, Dropbox and Google Calendar?

Tim Lasonde of NISV sponsor, NSK Inc., will take us throughall the key issues that you need to address so you can keep IT from becoming amajor time sink with high costs. Come and hear how to do it right so youdon’t need his help cleaning up the mess later.

And make sure to put Wednesday, October 19^th onyour calendar too. BerryDunn, our new accounting sponsor, will bring youup to speed on the critical basics of setting up your accounting system.

Get it right from the start. Save the pain.

The event is free. Allcurrent NSIV incubator members, candidate companies, sponsors, mentors andadvisers are invited. Seminars are the 3rd Wednesday of every month at:

Cleantech InnoVenture Center, 20 Wheeler St. Lynn, MA 01912

North Shore InnoVentures(NSIV) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to accelerating thegrowth of early-stage life sciences and cleantech businesses and supporting theeconomic growth of the North Shore region.

For more info: www.NSIV.org

Next Illuminating Talk at the Forum

2011-09-16T15:59:00.000-04:00

What's going on with the light bulb?

Dr.Thomas Dreeben, staff scientist, at Osram Sylvania, addresses: "The state of energy-efficientlighting technology."

Congress recently upheld legislation to phase outthe incandescent bulb. Politics aside, we’ll take a close look at lightingtechnology, including an assessment of current trends in the lightingindustry. How is efficiency defined in lighting? What are thetechnologies on the market. What new solutions are coming to light basedon advanced research?

Prepare to be enlightened.

See you: Wed., Oct 5 at 8 a.m. @ the CleanTech Innoventure Center

What do You think?

2011-09-06T16:20:00.000-04:00

The Sustainability Forum is dedicated to that idea that knowledge will help us better address some of the challenges of sustainable living. It’s a broad objective and a big issue. But, we do our best to highlight new ideas and encourage fresh thinking. We have an affinity toward new technology yet we don’t operate in a vacuum. If sustainability stands at the intersection of our environment, culture, economics and government, then clearly it takes a diverse perspective to make good progress.

That’s where our Forum comes in. We have a strong, growing membership. Let’s keep up the good networking and see how we can move the ball forward. After all, it’s all in how you can look at it.

Stay in-tune, speak up and speak out. It's your Forum. Always looking for good ideas.

Sustainability Forum Examines the Corporate Outlook on Sustainability

2011-08-12T15:22:00.012-04:00

Alcatel-Lucent’s Rich Goode offers insights into big business and sustainability

What: North Shore Technology Council’s monthly Sustainability Forum meeting featuring Rich Goode, senior director of sustainability at Alcatel-Lucent.

When: 8 a.m., Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Where: CleanTech InnoVenture Center, 4^th Floor, 20 Wheeler Street, Lynn, MA 01902

About Forum: The Sustainability Forum is a special interest group within the North Shore Technology Council (NSTC). Its active membership is dedicated to the understanding and promotion of clean-technology and sustainable practices within our region. Monthly meetings offer lively discussions and special guests. Visit: http://northshoretechcouncil.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Forum Oct.7 with speaker to announced.

Background:   How can you both implement sustainability initiatives and make money? How can your business stay environmentally aware? This forum meeting will focus on sustainable practices that also draw in a profit for your business.

			Richard Goode is the senior director of sustainability and CSR at Alcatel-Lucet. Goode is a leader in bringing sustainability and climate change initiatives to organizations and a practitioner of the principles of sustainable management to guide companies in utilizing methodologies that increase revenue, reduce waste and promote broader social and environmental context while building shareholder value.

Entrepreneur U: Smart Marketing for Emerging Companies

2011-08-10T09:56:00.003-04:00

Second Seminar: Building Your Business Brand
You have a sharp team focused on a compelling solution in clean-tech. Now what? Our next seminar addresses the critical marketing considerations for start-ups as they reach out to investors, customers and other important target audiences. The panel presentation offers strategic insights into business development strategies with practical solutions to get started in a Web 2.0 world.

Join us, along with other experienced mentors from other disciplines, at the CleanTech Innoventure Center in Lynn, Wed, August 17, from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Presenters:
John Coulbourn, Managing Partner, Ipswich River Media
Beth Zonis, Principal, Eco Marketing
James Waldron, James Waldron Design

About Entrepreneur U
Our objective is to give emerging companies a comprehensive introduction to important issues and functional skills to successfully build a business. Topics run from basic legal issues, to setting up your accounting and IT systems, to building your team, marketing and finding funding. Each month an expert from our outstanding group of sponsors, mentors and advisers will cover a key topic that you need to know.

All current NSIV incubator members, candidate companies, sponsors, mentors and advisers are invited. Seminars are the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Our next will be Sep. 21. Same time, same place.

This event is free but please respond by sending an email to Tom Kinneman at tom.kinneman@nsiv.org. You may also register on-site on Wednesday.

For more info: www.NSIV.org

In-State Sustainability

2011-08-03T14:19:00.014-04:00

What, exactly, is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts doing to promote sustainability?

According to Joanne Bissetta (left) of the Massachusetts Dept. of Energy Resources, the state is doing plenty. At today's Sustainability Forum meeting in Lynn, she covered some of the programs and initiatives the Commonwealth has implemented, noting that Massachusetts actually has the "most ambitious" energy efficiency program in the country. That's something to be proud of.

The basic mission of the DOER is to support Massachusetts' clean energy companies and to spur clean energy employment and resources. To help this mission, Gov. Deval Patrick has prioritized plans like the Green Jobs Act and Green Communities Act, which reward and encourage sustainable behavior with generous funding.

The Green Jobs Act pushes for economic development and job creation in the green technology industry by authorizing $58 million in funding and grants. The Green Communities Grant Program lends up to $10 million per year to communities that qualify as environmentally-friendly. Powerful incentives: carrots not sticks.

The 74 "green communities" in Massachusetts buy fuel-efficient vehicles, foster efficient "green" buildings and promote the siting of renewable energy facilities. Communities have used these grants to take small steps to improve efficiency locally. For example, Salem implemented energy-efficient streetlights and Melrose added an energy-efficient roof to its high school.

Do you live in a Green Community?

Rick Reibstein (right), the second speaker at today's Sustainability Forum, works for the state to offer sustainable advice to manufacturers and businesses. As the manager of Outreach and Policy of the MA Office of Technical Assistance (part of the Office of Executive and Environmental affairs), he helps companies reduce waste and their use of toxic materials.

Participation is voluntary for companies. Those who choose to use Reibstein's services receive an understanding of their efficiency, along with advice on what to do or who to connect with.

"We've probably cut in half what toxics we did have," said Reibstein. "However, we still have hundreds of millions of pounds of toxics."

Massachusetts, along with New Jersey, are the two most progressive states in their measurement of toxic materials. That's another accomplishment to be proud of. Toxic materials are used extensively, they make their way into our homes, our water, our environment. But it doesn't have to be that way.

"It's just a smarter way of doing business," said Reibstein.

For more information on MA initiatives, visit:

www.mass.gov/doer
www.masssave.com
www.masscec.com
email rick.reibstein@state.ma.us

See you Aug. 3!

2011-07-27T11:38:00.008-04:00

Are you curious about what your state and local governments are doing to promote and implement sustainability initiatives?

We think sustainability is a big broad issue that needs to be addressed from a number of perspectives. If you’re wondering what our illustrious State is doing about sustainability, we’ve got some answers at our next Forum.

Our two panelists promise to give us insights into what’s being offered to your local towns and businesses.

We’ll be joined by Joanne Bissetta, Green Community Coordinator, of Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources; and Rick Reibstein, Manager, Outreach and Policy of the MA Office of Technical Assistance, which is part of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental affairs.

Joanne advises towns and cities. Rick offers sustainable information and benefits to manufacturers.

The Forum will be held on Wednesday, August 3, at 8 a.m. in the CleanTech InnoVenture Center (20 Wheeler St., Lynn MA).

What, exactly, is green chemistry?

2011-07-27T11:07:00.004-04:00

The media bombards us with all sorts of scary news about toxic chemicals in the environment, giving chemistry somewhat of a bad rep. Green chemistry, however, is a practice that works to fight against toxicity.

The term "green chemistry" could sound unappealing to those who aren't scientists, but green chem is simply the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous waste.

John Warner (right) began his college years immersed in music with his band "The Elements" before he even came near a Periodic Table. Through a college chemistry course, he stumbled into a career in chemistry -- and ended up synthesizing over 2,500 compounds. Yet after all that work, he realized he still had no idea what made a chemical toxic. And today, no American Ph.D. chemistry programs require any demonstration of knowledge regarding toxicity or environmental impact.

This concern led Warner to write 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and found the Warner Babcock Institute. Green chemistry, says Warner, is not the birth of ethics; scientists have always been advocates of health. But green chem is a safer, prevention-focused approach to chemistry.

Want to know more about Dr Warner's presentation this week and the global issue of toxicity? Excellent insights from Ed Alexander of Social Climate: Environmentally Benign Products: a Green Chemistry Mentor Speaks. Check it out.

NSIV Kicks off First Entrepreneur U Seminar

2011-07-22T10:23:00.009-04:00

North Shore InnoVentures kicked off their first "Entrepreneur U" Wednesday morning at the Cleantech InnoVenture Center in Lynn. Speakers Nicola Lemay (below) and Bob Warren of Foley Hoag presented "Avoiding Legal and Tax Mistakes" to an audience of entrepreneurs, consultants, and NSIV sponsors and volunteers.

Lemay and Warren provided solutions to a variety of preventable but undoable mistakes that many entrepreneurs make in start-up companies. Common mistakes include:

•careless selection of team and advisors

• failure to establish clear relationships among founders

• not carefully selecting a form of entity to use

• not organizing entity early on

• not being aware of wage and hour laws when hiring new employees

• disorganized capital raising strategy

The next Entrepreneur U will take place at the Cleantech InnoVenture Center on August 17 and will focus on smart marketing techniques for start-ups. Stay tuned for more information!

Green Chemistry: The Breakfast of the Year

2011-07-18T17:29:00.004-04:00

If you hated chemistry in high school, you will not want to miss the next NSTC breakfast on July 27. In fact, hypothetically speaking, if you could attend only one NSTC breakfast a year, this would have to be it.

It’s about Green Chemistry and if that sounds too “sciencey” for you, don’t despair. You will be treated to some amazing insights from the very father of this critical field. But take heart – Dr John Warner started college a few decades ago as a music major. He was acting like a free radical long before he was studying them.

Sure, John Warner is responsible for the 12 Principles of Green Chem, he’s been recognized by presidents and prime ministers, and he probably has more patents than pants…but we promise you will leave that breakfast inspired and informed, without the slightest nod to the Periodic table.

Of course, even you engineers and scientists out there will have a lot to think about.

See you Wednesday, July 27 at 7:30 am at the Peabody Marriott. Be sure to sign-up here at NSTC.org.

NSIV Kicks-Off "Entrepreneur U"

2011-07-13T10:45:00.001-04:00

First Seminar: "Avoiding Common Legal And Tax Mistakes of Start-Ups"

Come join the North Shore InnoVenture incubator team on Wednesday July 20^th at 8 a.m. at the Cleantech Center in Lynn for the first meeting of Entrepreneur U, a series of seminars on key business issues for early-stage business leaders.

Entrepreneur U

The objective is to give member companies in the NSIV Incubator system a comprehensive introduction to important issues and functional skills needed to successfully build a business. Topics will run from basic legal issues, to setting up your accounting and IT systems, to building your team and finding funding. Each month, an expert from our team of sponsors, mentors and advisers will cover a key topic that you need to know.

These seminars are not about your cool technology or awesome business concept but instead cover the basic nuts and bolts of running an early-stage business with limited resources. The focus is not on theory but on the essential and practical issues that you need to deal with now.

Wed., July 20: Avoiding Legal & Tax Mistakes

Kicking off the series, are Nicola Lemay and Bob Warren of Foley Hoag "Avoiding Common Legal And Tax Mistakes of Start-Ups."

Nicola Lemay, JD, MBA, is a partner at Foley Hoag LLP and is the Chair of the firm's Taxation Department. Bob Warren, JD, CPA, is a corporate attorney at Foley Hoag LLP counseling entrepreneurs and venture capitalists on a wide range of issues in support of their companies’ growth, from corporate formation to compensation strategies and liquidity transactions.

All current NSIV incubator members, candidate companies, sponsors, mentors and advisers are invited.

The seminar will open with coffee and informal networking to get warmed up. Presenters will then cover the key issues in an interactive presentation that will run about an hour. They will stick around for questions and one-on-one office hours to deal with your company specific concerns. In addition to other entrepreneurs, many of our sponsors, mentors and advisers will also be there, so there will be plenty of opportunity to discuss the issues, make valuable connections and get additional input.

The event is free but help us to plan by sending an email to Laura Van Drie at intern@nsiv.org. You can also register on site on Wednesday.

And now for something completely different...

2011-07-11T16:57:00.001-04:00

Hey, it’s summer right? And what great weather we’ve had. We're thinking how Mondays can be a good day to get yer ya ya's out. Spread the word people...or just pump it!

Sustainability in Business

2011-07-08T10:14:00.012-04:00

We were pleased to see a great turnout at Wednesday's Sustainability Forum meeting!

According to Lisa Lillelund of Mango Networks (right) and Chad Stern (below), it's important for your business to have a sustainability strategy for the sake of both the environment and the success of your company. Young people prefer to work for companies with sustainability initiatives and consumers are beginning to demand more eco-friendly products.

And for added perspective on Wednesday's presentation check out Analyst Bob Eastman's SMB Research blog.

Coming up, we'll take a look at how different constituencies are tackling sustainability. Meetings at the CleanTech Innoventure Center give us a good sense of clean-technology, but that's just one piece of the puzzle.

In August, we'll learn more about how our towns and communities are addressing the issue, and in September, we're joined by one of the region's top sustainability leaders.

Upcoming Speakers

Wed., August 3
Joanne Bissetta
Green Community Coordinator, Northeast Region
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
www.mass.gov/doer

The Green Communities Division empowers the Commonwealth's cities and towns to reduce their energy use and their carbon footprint on the journey towards healthier and stronger economies.

Wed., September 7
Rich Goode
Sr. Director of Sustainability & CSR
Alcatel-Lucet

Goode is a leader in bringing sustainability and climate change initiatives to organizations. Practitioner of the principles of sustainable management to guide companies in utilizing methodologies that increase revenue, reduce waste and promote broader social and environmental context while building shareholder value.

See you July 6!

2011-06-30T14:17:00.000-04:00

Sustainability Forum Examines Sustainability in Business

How can all types of companies improve their business, save money and attract customers by operating more sustainably?

What: Presentation on Environmental Sustainability for Companies by Lisa Lillelund, Sustainability Advisor, followed by panel discussion with Chad Stern, Property Manager/Sustainability Coordinator

When: Wednesday, July 6, 2011

8:00 – 8:30 coffee & networking

8:30 – 9:30 Presentation & lively discussion
9:30 – 10:00 more great networking if you like

Where: CleanTech InnoVenture Center

4^th Floor

20 Wheeler Street

Lynn, MA 01902

Topic:             How can small and large companies from a variety of 
industries benefit from implementing sustainability initiatives? 
And what exactly does “sustainability” mean? 
How can a Green Team mobilize your company? 
Why is it important to your business, and how can it help 
reduce costs and make your company more attractive to 
employees and customers?

Communicate!

2011-06-21T18:07:00.001-04:00

If you're trying to get me to watch your video ad, just make it fun. Here's one you guys might enjoy
(Note: the author has no vested interest in Nissan but does like clean energy).

Evaluating cleantech startups

2011-06-20T14:06:00.007-04:00

Martha Farmer, CEO of North Shore InnoVentures, helped judge the startup companies that competed in CleanTech Open's business competition.

The 163 semifinalists were selected from a pool of more than 285 cleantech entrepreneurs across the company who competed in this year's CleanTech Open.

Judges used a 1-5 rating system to evaluate different aspects of each company in the competition. The most difficult task, Farmer said, was arguing and reasoning with other judges as they all tried to come to a consensus about which companies deserved to be semifinalists.

The complete list of semifinalists can be found here.

Worth Reading (and Thinking)

2011-06-14T18:11:00.000-04:00

Comment

Storms Brewing

by Elizabeth Kolbert June 13, 2011

The New Yorker

When President Barack Obama arrived in Joplin, Missouri, on May 29th, the sun was shining. He toured one of the neighborhoods that the previous week’s tornado had destroyed, then spoke at a memorial service for the dead. (By late last week, the official toll was a hundred and thirty-eight people.) At the service, the President’s tone turned brooding. “The question that weighs on us at a time like this is: Why?” he said. “Why our town? Why our home? Why my son, or husband, or wife, or sister, or friend? Why?” Such questions, the President went on, cannot be answered, as “these things are beyond our power to control.”

Obama’s visit to Joplin was the third that he had made in a month to the site of a weather-related disaster. In mid-May, the President met with Memphis residents who had been left homeless by the flooding of the Mississippi River, and, not long before that, he toured sections of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that had also been flattened by a tornado. Meanwhile, even as the President was consoling the bereaved in Joplin, residents in Vermont were bailing out from record-high water levels around Lake Champlain; Texas was suffering from a near-record drought that could cost the state more than four billion dollars in agricultural losses; and officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were forecasting that the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, which formally began on June 1st, would once again be “above normal.” (The 2010 season was tied for the third most active on record.) The news from abroad was, if anything, more worrisome.

You'll Want to See This!

2011-06-10T13:47:00.000-04:00

From the Financial Times, June 8, 2011, a video report on Massachusetts cleantech efforts:

Investing in wind and sun energy

With growing interest in US renewables, Massachusetts finds itself well positioned to take advantage of the burgeoning marketplace. The FT's Christopher Booker looks at how the state is diversifying its energy portfolio by harnessing both solar and wind power (4m 50sec)

Just Asking?

2011-06-10T09:11:00.001-04:00

Is climate change a left-wing conspiracy? Seriously. Is there something in it for liberals? Do they have it in for oil companies? Is it a preference for science, disruption or bike riding?

Rick Santorum froths at the mouth about climate change
No way Rick Santorum is going the Mitt Romney route. Everybody knows that believing in global warming is for liberals, rational people, scientists, and other don't-want-to-win-the-GOP-nomination types. That's why Santorum told Rush Limbaugh (who yesterday announced that Romney had killed his chances by admitting that he understood how science works) that climate change is a vast liberal conspiracy.

Just the Tip of the Iceberg

2011-06-06T17:56:00.004-04:00

Bringing up the topic of global warming can spark a heated debate. Dr. Kar Lee presented facts and statistics about climate change to about 50 people at the June Sustainability Forum at the CleanTech InnoVenture Center in Lynn last Wednesday.

Dr. Lee began his discussion by asking audience members about their experiences talking about climate change. Though many people reported that they had run into skeptics who didn’t believe in global warming, Dr. Lee presented compelling facts, adding that “there is no such thing as a long-term stable climate.”

It's a big issue. Here are a few more added points from Dr Lee on the subject:

Just as we came off from the record breaking Tornado month in April with 875 reported tornadoes nationwide, and just as we thought we have seen it all, then came the devastation in Joplin: entire area flattened out, death toll rose to 141 as of today. Some people may ask: is it abnormal? Just as some were asking, something hit home: tornadoes touched down in Springfield in Massachusetts. Really, is it global warming?

What I did not get the chance to present during my talk last Wednesday at the North Shore Tech Council's Sustainability Forum was some statistics about tornadoes. If we look at the number of reported tornadoes from 1950 to May of 2011, we indeed see a clear trend: it increases steadily from around 200 per year in 1950's to about 1400 per year in these several years.

So, you may think, it must somehow relate to the global temperature increase. But to make matters rather confusing, the number of strong to violent tornadoes (EF3 to EF5) is actually flat: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/tornadoes.html.

The worst year for strongest tornadoes actually happened in 1974, clearly a one-off year. Other than that, the trend for the strongest tornadoes is pretty much flat.

So, how can it be?

There are two possible explanations.

1) The increase is not real. More get reported simply because we have vastly expanded our monitoring network, and by having people move into previously uninhabited areas (with their camcorders and cell phones!!!) So, more get reported gradually over the years.

Problem with this explanation is, wouldn't the same people with camcorders and cell phones moving into new territories also catch more strong and violent tornadoes and therefore reported more of them as well?

The answer to this question is probably something like, "If the tornado is so strong, then no matter whether you are near it or not, you know about it because it leaves enough destruction to prove its existence. So the strong ones always get reported and if you see no increase, then there really is no increases."

2) The increase is real. There is an increase in the # of tornadoes touched down beyond the improvement of our monitoring network, and we have reported them. However, the change in the climate condition only causes the increase in the number of milder tornadoes, just like the global warming pattern changes the arctic regions more than the equatorial regions. The effect is not uniform.

To decipher which explanation is more accurate, we really need to do some investigative work to find out if "strong tornadoes always get reported." Were there very strong tornadoes that people would have missed during the 1950's?

The point of doing science is to find out which explanation is more likely to be true, and to not take sides prematurely. Or else, we could be accused of sensationalism.

The 'Second Cycle' of CleanTech

2011-06-02T18:06:00.000-04:00

Bilal Zuberi, principal, at General Catalyst Partners offered this interesting perspective from the V.C. community. Some encouraging news for clean-tech & sustainability that's worth the read.

The 'Second Cycle' of cleantech startups - Mass High Tech Business News

Good Energy

2011-05-31T11:38:00.001-04:00

Who says clean-tech is disruptive? Here's a windy town where residents collect a check for energy production:

Money Blows in to a Patch of Oregon Known for Its Unrelenting Winds

By LEE VAN DER VOO

Published: May 30, 2011

Sherman County, Ore., has always had plenty of wind. Now it is making money off it.

Read @ NY Times.

What the heck?

2011-05-27T15:07:00.001-04:00

It’s Friday, before the long weekend, with glorious Boston weather. Finally. Just wondering if anyone has seen signs of those Amazon climbing snails in their backyards? If they’re attributing that to the wetter weather? Or, if perhaps they’re just a ruse to get people to attend the next Sustainability Forum and the discussion: Climate Change -- Just the Facts. Guess we’ll find out Wednesday.

How Do You Talk About Change?

2011-05-27T12:01:00.001-04:00

Wade Roush, Xconomy's chief correspondent, formerly in Boston and now in San Fran, wrote a piece today titled: Yes, Technology is Taking Jobs Away, But Here's How it Might Give Them Back. Here's an excerpt.

What do you think?

The fact that so many old jobs have dried up means there’s a huge pool of workers available for the new industries needed to combat our one truly existential problem: climate change. You know those disaster movies where there’s an asteroid headed for Earth and the government launches a secret trillion-dollar project to intercept it and/or build underground shelters? Climate change is like the asteroid, but in slow motion, and it’s going to take a wartime-scale mobilization of people and technologies to blunt it. Not only do we have to figure out how to power our civilization without emitting carbon dioxide, methane, and other pollutants into the atmosphere, but we must find ways to suck the current excess of greenhouse gases back out of it. In short, “We need an historic commitment to put people to work building the infrastructure and technology base for a massive and speedy shift away from coal, oil, and gas to renewable forms of energy.” That’s Al Gore speaking, in his 2010 book Our Choice—which, by the way, has been turned into a fantastic iPad app. Did you hear that put people to work part?

Everyone talks about the weather...

2011-05-25T09:50:00.001-04:00

It's a swirling debate. But what can we do about it? See you June 1 for our discussion on climate change.

Where is the Love?

2011-05-24T07:37:00.002-04:00

Is there a "LinkedIn" in the clean-tech market? Last week, the social networking site for resume-builders enjoyed one of the biggest IPOs since Google’s seven years ago. Can we expect the same (irrational) exuberance for emerging new energy and sustainable technologies? Here’s an interesting look at the issue from GigaOm: Why the LinkedIn IPO Is Bad for Cleantech

Next Up: Forum Looks @ Climate Change

2011-05-19T18:10:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, June 1, we'll take a close look at the climate change debate. Our next Sustainability Forum includes a presentation from Dr. Kar Lee who will extract the politics from the science surrounding the issue. It promises to offer everyone clear insights into the issue and facts you should know.

Dr. Kar Lee received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Washington. After a two-year post-doctoral research appointment in a national accelerator laboratory in Virginia, he left the world of fundamental physics research for industry. Dr. Lee helped develop products such as CT scanners, silicon wafer analyzers, optical network add-drop modules, MEMS based optical displays, and eReaders. Most recently he is active in reliability engineering and solar thermal electricity generation. He is also the author of “Where are the Zombies” an intriguing exploration on the nature of the conscious mind.

See you at 8 a.m. at the CleanTech Innoventure Center in Lynn. All welcome. And spread the word - it's an important "debate."

A Clean Video

2011-05-19T17:11:00.000-04:00

Congressman Markey Takes on the "Force" against clean energy:

Congrats! Fraunhofer CSE confirms plans for South Boston site

2011-05-17T10:18:00.000-04:00

The Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems confirmed details today of the new $19.5 million Clean Energy Center it will be establishing in South Boston. The facility will house Fraunhofer CSE’s technical R&D labs and TechBridge the startup accelerator. Look for some new insights soon from Forum member Eric Graham, director of TechBridge.
Here's more news info from Mass HighTech article today.